Changing the time on Windows 10 is usually pretty straightforward, but sometimes it gets a little weird, especially if the automatic sync is screwing things up or your time zone is misconfigured. If your clock is out of whack and causing issues — like failed scheduled tasks, weird timestamps, or just plain confusion — it’s worth knowing how to manually set it. Sometimes, the automatic options just don’t work right out of the box, and you have to step in and do it yourself. This guide walks through what to do when the clock’s wrong and how to get it back in sync, whether you want to set it manually or fine-tune your internet time settings for automatic updates.
How to Change the Time on Windows 10
Accessing the Date & Time Settings
First, get to the Settings menu. You can do this by clicking the Start button or pressing Windows key + I. Then, head over to Time & Language and look for Date & Time. Alternatively, you can type “Date and Time” into the search box on the start menu or taskbar, which usually gets you there faster. Once you’re in the Date & Time settings, you’ll see options to toggle automatic sync, time zone, and set the clock manually.
Turning Off Automatic Time
On some setups, the time just refuses to stay set the way you want because the Set time automatically toggle is turned on. So, toggle that off. This is what helps in some cases where Windows stubbornly keeps resetting your clock when you try to change it. But be aware — turning this off means you’ll need to set the time manually, and if you’re connected to the internet, Windows might try to auto-correct it again after a while unless you turn off the sync option explicitly.
Manually Adjusting the Time and Date
After disabling auto-sync, click the Change button under Set the date and time manually. Here, you’ll get a window where you can input the right date and time. It’s kind of hit-or-miss sometimes — on one machine, it works perfect the first time, on another, it’s a battle. Double-check your entries — especially the time zone — since wrong offsets can cause even more confusion. Once you hit OK, your clock should reflect your changes. Keep an eye on it for a bit; Windows sometimes reverts to its auto-setting if the auto option is still enabled in the background, or if there’s a sync conflict.
Bonus tip: If you want to make sure your time stays accurate, check the Sync your clock section. You can manually click Sync now to force a sync with internet time servers. Sometimes, Windows just doesn’t sync properly, especially after a big update or system change. If you’re having issues, it might be worth resetting your Windows Time service by opening an Admin Command Prompt or checking the Windows Time Service.
Configuring Time Zone Correctly
Mostly overlooked, but having the right Time zone is critical. If your time zone is set wrong, your clock might be right but labeled incorrectly, or worse, the time could jump around. Make sure you’ve selected the right zone in the drop-down menu. If you travel between zones a lot, the automatic setting might keep flipping, so manually lock it in if needed. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary to get these basics right.
Tips for Making It Stick
- Verify your Time zone is correct—nothing worse than seeing the right time with the wrong zone.
- If you’re using a network that might mess with your clock, consider turning off automatic sync temporarily during manual adjustments.
- Check if your user account has admin rights; sometimes, you need those to tweak system settings freely.
- For peace of mind, manually sync using
w32tm /resyncin an admin PowerShell — it forces a refresh from the time server. - On some computers, especially newer ones or custom builds, BIOS/UEFI clock can be wrong, so reboot into BIOS and double-check the hardware clock if issues persist after OS tweaks.
Not always perfect, but messing around with these options tends to fix stubborn clock issues. What’s odd is that in some setups, the automatic sync fights against your manual changes, leaving you scratching your head. Sometimes a quick reboot after setting the correct time is enough to lock things in place. Other times, you need to completely disable and re-enable services or even reset Windows Time service using commands like net stop w32time and net start w32time.