How to Change the Time in Windows 10 (Date and Clock Settings)

To change the time in Windows 10, open Settings > Time & Language > Date & time. For a one-time correction, turn off Set time automatically, select Change, enter the correct date and time, and confirm. If the clock is off by a whole hour, check the time zone first; changing the clock manually will not fix a zone mismatch.

You can also use the classic Control Panel dialog. The steps below cover both routes, automatic clock sync, daylight saving time, and common fixes.

Change the date and time in Windows 10 Settings

1. Open Date & time. Select Start > Settings > Time & Language > Date & time. As a shortcut, right-click the clock at the right end of the taskbar and choose Adjust date/time.

2. Turn off automatic time. Under Date & time, switch Set time automatically to Off. The manual Change button is unavailable while automatic time is on.
3. Enter the new values. Select Change beside Set the date and time manually. Choose the date on the calendar, adjust the time, then select Change in the dialog. Check the clock on the taskbar afterward.

To return to automatic correction later, switch Set time automatically back On. If the button remains gray after you turn automatic time off, the computer may be managed by work or school policy, or your account may not have permission to change the clock. Contact the administrator for a managed PC.

Change the time zone and daylight saving setting

If the minutes are right but the displayed time is several hours early or late, select the correct time zone instead of adding or subtracting hours manually. On the same Date & time page, turn Set time zone automatically off, then choose your region from the Time zone list. Do not select a zone just because its name looks familiar; use the one that matches your location.

When automatic time-zone detection is on, Windows handles daylight saving changes based on the selected location. If you set the zone manually, leave Adjust for daylight saving time automatically on where that option appears, unless your region does not observe daylight saving time or your organization requires a different setting. A wrong zone can make appointments, file timestamps, and calendar reminders appear shifted even when the underlying clock is syncing correctly.

Sync the Windows clock now

For most PCs, automatic time is the simplest choice. Connect to the internet, turn Set time automatically on, confirm the time zone, then scroll to Synchronize your clock and select Sync now. This requests a fresh correction from the Windows time service; it does not change your time zone.

If sync fails, check the internet connection and confirm the time zone before retrying. A work or school computer can use a time source chosen by its administrator, so the Sync now control or server may differ. Microsoft describes the Windows Time service and its network time synchronization in its Windows Time Service documentation.

Use the classic Control Panel dialog

If you prefer the older interface, open Start, search for Control Panel, and select Clock and Region > Date and Time. On the Date and Time tab, choose Change date and time, enter the values, and select OK. Windows may ask you to approve the change.

To change the zone in this interface, select Change time zone, choose the correct entry, and select OK. Keep automatic daylight saving adjustment enabled when it applies to that zone.

Quick fixes when the clock is still wrong

• Wrong by a whole number of hours: correct the time zone, then sync again.
• The clock drifts or resets: turn automatic time back on and use Sync now. If it keeps reverting, check whether a work or school policy controls time.
• Change is unavailable: turn off Set time automatically first; if it remains unavailable, ask the PC administrator.
• Date looks correct but apps show the wrong local time: verify both the time zone and the daylight saving setting.

Windows 10 support note: Windows 10 continues to run, but Microsoft ended free software updates, technical support, and security fixes on October 14, 2025. See Microsoft's current time, date, and time-zone instructions for the Windows Settings labels and the support notice.