On a Linux system that uses systemd, check the clock with timedatectl status, then set it with sudo timedatectl set-time "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS". Set the timezone separately with timedatectl set-timezone. If the time changes back, check network time synchronization before repeating the manual change.
Check the current clock and synchronization status
Run:
timedatectl statusThe output reports the system clock, real-time clock (RTC), timezone, and synchronization state. Check which time service your distribution uses as well: the status is useful context, but the service and its configuration can vary.
Set the system date and time
Use the timestamp you want in the format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, enclosed in quotes:
sudo timedatectl set-time "2026-10-08 14:30:00"This is an example value; replace it with the intended date and time. The command requires administrative authorization. According to the timedatectl manual, setting the time also updates the RTC.
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Change the timezone without changing the clock instant
A timezone determines how the local time is represented; changing it is different from correcting the system clock. List available timezone identifiers, then select the appropriate one:
timedatectl list-timezones
sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_YorkReplace America/New_York with the identifier for the machine’s location. The timedatectl manual documents both commands.
Keep the clock from reverting
If a manual adjustment is quickly undone or the clock drifts again, inspect synchronization state and the configured time service. An active network time service can correct the clock to its configured reference. Where supported, timedatectl provides set-ntp to enable or disable network synchronization; Ubuntu documents this control and its timesyncd configuration, while noting that setup depends on the service in use.
sudo timedatectl set-ntp trueUse this only if the system supports the command and you want network time synchronization enabled. See the Ubuntu timedatectl manual and Ubuntu Server timesyncd documentation for service-specific details.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUnderstand the system clock and hardware clock
Linux uses the system clock while running. The RTC—also called the hardware or CMOS clock—is maintained by the machine and can provide the starting time during boot. The hwclock utility can read or set the RTC and copy time between it and the system clock. To copy the current system time to the RTC, run:
sudo hwclock --systohcUse this when you specifically intend to write the system clock to the hardware clock. Refer to the hwclock manual and Arch Linux system time guidance for details.
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Choose the RTC time convention
UTC is generally the recommended RTC setting, especially when multiple operating systems share the hardware clock. On systemd systems, timedatectl set-local-rtc 0 selects UTC; timedatectl set-local-rtc 1 selects local-time mode. The systemd manual warns that local-time RTC mode is not fully supported and can cause problems with timezone changes and daylight-saving adjustments. Arch guidance likewise recommends UTC for a shared RTC.
sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 0See the timedatectl manual and Arch Linux system time guidance.
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Which command should you use?
| Need | Command or approach | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Correct the current clock on a systemd system | sudo timedatectl set-time "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS" |
Sets system time and, according to the timedatectl manual, updates the RTC. |
| Change local timezone rules | sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City |
Changes the configured timezone, not the current clock instant; see the timedatectl manual. |
| Have time corrected automatically | Enable and configure a supported network time service | Service availability and configuration vary by distribution; see Ubuntu Server timesyncd documentation. |
| Read or set the RTC or copy between clocks | hwclock |
Works with the hardware clock; account for the UTC or local-time convention. See the hwclock manual. |
When these commands may not apply
This procedure is for Linux systems using systemd and its timedatectl utility. The command may be unavailable, or behave differently, on non-systemd systems, in containers, rescue environments, and installation chroots. Authorization requirements, available synchronization services, and configuration also depend on the distribution; consult its current documentation for those cases.
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