Kenwood Radio Setting Time

On a Kenwood DPX308U, press SRC four times to reach Standby, then hold Boost for 2 seconds to open the clock adjustment. Kenwood radios can use different buttons and menus. Look for the model on the faceplate, behind a detachable faceplate, or in the receiver’s startup screen.

Why Kenwood Clock Settings Vary by Model

Kenwood radios can have different control layouts. A physical-button receiver may use the source button and volume knob, while a touchscreen model may use an on-screen setup menu.

There is no universal Kenwood clock-setting button sequence; controls depend on model, not on the Kenwood name alone.

Before changing anything, park the vehicle and turn the receiver on normally. Then use the controls and menu labels that match your model rather than trying random button holds or reset combinations.

How to Set the Time on a Kenwood Radio

Choose the route that matches the model and controls in front of you.

Receiver Type or Model	Clock-Setting Route
Kenwood DPX308U	Enter Standby with SRC, then open adjustment with Boost and use the volume knob.
KDC-MP208 or similar button-and-knob receiver	Put the source in Standby, find `CLK ADJ`, then enter adjustment with the control knob.
KDC-MP4033	Use the model-specific clock procedure on page 18 of its owner’s manual.
Touchscreen, DVD, or Excelon receiver	Open the on-screen setup area and locate a Clock, Time, Date/Time, or Clock Adjust control.
Any other KDC, KMM, DDX, DMX, or Excelon model	Use the exact model number to avoid applying the wrong button sequence.

Kenwood DPX308U

Press SRC four times until the receiver enters Standby. Standby is required before this model will open its clock controls.
Press and hold Boost for 2 seconds. The clock adjustment screen should appear.
Turn the volume knob to set the hour.
Press the volume knob once when the correct hour is shown. This saves the hour selection and moves the adjustment to minutes.
Turn the volume knob to set the minutes.
Press the volume knob again to save the time, then return to your normal source.

The clock should remain visible or return when you leave the menu. If it does not, enter Standby with SRC, hold Boost for 2 seconds, reset the hour and minutes with the volume knob, and press the knob again to save the time.

KDC-MP208 and Similar Knob-Control Receivers

The KDC-MP208 needs to be in Standby before you try to access its menu. Set the receiver to Standby before accessing the menu.

Use this sequence only if your receiver has a control knob and its display offers a CLK ADJ or Clock Adjustment item:

Enter Standby.
From Standby, press and hold the Menu button to enter Menu mode, then move through the menu until the display shows CLK ADJ, which is the clock adjustment mode.
Press and hold the control knob for at least 1 second. The clock display should begin flashing.
Adjust the hour with the controls marked FM or AM, if those labels match your receiver.
Adjust the minutes with the left and right seek controls.
Press the Menu button to leave clock adjustment and return to normal operation.

If the display labels or controls differ from this description, stop before changing audio settings and use the procedure for that exact model.

Kenwood KDC-MP4033

The KDC-MP4033 owner’s manual gives its clock instructions on page 18.

Set the Time on a Kenwood Touchscreen Receiver

Touchscreen Kenwood receivers, including many DVD, navigation, DMX, DDX, and Excelon models, usually set time through an on-screen settings area rather than with a long press on a physical button.

Open the Setup Screen

Tap the on-screen Settings, Setup, or gear-shaped icon.
Look for an item labeled Clock, Clock Adjust, Time, or Date/Time.
Select the clock item and look for editable hour and minute fields.

Set and Save the Time

Choose Manual or Clock Adjust if the receiver offers a choice between automatic and manual time.
Use the on-screen arrows, plus/minus controls, or number fields to set the hour and minutes.
Use the receiver’s available confirmation control to save the setting.
Confirm that the displayed time changed.
Turn the vehicle off and back on when convenient. A saved clock should still show the new time after the receiver restarts.

Some touchscreen units may offer a 12-hour or 24-hour clock format in the same settings area. Change that format only if you want the display to show military-style time.

If you cannot find an editable clock control, do not change settings at random. The receiver may use an automatic time source, or the clock control may be named differently on that specific model.

Solve Kenwood Clock-Setting Problems

An active source is often the reason. On receivers such as the KDC-MP208, switch to Standby before opening the menu. On a DPX308U, the clock controls open only after reaching Standby with the SRC button.

If you see audio, display, bass, or Bluetooth options but no clock item, back out of the menu and confirm the receiver is in the correct source state before trying again.

The Time Changes but Does Not Save

Complete the final confirmation action for the model. On a DPX308U, the last press of the volume knob saves the minutes and time. On knob-controlled units using CLK ADJ, exit through the Menu button after setting both hour and minute values.

For a touchscreen receiver, use the on-screen confirmation control before leaving the page.

The Clock Reset After a Battery Change

A disconnected or replaced vehicle battery can reset the receiver’s clock and other settings. Set the clock again after power is restored, then verify it remains correct after the receiver has been turned off and back on.

A receiver can return to a configuration screen after battery replacement and fail to complete the setup when Finish is selected. If that happens, turn the receiver off normally, restart it, and retry the setup without disconnecting the battery again. If the screen still will not complete, use the exact model’s documentation or have the unit checked by an installer; repeated power interruptions can make diagnosis harder.

The Clock Resets Every Time the Car Is Turned Off

A clock that repeatedly returns to the wrong time may indicate that the receiver is losing its constant power memory connection. This is different from a normal one-time reset after a dead or replaced battery.

First, confirm that you saved the time through the receiver’s final confirmation step. If the setting still disappears after every ignition cycle, have the radio’s power and memory wiring inspected rather than repeatedly factory-resetting the receiver.

Confirm the Time and Keep It Correct

Once the clock is set, take a moment to make sure the adjustment actually stayed in place.

Compare the receiver clock with a reliable clock or phone.
Confirm the display still shows the new time.
Turn the receiver off and restart it later to verify the setting was saved.
If the display offers 12-hour and 24-hour formats, make sure the format is correct.
Recheck the clock after a vehicle battery replacement, dead battery, or radio reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Change the Time on a Kenwood Touchscreen Radio?

Open the receiver’s on-screen Settings or Setup area, then find a control labeled Clock, Time, Date/Time, or Clock Adjust. Set the hour and minutes, then save the time using your receiver’s procedure.

How Do I Reset the Clock on a Kenwood Excelon?

To reset the clock on a Kenwood Excelon, use the clock-setting controls for its exact model number. Kenwood radios can have different control layouts, so use the instructions for the exact model number. Follow the exact model’s clock-setting procedure and use its final confirmation control to save the time.

How Do I Set the Time on a DMXDT700?

First confirm the full model number on the faceplate or startup screen, because a single missing or mistaken character can lead to the wrong instructions. If the receiver is a touchscreen Kenwood receiver, open Settings or Setup and look for Clock, Time, Date/Time, or Clock Adjust, then save the edit with the on-screen confirmation button.

Why Will My Kenwood Radio Not Let Me Set the Clock?

The receiver may be in an active source rather than the mode that permits clock changes. On a KDC-MP208, select Standby before opening the menu; on a DPX308U, press SRC four times to reach Standby before holding Boost for 2 seconds.

Where Can I Find My Kenwood Radio Manual?

Use the model number printed on the receiver, not just “Kenwood” or “Excelon,” when looking for instructions. For example, Kenwood provides a KDC-135 manual. The clock instructions must match the model number printed on the receiver.