Where to find the time settings on your computer
Your computer's clock lives in the system settings, not in the taskbar display itself. Changing the time means going into the operating system's control panel, not just clicking the clock. The exact path depends on whether you use Windows or Mac, but both take less than a minute once you know where to look.
On Windows, the fastest route is to right-click the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen and select "Adjust date and time". This opens the Settings app directly to the time panel. On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, select "System Settings", then find "General" in the sidebar and click "Date & Time".
Key Takeaways
- Windows users right-click the clock in the bottom right corner and select "Adjust date and time" to reach the settings panel in one step.
- Mac users open System Settings from the Apple menu, navigate to General, and then click Date & Time.
- Turning off automatic time updates before making manual changes prevents your computer from overwriting your adjustment when ready afterward.
- If your computer keeps resetting the time, the system clock battery may be failing and needs replacement by a technician.
- Setting the correct time matters for security certificates, file timestamps, and scheduled tasks to work properly.
Changing the time on Windows
After you right-click the clock and open "Adjust date and time", you will see a toggle labeled "Set time automatically". Turn this off first. If you leave it on, Windows will override any manual change you make within seconds, pulling the correct time from the internet.
Once automatic time is off, you will see fields for the date and time. Click "Change" next to the date and time section. A small window will pop up where you can type in the new date and the new time. Enter both, then click "Change" again to save. Windows will explore the change when ready.
If you need to set the time zone as well — for instance, if you moved to a different region — scroll down in the same settings window and find "Time zone". Click the dropdown and select your zone from the list. Your computer will adjust all times automatically once you choose the correct zone.
Changing the time on Mac
In the Date & Time settings, you will see a lock icon in the bottom left corner. Click it and enter your Mac password. This unlocks the settings so you can make changes. Without unlocking, the fields will be grayed out and unclickable.
Once unlocked, uncheck the box that says "Set date and time automatically". This prevents your Mac from pulling the time from the internet and overwriting your manual entry. Then click the date and time fields and type in the correct values. Mac will save the change as soon as you move to the next field.
If you need to change the time zone, look for the "Time zone" dropdown in the same window. Click it and search for your location or select from the list. Your Mac will update all times to match the new zone when ready.
Why your computer keeps changing the time back
If you set the time manually and it reverts to the wrong time within minutes, automatic time synchronization is still turned on. Go back to the time settings and make sure the "Set time automatically" toggle (Windows) or "Set date and time automatically" checkbox (Mac) is actually off. Sometimes the setting does not save on the first try.
If automatic time is off and the time still drifts or resets, your computer's internal clock battery may be failing. This battery keeps the system clock running even when the computer is powered off. A failing battery cannot hold the correct time, so the clock resets every time you restart. A technician will need to replace it — this is not something you can fix through settings.
Another cause is a corrupted system file or a virus interfering with time settings. If the time keeps changing and you have already confirmed automatic time is off, run a full antivirus scan and consider having a technician check the system for corruption.
When to turn automatic time back on
Once you have set the correct time, turn automatic time synchronization back on. This prevents the time from drifting slowly out of sync over days or weeks. Your computer will now pull the correct time from the internet periodically and adjust itself without your input.
Automatic time is especially important if you use programs that depend on accurate timestamps — email clients, file backup software, security certificates, and scheduled tasks all rely on the system clock being correct. Leaving automatic time off for extended periods can cause these programs to malfunction.
What to do if the time zone is wrong but the time is right
If your clock shows the correct time but the time zone setting is wrong, change only the time zone, not the time itself. Changing the time zone will automatically adjust the displayed time to match — if you also manually change the time, you will end up with the wrong time displayed.
For example, if you move from Eastern to Pacific time, the time zone change alone will subtract three hours from the display. The actual time stays the same; only how it is labeled changes. Make the time zone change, wait a few seconds for the system to update, and check that the displayed time is now correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the time affect my files or programs?
Changing the time can affect file timestamps and scheduled tasks. Files you modify after the time change will show the new time as their modification date. Programs set to run at specific times may behave unexpectedly if the time jumps backward or forward significantly. For this reason, avoid large time changes unless necessary.
What if I cannot find the time settings?
On Windows, the quickest path is always right-clicking the clock in the taskbar. If that does not work, open Settings, search for "date and time" in the search box, and click the result. On Mac, if System Settings does not show Date & Time, make sure you are in the General section of the sidebar, not another section.
Can I set a different time for different user accounts?
No. The system time is shared across all user accounts on the computer. Changing the time in one account changes it for everyone. Each account can set its own time zone display, but the underlying system clock remains the same.
Why does my computer show the wrong time even though I set it correctly?
The most common reason is that automatic time synchronization is still on and is overriding your manual change. Check the settings again and confirm the automatic time toggle is off. If it is off and the time is still wrong, your internal clock battery may be failing and needs replacement.
Does changing the time affect my internet connection?
No, changing the system time does not affect your internet connection itself. However, some websites and services may behave strangely if your computer's time is very far off from the actual time, because they use time to verify security certificates. Keeping your time reasonably accurate prevents these issues.