TL;DR

A normal day in Paralives lasts about 40 real-life minutes at default speed.
Use the triangle icons at the bottom-right of the screen or press 1, 2, or 3 on your keyboard to switch speed.
Speed 1 is normal, Speed 2 is 5x faster, Speed 3 is 15x faster.
The Storyteller settings let you permanently adjust day length using the Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds slider.
You can also use the cheat console to skip time directly with commands.
All methods are available at any point in the game — no restart needed.

Speed Up Time in Paralives is something most players want to do within their first hour of playing. A default day runs for about 40 real-life minutes, which is a long time if you are waiting for your Para to finish work, sleep through the night, or reach the next goal. The good news is that Paralives gives you multiple ways to control how fast time moves, from simple on-screen buttons to deep Storyteller settings. This guide covers every method clearly so you can pick what works best for your playstyle.

Table of Contents

How Time Works in Paralives

Paralives runs on an in-game clock that ticks through a full 24-hour day. At default speed, one full day takes roughly 40 real-life minutes. That is comparable to Stardew Valley but longer than most players expect going in.

You can display time in either 12-hour or 24-hour format by adjusting the clock display in the general settings. This is purely a visual preference and has no effect on how fast days actually pass.

There are three ways to speed up time in the game. You can change the active playback speed using the on-screen buttons or keyboard shortcuts, adjust the permanent day length through the Storyteller settings, or skip chunks of time directly using cheat commands. All three approaches are valid and can be used together depending on the situation.

Method 1: Use the Speed Buttons or Keyboard Shortcuts

This is the quickest and most direct way to speed up time while playing. Paralives has three speed settings built into the main interface, and you can switch between them at any moment during gameplay.

The Three Speed Levels Explained

Speed 1 (Normal) — This is the default. Time flows at the standard rate and your Para goes about their day naturally. A full day takes around 40 real-life minutes at this speed.
Speed 2 (Fast) — Time runs at 5x the normal rate. A full day takes around 7 to 8 real-life minutes. Good for getting through work shifts or waiting for needs to fill.
Speed 3 (Fastest) — Time runs at 15x the normal rate. A full day takes roughly 1 to 2 real-life minutes. This is the best option when you just want to skip to the next morning or get through a long sleep.

How to Switch Speed Using On-Screen Buttons

Look at the bottom-right corner of the screen during Live Mode.
Click the single triangle icon to set Speed 1 (normal).
Click the double triangle icon to set Speed 2 (5x faster).
Click the triple triangle icon to set Speed 3 (15x faster).

How to Switch Speed Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Press 1 on your keyboard for normal speed.
Press 2 for fast speed (5x).
Press 3 for the fastest speed (15x).

Using keyboard shortcuts is faster than clicking the icons once you get used to them. You can also fully remap these shortcuts if you prefer different keys. Open Settings, go to the Key Bindings tab, click the action you want to change, and press your preferred key.

One useful thing to know: if a critical event happens during high speed — like your Para’s needs dropping to a dangerous level — the game will automatically slow back down to draw your attention. So you do not have to worry about missing something important while running at 15x.

Method 2: Adjust Day Length Through Storyteller Settings

day length time speed up settings in paralives

The on-screen speed buttons change how fast time moves in the moment, but the Storyteller settings let you change how long a day is at the global level. This is the better option if you want every day to feel shorter without having to manually hit Speed 3 every single session.

The key setting here is called Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds. It controls how many in-game minutes pass for every real-life second that ticks by. Increasing this number makes days shorter. Decreasing it stretches days out and gives you more time to get things done.

How to Change the Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds Setting

Press Esc or click the three white dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
Click Storyteller.
Click Customize Storyteller.
Find the Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds slider under the Time section.
Move the slider up to make days go by faster.
Save your changes.

This setting stacks with the speed buttons. If you set a higher value here and also play on Speed 2 or Speed 3, the days will pass even faster. It gives you a lot of control over the exact pace you want.

The Storyteller settings also let you adjust the Duration of Life Stages, which affects how quickly your Paras age through childhood, young adulthood, and so on. This is separate from day speed but connected to the overall sense of how fast your playthrough moves. You can learn more about that in our guide on how to stop aging and dying in Paralives.

You can access the Storyteller settings at any point mid-game. You do not need to start a new save to change the day length, which makes it easy to adjust as your preferences shift.

Method 3: Skip Time Using Cheat Commands

If you want to jump ahead by a specific number of hours rather than waiting even on fast speed, the cheat console gives you that option. This is the most direct way to skip chunks of the day.

