How to Change the Time of Day in Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Need to change from day to night in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake? Some missions, locations and characters are only available at particular times. Hyrule continues its daily routine while Link travels, so certain objectives require daylight while others can only be completed after dark.

There are two ways to control the clock: use an available bed or learn the Sun’s Song. Sleeping is useful early on, while the song lets you switch between day and night almost anywhere.

How to change the time of day

Time advances naturally as you play, but you can change it directly with either of these methods:

• Sleep in a usable bed to choose morning or night when the option is available.
• Play the Sun’s Song for the fastest way to move between daytime and nighttime.

Change the time by sleeping

Look for a bed that Link can use, such as the bed inside the purple-doored house on the north-western side of Hyrule Castle Town. Interact with it and select the sleep option.

At first, the bed does not let you choose freely between morning and night. You must first speak to Zelda in Hyrule Castle and complete the “Princess of Hyrule Castle” quest. Once that requirement is met, sleeping allows you to select either morning or night.

Sleeping is convenient because it restores Link’s hearts without charge. However, a bed may be far from your current objective, making a trip back to town inefficient. For regular travel, learning the Sun’s Song is the better solution.

Where to learn the Sun’s Song

The Sun’s Song is learned during the “A Song of the Royal Family” quest in Kakariko Village. You must already know Zelda’s Lullaby, which Link learns during the “Princess of Hyrule Castle” quest.

Reach Kakariko Village through the entrance at the north-eastern corner of Hyrule Field. Once inside, travel to the right-hand side of the map and enter the tunnel leading to the Graveyard.

In the Graveyard, go to the right side of the area. You will find three tombstones, including two marked with harps. Interact with the tombstone on the left to make Sharp the Elder appear, then defeat him and speak to the ghost.

Sharp explains that he and his brother created a special song, but he will not reveal it until Link proves his loyalty to the royal family. Play Zelda’s Lullaby in front of the middle tombstone. After the short cutscene, speak with Sharp again and follow the newly opened path.

1. Go down the stairs.
2. Defeat all the Keese in the first room.
3. Continue through the second room while keeping your distance from the guarding creatures. They are strong, and you do not need to defeat them.
4. Read the tablet at the end of the route to learn the Sun’s Song.

Once learned, playing the Sun’s Song switches between day and night, or night and day, wherever Link is. It is the quickest option when you need to reach a time-specific character, area or quest without returning to a town.

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