Updating the time on Windows 10 might seem straightforward, but sometimes it’s kinda weird how it refuses to stay accurate or ignores manual adjustments. Maybe your clock keeps drifting or Sync isn’t working properly. This stuff can bite, especially if you rely on scheduled tasks, calendar events, or just want your PC’s clock to match the real world. Luckily, tweaking the settings usually does the trick, but sometimes you gotta dig around a bit more, especially with Windows updates or weird system glitches.
How to Update Time on Windows 10
Adjusting the Time Manually: The Behind-the-Scenes
This helps if your automatic time sync is broken or misconfigured. You’re basically telling Windows to stop fixing the time for a sec and letting you set it yourself. Often, this is the culprit when your clock drifts or just stays wrong after a reboot. Expect to see your time change instantly once you do it right. Sometimes, on certain setups, the setting stubbornly re-enables itself after a restart—so be aware of that. On some machines, disabling and re-enabling the sync has helped restore proper manual control.
- In Settings, navigate to Time & Language > Date & Time.
- Turn off the toggle for Set time automatically. Windows might override your manual input otherwise.
- Click Change under Set the date and time manually.
- Adjust the clock, hit Change, and close everything out. Make sure to hit Sync now if you’re trying to force a sync afterward.
Why this helps
This method is good if Windows insists on auto-updating your time, which isn’t always synced with reality. Disabling auto sync gives control back, especially on systems with weird network issues or outdated BIOS clock settings. On some setups, you might need to toggle Set time automatically off and on again or restart your PC for changes to stick. I’ve seen cases where the time just won’t update until a reboot sorts itself out—likely because Windows caches some settings or the registry gets a bit confused.
Synchronize with an Internet Time Server
If your manual fiddling didn’t get the clock right, try forcing a sync with a trusted internet time server. It’s kinda weird, but Windows usually syncs with Microsoft’s servers, but sometimes those get laggy or blocked by firewalls. How to do it:
- Go to Control Panel > Clock and Region > Date and Time.
- Select the Internet Time tab. If you don’t see it, make sure your system is using the right locale or language settings.
- Click Change settings.
- Check the box next to Synchronize with an Internet time server.
- Select a server like time.windows.com and hit Update now.
This often fixes drifting clocks or if your system’s time just refuses to correct itself. On one setup, this failed initially, but after a couple of retries and a reboot, it snapped into place.
When to Consider BIOS/UEFI Clock or Windows Updates
If none of the above jives and your time keeps drifting wildly even after sync attempts, it might be worth checking your BIOS clock. Sometimes, the motherboard’s internal clock can go wonky and Windows just inherits that. A quick reboot into BIOS/UEFI (usually pressing Delete or F2 during startup) and checking the hardware clock can reveal if it’s off. Fixing that usually involves resetting the BIOS to defaults or even replacing the CMOS battery if it’s super old. Also, check for Windows updates to make sure your OS isn’t fighting with buggy system files over time zones or time sync services.
Because of course, Windows has to make it a little harder than it should be, so a combination of BIOS and OS tweaks often does the trick in the end. In some cases, a full system restart or even resetting Windows time services (via command prompt) might be necessary.
Command-line fix: Reset Windows Time Service
This is a more advanced move if nothing else works. Sometimes, the Windows Time service just chokes. Here’s a quick fix:
net stop w32time w32tm /reset net start w32time w32tm /resync Run that in an admin Command Prompt, then check if the time updates correctly afterward. This sometimes resets the underlying service that manages time syncs behind the scenes. On some machines, this fails the first time then works after a reboot or a second run.
All in all, dealing with Windows time issues isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of toggling a setting, other times a system glitch or BIOS hiccup is to blame. The key is patience and a bit of trial and error. Hope this helps multiple people save some headache.
Summary
- Turn off auto time sync in Settings or Control Panel.
- Manually set your date and time in the same menu.
- Force sync with a reliable internet time server.
- If persistent, check BIOS clock or update Windows.
- Use command-line tools to reset and troubleshoot time services.
Wrap-up
Getting your Windows 10 clock right can be annoying, especially if it fights back. But with these methods, chances are good you’ll get it stable again. Sometimes it’s just a matter of messing around a bit—especially if Windows stubbornly reverts to the wrong time after every reboot. Just keep toggling those settings or forcing a sync until things stick. At the end of the day, your PC needs to match reality, and hopefully, this saves some time and frustration for someone out there. Fingers crossed this helps.