Change the time on Windows by opening Settings

On Windows 10 or 11, the fastest way to change your computer's time is through the Settings app. Click the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen, then select "Change date and time settings." This opens a window where you can toggle off "Set time automatically" if it's on, then click "Change" to enter the new time and date manually.

If you don't see a clock in your taskbar, right-click on the taskbar itself, select "Taskbar settings," scroll down to "System tray," and toggle on "Clock." Once the clock appears, you can follow the steps above.

Windows will ask you to confirm the new time before saving it. After you click "OK," the change takes effect when ready. Your computer will remember this setting even after you restart, unless you turn "Set time automatically" back on.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can change the time through Settings by clicking the clock and selecting "Change date and time settings."
  • Mac users should open System Settings, click "General," then "Date & Time," and toggle off automatic time setting before entering a new time.
  • Most computers are set to update time automatically from the internet, so you may need to turn this off before making manual changes.
  • If your computer's time keeps reverting to the wrong setting, your system clock battery may be failing and should be checked by a technician.

Change the time on Mac through System Settings

On a Mac running macOS, open System Settings from the Apple menu in the top left corner. Click "General" in the sidebar, then select "Date & Time." You'll see a toggle for "Set date and time automatically"—turn this off so you can enter your own time.

Once automatic time is disabled, the time and date fields become editable. Click on the time field and type the new time in the format your Mac expects (usually HH:MM AM/PM). Click on the date field and enter the new date. Your Mac will save these changes when you close the window.

If you want your Mac to go back to automatic time updates, return to the same settings and toggle "Set date and time automatically" back on. Your Mac will then sync with the internet time servers.

Why your computer might have the wrong time

Most computers are set to update their time automatically from the internet. If your computer's time is wrong, the automatic setting may be turned on but your internet connection is poor, or your computer hasn't synced in a while. Restarting your computer often fixes this—it forces a fresh sync with the time servers.

If you manually change the time and it keeps reverting to the wrong time a few minutes later, automatic time setting is still on. Go back to Settings (Windows) or System Settings (Mac) and make sure the automatic toggle is off before making your change.

In rare cases, a computer's internal clock battery—a small coin-cell battery on the motherboard—is failing. If your computer loses the correct time every time you shut it down, even with automatic time off, the battery may need replacement. This is a job for a computer repair technician.

When to use automatic time versus manual time

Leaving automatic time on is the easiest choice for most people. Your computer stays accurate without any action from you, and it adjusts automatically when daylight saving time changes. The only downside is that your computer must have an internet connection to sync.

You might turn automatic time off if you're testing software that depends on a specific date or time, or if you're working offline and need to set a custom time temporarily. Once you're done, turn automatic time back on so your computer stays accurate going forward.

Some older software or games may require your computer's time to be within a certain range to run. If a program won't start and you've ruled out other causes, check whether your computer's time is far off. Syncing to the correct time often solves the problem.

Changing time zone instead of the actual time

If your computer is showing the right time but in the wrong time zone, you don't need to change the time itself—you need to change the time zone setting. On Windows, open Settings, click "Time & language," then "Date & time," and scroll down to "Time zone." Select your correct time zone from the dropdown.

On Mac, open System Settings, click "General," then "Date & Time," and look for "Time zone." Click the dropdown and search for your city or time zone. Your Mac will automatically adjust the displayed time to match.

Changing your time zone is different from changing the actual time. If you travel to a different time zone, your computer can update automatically if you have location services on, or you can manually select the new time zone and your computer will display the correct local time.

Syncing time across multiple devices

If you have multiple computers or devices, they don't automatically stay in sync with each other—each one syncs independently with internet time servers. This means one device might be a few seconds ahead of another, which is usually not a problem for everyday use.

If you need precise timing across devices (for example, for video editing or network testing), the best approach is to make sure all devices have automatic time on and a good internet connection. They'll all sync to the same internet time source and stay within a second or two of each other.

If you're manually setting time on multiple computers, set them one at a time and note that a few seconds of difference between them is normal and harmless for most purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my computer's time affect my files or programs?

Changing the time won't damage files or programs, but it can confuse them temporarily. Some programs use your computer's time to log when you open or save files. If you set the time far into the past or future, file timestamps may look wrong until you correct the time.

What if I can't find the clock in my Windows taskbar?

Right-click on the taskbar, select "Taskbar settings," scroll to "System tray," and toggle on "Clock." If the clock still doesn't appear, restart your computer. You can also access time settings by right-clicking on an empty area of your desktop and looking for a date/time option, though this varies by Windows version.

Does changing the time on my computer affect my internet or email?

Changing your computer's time won't break your internet connection, but it can cause problems with email and websites. If your time is very far off, some websites may refuse to load, and email may not sync properly. Correcting your time fixes these issues.

Can I set my computer to a different time zone without changing the actual time?

Yes. Changing your time zone adjusts what time your computer displays, but the actual time stays the same—it's just shown in a different zone. If you want to keep the same displayed time while moving to a different zone, you'd need to manually change both the time and the zone, which is rarely necessary.

What should I do if my computer's time keeps changing on its own?

If your time keeps jumping back to an earlier time, automatic time setting is likely on and your computer is syncing with internet servers. Turn off automatic time if you want to keep a manual setting. If the time jumps forward instead, or if it changes even with automatic time off, your system clock battery may be failing and a technician should check it.