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To keep the Windows 11 clock synchronized automatically, open Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically. If the time is still wrong because Windows is using the wrong region, adjust the separate time-zone setting.

Turn on automatic clock synchronization

  1. Select Start, then open Settings.
  2. Go to Time & language > Date & time.
  3. Turn on Set time automatically. This is the Windows 11 control for automatic date and time; Microsoft documents this Settings path for Windows 11 and Windows 10: Microsoft Support: Set time, date, and time zone settings in Windows.
  4. To request an immediate attempt, scroll to Synchronize your clock and select Sync now, if that section is available. Microsoft includes this as a troubleshooting step: Microsoft Support: time and time-zone troubleshooting.

Set the time zone separately

Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically do different jobs. The first synchronizes the clock’s date and time; the second lets Windows choose a local time zone. If the clock is consistently offset by a whole region’s difference, turn on automatic time-zone selection if appropriate, or choose the correct entry under Time zone. The automatic time-zone option may not be available on every device or configuration. See Microsoft’s Windows time and time-zone settings guidance.

What Windows is synchronizing

Windows Time (W32Time) uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize with a network time source. NTP represents time in UTC; Windows applies the selected time zone when displaying local time. Windows time synchronization uses UDP port 123. Microsoft documents the service, configuration, and tools in Windows Time Service Tools and Settings.

If the clock does not sync

Try the Settings sync first

Confirm Set time automatically is on, then use Sync now if it appears. Check the time zone separately if the displayed local time remains wrong. Avoid using older Internet Time Control Panel directions for this standard Windows 11 procedure; the documented route is the Settings page above.

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Consider whether the PC is managed

On a work or school computer, an administrator may control the time source. Microsoft documents that domain-joined devices generally follow the domain time hierarchy, while non-domain-joined devices use the NTP client configuration. Do not change a managed device’s time hierarchy without the administrator’s guidance. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows Time Service documentation.

Advanced checks for administrators

If a resynchronization fails, possible causes include an incorrect or unresolvable configured NTP server name, UDP port 123 blocked by a local or network firewall, or a target server that is not advertising as an NTP server. Microsoft describes these failure conditions in Troubleshoot the W32Time service resync error.

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From an elevated Command Prompt, an administrator can use these built-in commands to inspect or request synchronization:

  • w32tm /status displays time-service status.
  • w32tm /query /configuration displays the current configuration.
  • w32tm /resync requests resynchronization.

Microsoft identifies w32tm as its preferred command-line tool for configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting W32Time; local administrative rights are required to use it locally. These commands are for diagnosis, not a replacement for the normal Settings switch. Consult Microsoft’s W32Time tools and settings reference.

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Quick Recap

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