Page MenuHomePhabricator

Prompt user to change time zone preference if it differs from browser/OS time.
Open, Needs TriagePublic

Description

Preferences has an option to fill in your time zone offset from the browser, but this is a one-time thing. I think we should instead detect whenever it's different from preferences, and give them an option to automatically set the preference then (or hide the message). They wouldn't have to actually go to Special:Preferences, just click 'Yes' or something.

This allows respecting the preference if someone's OS/browser time zone is not what they prefer to use for some reason.

This is the solution Google Calendar uses.

Event Timeline

Mattflaschen-WMF raised the priority of this task from to Needs Triage.
Mattflaschen-WMF updated the task description. (Show Details)

How often would the reminder appear? Ever reset of cookies?

I very often set my preferences to UTC no matter which time zone I am. Would that affect me?

Alternative idea: a small, unobtrusive text at the bottom of a log page, recent changes, etc. saying "All times <timezone>. You can set your timezone in <a href="Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-rendering-timeoffset">preferences</a>".

I wonder if all our logs are displayed the preferred timezone, would be a good opportunity to check.

How often would the reminder appear? Ever reset of cookies?

It would ideally use localStorage (though that is also resettable).

I very often set my preferences to UTC no matter which time zone I am. Would that affect me?

It would only be a prompt; you could ignore it.