If your clock is not correctly synchronized, you could experience network and application access issues, and emails, messages, and files may have incorrect time stamps. If your device displays the wrong time (and it is not a time zone issue), or an organization or service uses a specific configuration, you may need to change and sync the time server.

You can automatically or manually set your computer’s date and time based on a time zone. Additionally, Microsoft Windows and Apple OS synchronize your device’s clock to an internet time server to ensure you have the correct, universal time.  

Common Network Time Servers:  
time.windows.com, time.apple.com, time.nist.gov, pool.ntp.org

Below are steps on how to sync your date and time server

Instructions may vary depending on operating system version

SET THE DATE AND TIME

Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time 

You have the following options to set your date and time: 

  • Set time automatically 
  • Adjust for daylight saving time automatically 
  • Select Time zone 
  • Set Time zone automatically
  • Set the date and time manually 

Windows Date and Time Screen Example

CHANGE AND SYNC THE TIME SERVER 

Scroll to bottom > click Additional clocks under Additional settings 

Windows Date and Time Tab Example

Windows Additional Clocks Tab Example

  1. Click the Internet Time tab.  2.
  2. Click the Change settings button. 3.
  3. Check that the Synchronize with an internet time server option is selected. 3.
  4. Use the drop-down menu to select a server: time.windows.com or time.nist.gov 5.
  5. Click the Update now button to synchronize the time with the new server. 6.
  6. Click OK. 7.
  7. Click Apply. 8.
  8. Click OK. 

Windows Date and Time Server Tab Example

SET THE DATE, TIME AND TIME SERVER 

Apple Menu  > System Settings/Preferences > General > Date & Time. 

Note: You may be prompted to enter your computer password to make changes. 

If your OS is earlier than Ventura 13, click the padlock icon to unlock your settings to enable changes; and when finished, click the padlock icon again to lock your settings. 

  1. Turn on “Set time and date automatically”, click Set, then enter a network time server for your region. The default is Apple (time.apple.com).
  2. Turn on “Set time zone automatically using your current location.” 

Manually: 

  1. Turn off “Set time and date automatically”, click Set, enter the date and time, then click Set.  
  2. Turn off “Set time zone automatically using your current location”, click Set, enter a city in the text field, select the full city name from the list, then click OK. 

MacOS Date and Time Tab Example