You glance at your computer clock and notice it’s showing the wrong time. Maybe it’s a few minutes off, or worse, hours behind. This little glitch can mess up your schedule, cause apps to act weird, and even block certain websites from loading properly.
This guide walks you through why your Windows 10 clock keeps falling out of sync and shows you simple ways to get it back on track.
What Happens When Your Windows 10 Clock Won’t Sync
Your computer relies on accurate time for way more than you might think. Windows uses the clock to check security certificates on websites, sync files across devices, and schedule updates. When the time drifts even a few minutes off, you might see error messages when browsing secure sites. Some apps refuse to open. Cloud services like OneDrive or Dropbox can get confused about which version of a file is newest.
The way Windows keeps time is pretty straightforward. Your computer has a tiny battery on the motherboard that powers a small clock chip, even when the machine is turned off. Every so often, Windows checks in with an online time server to make sure its clock matches up. If something breaks in this chain, your clock starts showing the wrong time.
Left unfixed, a time sync problem gets worse over time. Your computer’s internal clock can drift by several seconds or even minutes each day. You might miss calendar reminders, show up late to video calls, or find that two-factor authentication codes stop working because they’re time-sensitive. Files you save might show creation dates in the past or future, making it hard to sort them later.
One more thing worth knowing: Windows 10 stores time in a specific way based on your time zone settings. If you dual-boot with another operating system like Linux, they might interpret the hardware clock differently, causing constant conflicts every time you switch between them.
Time Not Syncing on Windows 10: Likely Causes
Several things can throw your Windows 10 clock out of sync. Pinpointing the exact cause helps you pick the right fix, so let’s look at what typically goes wrong.
1. The Windows Time Service Isn’t Running
Windows has a background service called “Windows Time” that handles all the syncing work. Think of it like a little helper that wakes up now and then to check the internet for the correct time. If this service stops running or gets disabled, your clock has no way to update itself.
Sometimes a Windows update or a third-party program can accidentally turn this service off. Other times, it just crashes and doesn’t restart on its own.
You might not even notice until days later when your clock is suddenly way off.
2. Your Time Server Isn’t Responding
Windows connects to a time server on the internet to grab the correct time. The default server is time.windows.com, but it doesn’t always work smoothly. The server might be down, overloaded, or blocked by your network.
If you’re on a company network, the IT department might block access to external time servers. Home users with strict firewall settings can run into the same issue.
3. A Dead or Dying CMOS Battery
That tiny battery on your motherboard, called the CMOS battery, keeps the clock ticking when your computer is off. These batteries last about five to ten years. When they start dying, your computer loses track of time every time you shut it down.
A telltale sign is that your clock resets to the same wrong date, often sometime in the early 2000s, every time you power on. You might also see error messages about CMOS settings during startup.
Some people ignore this for months, thinking it’s a software issue, but no amount of tweaking will fix a dead battery.
4. Incorrect Time Zone Settings
This one sounds almost too simple, but it catches a lot of people. Your computer might be syncing perfectly with the time server but showing the wrong time because your time zone is set incorrectly.
Windows tries to detect your time zone automatically based on your location, but it doesn’t always get it right. If you traveled with your laptop or moved to a new area, the setting might be stuck on your old location.
5. Malware or System File Corruption
In rare cases, malware can mess with your system settings, including the time. Some viruses change the clock on purpose to make security certificates appear expired, tricking you into ignoring browser warnings. Corrupted system files can also prevent the time service from working correctly.
If your clock keeps resetting even after you’ve tried other fixes, and your computer has been acting strange in other ways, this might be the culprit.
Time Not Syncing on Windows 10: DIY Fixes
Now that you know what causes the problem, here are practical solutions you can try yourself. Start with the easiest ones and work your way down if needed.
1. Manually Sync Your Clock
Sometimes the quickest solution is to force Windows to sync right now instead of waiting for the next scheduled check. This takes about thirty seconds.
- Right-click on the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Click Adjust date/time.
- Scroll down and click Sync now under the “Synchronize your clock” section.
- Wait a few seconds for Windows to connect to the time server.
If it works, you’ll see a message saying when the last successful sync happened. If you get an error, move on to the next fix.
2. Restart the Windows Time Service
A stuck or crashed time service needs a kick to get going again. Here’s how to restart it:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and press Enter.
- Scroll down the list until you find Windows Time.
- Right-click on it and select Restart. If the option is grayed out, click Start instead.
After restarting the service, go back to your date and time settings and try syncing again. Many people find this fixes the issue completely.
While you’re in the Services window, double-click on Windows Time and make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic. This ensures the service starts every time your computer boots up.
3. Change to a Different Time Server
The default time server isn’t your only option. Switching to a different one can help if time.windows.com is unreachable or slow to respond.
- Open Control Panel and go to Clock and Region, then Date and Time.
- Click the Internet Time tab.
- Click Change settings (you might need to click Yes to allow it).
- In the Server field, try one of these alternatives:
- time.nist.gov
- pool.ntp.org
- time.google.com
- Click Update now to test the new server.
If one server doesn’t work, try another. The NIST and Google servers are usually very reliable.
4. Check and Fix Your Time Zone
This fix takes two minutes but solves a surprising number of cases.
- Right-click on the clock and select Adjust date/time.
- Look at the Time zone dropdown and make sure it matches where you actually are.
- Toggle the Set time zone automatically switch off and then on again. This forces Windows to redetect your location.
If automatic detection keeps getting it wrong, just turn it off and manually select your correct time zone from the list. There’s no shame in doing things the old-fashioned way.
5. Replace the CMOS Battery
If your clock resets to the same old date every time you shut down, your CMOS battery is probably dead. Replacing it is easier than it sounds and costs less than five dollars.
You’ll need to open your computer case and find the small, silver, coin-shaped battery on the motherboard. It looks like a watch battery and usually pops out with a gentle push on a small clip. Take it to any electronics store to get an exact replacement, typically a CR2032.
Before you do this, write down any custom BIOS settings you’ve made, because replacing the battery resets them to defaults. For most home users, the default settings work fine anyway.
Once the new battery is in, your computer will hold its time even when powered off.
6. Run System File Checker
Corrupted Windows files can break the time sync function. Running the built-in System File Checker tool scans for damage and repairs what it can.
- Click the Start menu and type cmd.
- Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
- Wait for the scan to complete, which can take ten to fifteen minutes.
The tool will tell you if it found and fixed any problems. Restart your computer afterward and check if time syncing works better.
7. Contact a Professional Technician
If none of these fixes work, something deeper might be going on. There could be hardware damage, a persistent malware infection, or a conflict with other software on your system.
A professional technician can run more advanced diagnostics and pinpoint issues that are hard to spot on your own. This is especially worth considering if your computer is still under warranty or if you’ve noticed other strange behavior alongside the time problem.
Wrapping Up
A clock that won’t sync seems like a small annoyance until it starts causing real headaches with apps, websites, and file management. Most of the time, a quick manual sync or a service restart gets everything back to normal. For stubborn cases, changing the time server or replacing an old CMOS battery does the trick.
Take a few minutes to try these fixes before assuming the worst. Your computer’s timekeeping should be back on track with minimal effort.