How To Change Date And Time In Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Published on November 10, 2025

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Keeping the correct date and time on your Windows 11 computer is crucial for various reasons, from ensuring accurate timestamps on your files to synchronizing with online services. An incorrect date or time can lead to problems with software updates, website access, and even scheduled tasks. Fortunately, changing the date and time in Windows 11 is a straightforward process.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough to help you easily adjust your system’s date and time settings. Whether you need to manually set the date and time or enable automatic synchronization with an internet time server, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

How Do I Change the Date and Time on Windows 11?

Accessing the Date and Time Settings

Click on the Start button.
Type “Settings” in the search bar and press Enter.
In the Settings app, click on Time & Language.
Select Date & Time from the left-hand menu.

Manually Setting the Date and Time

Under the “Date & Time” section, toggle the “Set time automatically” option to Off. This will allow you to manually adjust the date and time.
Click the Change button next to “Set the date and time manually.”
Use the dropdown menus to select the correct Month, Day, and Year.
Use the dropdown menus to select the correct Hour and Minute.
Click the Change button to save your changes.

Automatically Synchronizing with an Internet Time Server

Under the “Date & Time” section, toggle the “Set time automatically” option to On. Windows 11 will attempt to synchronize with a Microsoft time server.
If you want to use a different time server, scroll down to the “Additional settings” section.
Click the Sync now button to immediately synchronize your clock with the selected time server.
To change the internet time server, click on Internet Time, and then click Change.
In the “Server” dropdown menu, select your preferred time server. The default is “time.windows.com.”
Click Update now to synchronize with the new time server.
Click OK to save your changes.

Adjusting the Time Zone

In the “Date & Time” settings, make sure the “Set time zone automatically” is toggled On if you want Windows to automatically detect your time zone based on your location.
If you want to set it manually, toggle the “Set time zone automatically” to Off.
Use the dropdown menu under “Time zone” to select your current time zone.

Changing the Date and Time Format

In the “Time & Language” settings, click on Language & Region.
Under the “Related settings” section, click on Administrative language settings.
In the “Region” window, click on the Formats tab.
Click on Additional settings.
Go to the Date tab to customize how dates are displayed.
Go to the Time tab to customize how times are displayed.
Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Tips

Regular Synchronization: Even when set to automatic, it’s a good practice to occasionally click the “Sync now” button to ensure your clock is accurate.
Time Server Selection: If you experience synchronization issues with the default time server, try using another reliable server like “pool.ntp.org.”
BIOS Battery: If your computer consistently loses time when turned off, the CMOS battery on your motherboard might need replacing.

Date and Time Settings Comparison

Feature	Manual Setting	Automatic Setting
Accuracy	Depends on user input	High accuracy through internet time servers
Maintenance	Requires periodic manual adjustments	Requires minimal maintenance
Time Zone	User must manually set and update	Automatically adjusts based on location (if enabled)
Internet Connection	Not required	Required for synchronization
Best For	Situations without internet access	Everyday use for accurate timekeeping

Keeping Your Clock Accurate

Maintaining an accurate date and time in Windows 11 is simple with these steps. Whether you choose to manually configure the settings or rely on automatic synchronization, ensuring your clock is correct will help you avoid potential issues and keep your system running smoothly.

FAQ

How do I fix the time not syncing in Windows 11? Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Check the internet time server settings and try a different server. Restart the Windows Time service.

Why is my Windows 11 clock always wrong? The CMOS battery on your motherboard might be failing. You might also have conflicting third-party software.

Can I change the time format in Windows 11? Yes, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region > Administrative language settings > Formats tab > Additional settings and customize the Date and Time tabs.

How often should I sync my clock with an internet time server? If you’re using automatic synchronization, Windows 11 will do it regularly. You can also manually sync it periodically for extra assurance.

What is the best internet time server to use? The default “time.windows.com” is generally reliable. “pool.ntp.org” is another good option.