So, the date and time just won’t sync on your Windows 11 machine? It’s kinda annoying, especially when everything depends on accurate timestamps. Sometimes this is because Windows is set to manual, sometimes it’s a glitch with the time server, or even a service that refuses to start. Whatever the reason, there are a few tricks that might get that clock ticking correctly again. Hopefully, one of these fixes works without too much fuss, because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
How to Fix Windows 11 Not Updating Time Issue
Ensure Time Settings Are Not Set to Manual
This is the most common culprit—if you’ve got the time set to manual, Windows won’t bother updating it automatically. It’s easy to overlook, so double-check first. When this is off, Windows should fetch the correct time from the internet without you needing to intervene.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Time & Language from the sidebar.
- Click on Date & Time on the right menu.
- Make sure the toggle for Set time automatically is turned on.
This ensures Windows is trying to set the time from the internet. If it was already enabled, skip ahead. But on some setups, this toggle can get stuck or misbehave, so toggling it off and on might help.
Try Changing the Time Server
Sometimes, the default time server just isn’t responsive or isn’t syncing correctly. Switching to a different time server can be a quick fix. It’s a little old-school, but it works if the default one is having issues.
- Open the Control Panel. You can find it via the Start Menu or by searching for it.
- Go to Clock and Region > Date and Time. If you’re in Classic View, it might show up directly, otherwise, find it in the list.
- Click on the Internet Time tab, then hit Change Settings…
- In the window that opens, click Update Now to test the connection.
- To change the server, check the box for Synchronize with an Internet time server if it’s not checked, then pick another server (like time.windows.com) or try alternative options such as time.nist.gov.
- Click Update Now again and see if the clock updates properly.
Start the Windows Time Service
This service is crucial for keeping your clock in sync. Sometimes it just doesn’t start properly or stops working, so manually restarting it can solve the problem.
- Open the Services app by searching for it from the Start menu.
- Find Windows Time in the list.
- Right-click and select Properties.
- Set the Startup type to Automatic.
- Click Start to launch the service if it’s stopped, then hit Apply and OK.
On some machines, this service just refuses to start without a push, and manually doing this fixes the sync issue.
Reset w32time.dll
If the service still isn’t cooperating, resetting the time DLL might help. It’s a bit of a deep dive but worth a shot. The idea is to re-register the DLL that handles time synchronization.
- Open the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
- Type the command below exactly, then hit Enter:
regsvr32 w32time.dll - Restart your PC. Sometimes, it’s just a quick way to reload the library and fix minor glitches.
Run SFC to Check System Files
If there are corrupted system files messing with the time service, running the System File Checker can catch and fix them. Not sure why, but Windows doesn’t always handle its core files very gracefully.
- Search for SFC in the Start Menu and click on Command Prompt, again run as admin.
- Type this and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow - Let the scan do its thing — it’ll flag and repair corrupt files automatically. Once done, restart and see if the time sync problem is gone.
Fix the Registry for Time Sync Issues
This is kinda advanced and should be done carefully. Sometimes, registry keys related to time zones get wonky or are missing, leading to no updates at all.
- Open the Registry Editor by searching for it. Confirm you want to run as admin.
- Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet. If you don’t see ControlTimeZoneInformation on the left, right-click on CurrentControlSet, go to New > Key, and name it ControlTimeZoneInformation. - Right-click in the right pane, choose New > DWORD (64-bit) Value.
- Name it RealTimeUniversal.
- Double-click the new value and set the Value data to 1.
- Close the registry editor, restart your machine, and hope the clock starts behaving again.
Final Words
That’s pretty much it. These are common solutions that have worked for others when Windows 11 refuses to keep the clock updated. Sometimes a fresh start with a different server or repairing system files does the trick. Not exactly a foolproof magic spell, but hey, it usually gets the job done.
Summary
- Ensure auto time setting is on
- Switch time servers if needed
- Start or restart the Windows Time service
- Reset time DLL with regsvr32
- Run SFC /scannow for system repair
- Modify registry if all else fails
Wrap-up
Fixing time issues can be a pain, but trying these steps should cover most common causes. If none work, maybe checking for Windows updates or doing a clean install is your last resort. Fingers crossed this helps—because who wants to ignore the clock in Windows 11, right?