How to change the time on your computer

Edited 6 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Time SettingsComputersWindowsMacDevicesSettingsHardwareCustomizationPerformanceSynchronization

Changing the time on your computer may be necessary for a variety of reasons, such as ensuring that your computer's timestamp is aligned with your local time zone, fixing an incorrect clock, or synchronizing time settings for specific applications. This guide will provide detailed steps to help you change the time on your computer. The instructions will cover various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Let's go step by step to understand the process clearly.

Changing the time on Windows

1. Using the taskbar

Follow these steps to change the time on a Windows computer using the taskbar:

1. Access the date and time settings: Right-click on the time display on the right side of the taskbar, and select "Adjust date/time." This will open the date and time settings.
2. Set the time manually: In the Date and time settings, make sure the "Set time automatically" switch is off. Then, click the "Change" button under the "Set the date and time manually" section.
3. Enter the new time: A dialog box will appear where you can enter the new date and time. Make the necessary changes and click "Change" to apply the update.

Your computer's time will now be updated to the specified date and time.

2. Using the Control Panel

If you prefer to use the Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel: Press the Windows key, type "control panel", and press Enter.
2. Go to Date and Time: In the Control Panel, select "Clock and Region," then click "Date and Time."
3. Change the date and time: In the Date and Time window, click the "Change date and time..." button. This will open the Date and Time Settings dialog box.
4. Enter a new time: Set the date and time you want, then click "OK" to save the changes.
5. Confirm changes: Click "OK" again in the Date and Time dialog box to confirm your changes.

Your computer's time should now be updated properly.

Changing the time on macOS

1. Using System Preferences

On macOS computers, you can change the time using System Preferences. Here's how:

1. Open System Preferences: Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences...".
2. Access the date & time settings: In System Preferences, click "Date & Time."
3. Unlock preferences: If the settings are locked, click the lock icon in the bottom left corner and enter your admin password to unlock the settings.
4. Set the time manually: In the Date & Time tab, make sure the "Set date and time automatically" checkbox is unchecked. Then, click the date and time display to set them manually.
5. Enter a new time: Adjust the date and time to your desired settings and close the window to apply the changes.

Once you complete these steps, your Mac's time will reflect the new settings.

Changing the time on Linux

Ubuntu/Debian-based systems

On an Ubuntu or Debian-based system, you can change the time as follows:

1. Using the Graphical User Interface (GUI)

1. Open Settings: Click the System menu and select "Settings."
2. Go to Date & Time: In the Settings window, find and select the "Date & Time" section.
3. Turn off automatic time: Toggle the switch for "Automatically adjust date and time" off.
4. Set the time manually: Select the "Time" field, and adjust the time to your preferred setting.

2. Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)

If you are comfortable with the command line, you can use the following command:

$ sudo timedatectl set-ntp false
$ sudo date --set "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS"

Replace YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS with the date and time you want. For example, to set the date to October 16, 2023 and the time to 14:30:00, use:

$ sudo date --set "2023-10-16 14:30:00"

This sets the system date and time accordingly.

Red Hat/CentOS-based systems

1. Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)

For Red Hat-based systems, such as RHEL or CentOS, follow these steps:

$ sudo timedatectl set-ntp false
$ sudo timedatectl set-time 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'

Similar to the Debian-based example, replace YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS with your desired date and time.

Conclusion

Changing the time on your computer is a straightforward task, regardless of the operating system. Whether you are using a version of Windows, macOS or Linux, the steps differ slightly but the result is the same. Each operating system provides both graphical and command-line methods to adjust date and time settings. This ensures that users with different levels of technical proficiency can manage their device effectively.

By following the instructions provided, you can ensure that your computer's clock is accurate, which is important for time-sensitive applications, scheduled tasks, and daily operations. Keeping your system time in sync with real time can also help avoid conflicts with network services and improve the coordination of events within your computer.

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