How to Sync Clock Time with Internet Time Server in Windows 11

This tutorial shows you how to manually sync your Windows 11 clock with an Internet time server. This works for all users on your PC.

Time is a way to measure and order events from the past, present, and future. It also measures how long events last and the time between them.

Why Sync Your Clock?

An accurate clock is important for your files, security, and system performance.

What You Need to Know

Admin privileges required: You must sign in as an administrator to sync the system clock.

Domain computers: If your PC is joined to a domain, Options One and Two will not work for you. Use Option Three instead.

References

How the Windows Time Service Works – Learn more about how the Windows Time Service works

W32time settings fail when starting Windows Time Service – Windows Server – Information about NTP client synchronization

Option One: Sync Clock Using Settings

Note: This option does not work if your PC is joined to a domain.

1. Open Settings by pressing Win+I.
2. Click Time & language on the left side. Then click Date & time on the right side.

3. Under Additional settings, click the Sync now button.

You will see when your time was last synced and which time server was used.

Option Two: Sync Clock Using Control Panel

Note: This option does not work if your PC is joined to a domain.

1. Open Control Panel in icon view. Click the Date and Time icon.
2. You can close Control Panel now if you like.
3. Click the Internet Time tab. Then click Change settings.

4. Click Update now.

The Synchronize with an Internet time server box must be checked to use the Update now button. If you want, you can pick or type a different Internet time server to sync with instead. If you get an error, try clicking Update now again.

Option Three: Sync Clock Using Command Line

⚠️ Admin privileges required

1. Open Windows Terminal as an admin. Select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2. Copy and paste one of the commands below. Press Enter.

If your PC is NOT joined to a domain:

w32tm /resync

If your PC IS joined to a domain:

net time /domain

Error: “The service has not been started. (0x80070426)”
This means the Windows Time service needs to start. Run this command first:

net start w32time

Then run your sync command again.

Error: “The computer did not resync because no time data was available”
Try the command again. It should work the next time.

3. You can close Windows Terminal now.

Summary

What you learned: You now know three ways to sync your Windows 11 clock with an Internet time server. Option One uses Settings and is the easiest. Option Two uses Control Panel. Option Three uses the command line for advanced users or domain computers.

Why this matters: Keeping your clock accurate helps your PC work properly and keeps your files correctly timestamped.

When to use each option: Use Option One or Two for home computers. Use Option Three if you are on a domain or prefer the command line.