woman on computer
You can change the time on your Windows 10 computer manually if it's wrong.
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  • While Windows 10 can be automatically set to determine the time based on your current location, this doesn’t always work perfectly. 
  • The Windows 10 clock can be changed quickly and easily in your computer’s Settings app. 
  • The wrong system time and date may lead to network issues and your files displaying inaccurate time stamps.
  • Visit Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories

While Windows 10 typically does a good job at automatically determining today’s actual time and date, you may come across the occasional hiccup. The wrong system time and date may lead to network issues and your files showing erroneous time stamps.

If Windows 10 is showing the wrong time and date, it’s most likely due to a lack of internet connection. Perhaps you’re traveling through different time zones or something went wrong with daylight savings time. 

Luckily, changing the time and date is an easy process that can be completed in a snap. Here’s what you need to know about how to manually change the time and date on Windows 10.

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How to change the time and date on a Windows 10 computer

Windows 10 adjust time and date
Right-click on the clock icon to access the date and time menu.
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1. Right-click on the clock icon found on the lower left-hand side of your taskbar. Then, click on "Adjust date/time." Alternatively, you can right-click on the Windows start menu and click "Settings." In the Settings menu, click "Time & Language." Both ways bring you to the same menu window. 

Windows 10 adjust time date 2
The time and date menu.
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2. If you want Windows to determine your time automatically, toggle the "Set time automatically" switch on, which will turn blue when enabled. You can also choose to have Windows determine your time zone by enabling the "Set time zone automatically" option just below. 

3. To manually set the time on Windows 10, you must disable the "Set time automatically" switch, as well as the "Set time zone automatically" switch. Then, click "Change" under the "Change date and time" option. 

4. In the pop-up box, enter your desired time and date and press "Change". This will update the system time.

Windows 10 time and date
You can change the time and date by clicking "Change," found under "Change date and time."
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How to synchronize the Windows 10 time and date to an internet time server

It should be noted that if you want Windows to update your system time and time zone automatically, but the currently displayed time is not correct, you can direct Windows to synchronize your computer's time with an internet time server to correct it. 

Windows 10 synchronize
To resync your computer to an internet time server, go to "Related settings."
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1. In the same menu window, click "Additional date, time, & regional settings" under "Related Settings". 

Windows 10 synchronize date and time
In this menu, you can also adjust your language and region settings.
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2. Click "Date and Time". 

Windows 10 internet time
Navigate to the "Internet Time" tab.
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3. In the box that opens, click the "Internet Time" tab, then click "Change settings".

Windows 10 time update
Choose your desired server.
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4. Then, select a server from the drop-down list. The default server is time.windows.com, but you'll also have the option to choose time.nist.gov, which is the time server from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. Choose on and click "Update now." A message will appear that the clock was successfully synchronized.

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