To change the time on Windows 10, right-click the clock on the taskbar and choose Adjust date/time. Turn off Set time automatically, click Change under Set the date and time manually, pick the correct time, and click Change again. If the time is only off by whole hours, the problem is usually your time zone, so fix that instead and leave automatic time turned on.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
You need an administrator account to change the system time. Here’s how to set the time, time zone, and clock format, and how to fix a clock that keeps drifting.
How to change the time manually
- Right-click the time in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar and choose Adjust date/time. Or go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time.
- Turn off Set time automatically.
- Under Set the date and time manually, click Change.
- Choose the date and time, then click Change.
How to fix the time automatically
In most cases, letting Windows set the time is more accurate.
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time.
- Turn on Set time automatically.
- Scroll down and click Sync now under Synchronize your clock.
How to change the time zone
- On the same Date & time page, turn off Set time zone automatically if it’s picking the wrong one.
- Choose your zone from the Time zone menu.
- Make sure Adjust for daylight saving time automatically is on, if your area uses it.
How to change the time format (12-hour or 24-hour)
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Region.
- Click Change data formats.
- Choose a Short time and Long time format. Formats with HH use a 24-hour clock, and h:mm tt shows AM and PM.
Other ways to change the time
- Control Panel: Press Windows key + R, type timedate.cpl, and press Enter. Click Change date and time.
- Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt as administrator and type
time 14:30ordate 09/24/2026, using your region’s date format. - Force a sync: In an admin Command Prompt, run
w32tm /resync.
Change the time zone from Command Prompt
If Settings won’t open or you’re helping someone remotely, use the built-in tzutil tool. Open Command Prompt and run tzutil /g to see the current time zone, tzutil /l to list all available zone IDs, and tzutil /s "Eastern Standard Time" to switch to a new one. Use the exact ID from the list, in quotation marks. The change takes effect immediately, just like choosing a zone in Settings.
Add clocks for other time zones
Working with people in another city? Windows 10 can show up to two extra clocks. Open Control Panel > Clock and Region > Date and Time, select the Additional Clocks tab, check Show this clock, pick a time zone, and give it a name like “London office.” Select OK, then hover over or click the taskbar clock to see all three times.
Why does my Windows 10 clock keep changing?
- Wrong time zone: The time is off by exactly one or more hours. Pick the right zone.
- Dual-booting with Linux or macOS: These treat the hardware clock differently than Windows, which can shift the time after switching systems.
- Weak CMOS battery: If the time and date reset every time the PC is unplugged, the small coin battery on the motherboard may need replacing.
- Time service stopped: Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, find Windows Time, and set it to Automatic, then start it.
Related: Change the time and time zone on Windows 11.
Related: Open Control Panel in Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Why is “Change” grayed out?
Turn off Set time automatically first. If it’s still grayed out, you’re not signed in as an administrator, or your organization manages the setting.
Does changing the time affect anything else?
A wrong time can cause website security errors, failed sign-ins, and apps that won’t sync. Keep the time accurate.
How do I show the date and time on the taskbar?
Right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, and turn off Use small taskbar buttons so both the date and time fit.
Are the steps the same in Windows 11?
Similar. Right-click the clock and choose Adjust date and time. The options are in Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.