How to Open the Cheat Console

Press CTRL + F1 or CTRL + SHIFT + C to open the cheat console. Both work on Windows. Mac players may only have access to CTRL + F1.

Useful Time Cheat Commands

SETHOUR [number] — Sets the in-game clock to a specific hour. For example, typing SETHOUR 7 jumps straight to 7 AM.
NEXTDAY — Skips directly to the start of the next day.

These commands are especially useful for skipping sleep. If your Para goes to bed at 10 PM and you do not want to sit through the night even at 15x speed, you can use SETHOUR to jump to morning instantly. The game processes the sleep as completed and your Para wakes up rested.

You can also type HELP or CHEATLIST in the console to see all available commands directly in the game without having to look anything up.

For a deeper look at what else cheats can do in Paralives — including filling needs, managing skills, and more — check our related guide on all Parafolk needs in Paralives where we also cover the cheat codes for instantly refilling every need bar.

How to Pause Time in Paralives

If you need to stop time entirely to make a decision, queue up actions, or just take a break without closing the game, pausing is simple.

Press Space on your keyboard to pause and unpause.
You can also click the pause button in the bottom-right corner of the screen next to the speed icons.

While paused, you can still click on your Paras, queue actions, open menus, and plan your next moves. The game simply waits for you until you unpause.

How to Slow Down Time in Paralives

Not everyone wants time to go faster. Some players feel like days move too quickly at default settings, especially when trying to build relationships, explore town, or work on skills. Paralives lets you slow things down too.

In the Storyteller settings, lower the Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds slider to stretch out each day.
Some players set this as low as 0.1, which makes the game run at a very slow, relaxed pace.
This is especially helpful if you find your Para’s needs — particularly Sleep — depleting too fast before you have time to enjoy the day.

Slowing down time is also a good way to make sure you can keep up with managing a full household without feeling rushed. If you have multiple Paras whose needs you need to juggle, a slower clock gives you more breathing room. You can read more about managing all your Para’s daily requirements in our guide on all Parafolk needs in Paralives.

Why You Might Want to Speed Up Time in Paralives

There are a few common situations where speeding up time makes the game more enjoyable.

Waiting through work shifts. If your Para is at work and there is nothing to do at home, running at 15x speed gets through the shift in under two minutes.
Skipping sleep. Sleeping through an eight-hour night at normal speed takes a long time. Speed 3 or a SETHOUR cheat cuts that to seconds.
Reaching the next day’s story cards. Each new day brings fresh story cards from your Storyteller, including perks like boundless energy, gym motivation, and work inspiration. Speeding through the end of a slow day gets you to those rewards faster.
Hitting long-term goals sooner. Goals tied to consistency — like building up enough money to buy a house or earning enough promotions — benefit from moving through days more efficiently.
Managing multiple Paras. In a big household, running one Para’s work shift on fast speed while you manage another Para’s activities in the background is a great time-saving strategy.

Tips for Using Time Speed Effectively

Do not leave Speed 3 running unattended. Even though the game slows down for critical events, it is still good practice to check on your Paras regularly when running at 15x. Needs can drop faster than expected.
Use Speed 2 for most skipping. Speed 3 is great for sleep, but Speed 2 is usually the safer choice for active daytime hours when something might need your attention.
Combine Storyteller settings with the speed buttons. Setting a slightly higher Minutes Per Real-Life Seconds value in the Storyteller means even Speed 1 feels quicker, and you get all the benefits without constantly pressing 3.
Save before using time cheats. Cheat commands that jump the clock are generally stable, but as Paralives is still in Early Access, saving first is always smart.

If you are setting up your game and want to make sure it runs as smoothly as possible, our guide on best PC settings for Paralives is a good place to start. And if you are also thinking about managing your Para’s career timeline alongside the day speed, check our guide on how to quit and find a new job in Paralives.

More Paralives Guides

Now that you know how to control the clock in Paralives on Steam, here are more guides to help you manage your playthrough:

Wrapping Up

Speeding up time in Paralives is easy once you know where the controls are. The keyboard shortcuts 1, 2, and 3 give you instant access to all three speed levels without touching the mouse. The Storyteller settings let you permanently tune how long days last so every session feels the right pace. And the cheat console is there whenever you want to skip directly to a specific hour or the next morning entirely.

All three methods work together and can be changed at any point in your playthrough. Experiment with what feels right for your style, and do not be afraid to slow things down if the default pace feels too rushed.

How to Speed Up Time in Paralives (All 3 Methods)

How Time Works in Paralives