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Time Is Not Syncing Automatically on Windows 10 or 11? How to Fix It

If Windows time is not syncing automatically, check the Date & time settings, use Sync now, verify the time zone, and confirm internet access.
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If your Windows clock is not syncing automatically, check the automatic time setting first. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically. If the time is still wrong, use Sync now if it appears, check the time zone separately, and confirm that the PC can connect to the internet.

Turn on automatic time and try syncing

  1. Open Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time. Microsoft documents this path for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its Windows date, time, and time-zone settings guide.

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  2. Turn on Set time automatically.

  3. If the page offers Sync now under Synchronize your clock or Additional settings, select it. The label or placement can vary by Windows version. Microsoft also recommends checking automatic date and time and using Sync now in its Windows Update troubleshooting guidance.

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Check the time zone separately

Automatic clock setting and time-zone selection are separate controls. If the clock is consistently wrong by several hours, check the time zone on the same Date & time page. Turn on Set time zone automatically if it suits your location and setup, or select the correct time zone manually. Microsoft documents both controls in its date, time, and time-zone settings guide.

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Confirm the PC has internet access

Windows needs to reach an online time source to synchronize. Check whether other websites or online services work on the PC. If they do not, troubleshoot the connection before treating the clock as a separate fault. For Wi-Fi, Microsoft’s Wi-Fi connection troubleshooting guide covers general network checks; it does not identify a particular network or firewall rule as the cause of a clock-sync failure.

What if the PC uses a metered connection?

A metered connection can limit some background activity, but Microsoft’s metered-connection guidance does not say that metering blocks Windows clock synchronization. Treat it as context to investigate only if other evidence points to the connection; do not assume it explains the failure.

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When to look beyond these settings

If automatic time is enabled, the time zone is correct, and the PC is online but synchronization still fails, these checks have not identified the cause. Avoid applying a service command or replacing a CMOS battery as a general fix without evidence that it fits the specific failure. Microsoft documents a W32Time issue involving UDP port 123 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, but that legacy server case does not establish a repair for Windows 10 or Windows 11 PCs: Microsoft’s article on the Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 issue.

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