Your Windows computer automatically synchronizes the time with a time server to always show you the correct time of day. If your computer can’t synchronize the time, you’ll get a message that says, “An error occurred while Windows was synchronizing with the time server.” This guide shows how to fix Windows time sync failed problem on your computer.
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1. Turn on Set Time Automatically
Checking whether you have enabled the “set time automatically” option on your PC or not is the first thing you should do if you are facing the time sync failed issue.
- to press Windows + I am to open the settings menu on your PC.
- Click the “Time and Language” tab on the left sidebar.
- Click on the “Date and Time” section on the right sidebar.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-date-and-time](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Untitled-4.jpg)
- Toggle the “Set time automatically” option in the right sidebar.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-set-time-automatically](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/image-3-3.jpg)
- In the right sidebar, make sure the correct time zone is selected in the “Time Zone” drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can toggle the “Set time zone automatically” option.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-set-time-zone](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/image-4-1.png)
2. Check Windows Time Service
Setting the Windows Time Service to Automatic often fixes the problem at hand. Follow the steps below to do this.
- knock Windows + R to open a session and type
services.msc
in the search box to open the “Services” window.
![fix-time-sync-failed-activation-problem](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Untitled.jpg)
- Locate the “Windows Time” service in the right sidebar and double-click it to open the properties window.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-time-windows](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Services.jpg)
- On the General tab, click the “Run Type” drop-down menu and select “Automatic.” Click “Apply -> OK”.
![fix-time-synchronization-failed-activation-problem](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/tv-2.jpg)
- Check “Service Status” to see if it is running. If not, click the “Start” button and then “Apply -> OK.”
![Fix-Time-Sync-Failed-Issue-Start-Service](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/start.jpg)
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3. Turn on the time sync feature
- to press Window + R to open a session and paste
taskschd.msc
in the search box. Click the “OK” button to open the “Task Scheduler”.
![Fix-Time-Sync-Failed-Issue-Taskschd](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/teri-diwani.jpg)
- Double-click “Task Scheduler Library” to expand it, then go to “Microsoft → Windows.”
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-windows](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/toota-toota.jpg)
- Double-click the “Time Sync” folder in the left sidebar.
![fix-time-sync-failed-time-sync-problem](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/pikar.jpg)
- Right-click on “SynchronizeTime”, then click “Enable”.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-time-sync-on](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/terea-hone.jpg)
- Close the Task Scheduler and restart the computer. Check if the time sync failed issue is resolved.
4. Use the command line to force a time sync
If the problem persists, use the command line to re-register the time service, and then resynchronize the time.
- to press Windows + X and run “Terminal (Admin).”
![fix-time-sync-failed-terminal-problem](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Image-32-1.jpg)
- Run the following commands in order.
net stop w32time w32tm /unregister w32tm /register net start w32time w32tm /resync
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-subject-to-sync-time](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Image-tweet.jpg)
- Exit Windows PowerShell and see if the time sync failed issue is gone.
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5. Update your internet time settings
Another thing you might want to try is updating your computer’s internet time options.
- Open the launch window on your PC.
- Type “Control Panel” in the search box and click the “OK” button to open the Control Panel.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-start-control-panel](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Image-6-1.jpg)
- Select “Clock and Zone”.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-start-clock-and-zone](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/vcr.jpg)
- Click the “Set the time and date” option to open the “Date and Time” window.
![Fix-Time-Sync-Failed-Failed-Issue-Set-the-Time-and-date](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/tvf.jpg)
- In the “Internet Time” section, click the “Change Settings” button. This will open the “Internet Time Settings” window.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-internet-time](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/inrtern.jpg)
- Check the “Synchronize with Internet Time Server” option and click the “Update Now” button. You will receive a message saying that the watch has been successfully synced. Do this by clicking “OK”.
![Update internet time settings 2](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Update-Internet-Time-Settings-2.jpg)
6. Select a different time server
“Time.windows.com” is the default time server on your Windows computer, but sometimes, choosing a different time server can fix the synchronization problems.
- Open the “Internet Time Settings” window as shown above.
- Select “time.nist.gov” from the drop-down menu next to “Server”. Click “Update Now”. Your watch will sync with the new server. Click “OK”.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-Nist-Server](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/titi.jpg)
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7. Add additional time servers
If nothing has worked for you so far, you can try adding a new time server and see if that takes care of things.
- Open Run and type
regedit
in the search box, and then click the “OK” button to open the registry editor.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-Regedit](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/Regedit.jpg)
- Paste the following line in the address bar of “Registry Editor” and click to enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionDateTimeServers
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-date-time](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/tv-3.jpg)
- Right-click anywhere in the white field and go to “New → String Value.”
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-new-string](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/tits-1.jpg)
- Right click on the newly created string and select “Modify”.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-year](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/kite-1.jpg)
- Add “time.google.com” to the “Value data” field and click the “OK” button.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-new-time-server](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/tiru.jpg)
- Follow the steps mentioned above in “Update Internet Time Settings” to select the newly added time server.
8. Use the registry editor to fix the problem
You can change the registry settings to make Windows update the time every six hours (21,600 seconds) and see if that fixes the problem.
- Go to the registry editor and paste the following line in the address bar and click to enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpClie
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-update-time](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/teli.jpg)
- Double-click the “SpecialPollInterval” key, then select “Decimal” and set the value data to 21600. Click “OK”.
![fix-time-synchronization-failed-problem-change-value](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/titu.jpg)
- Close the “Registry Editor” and restart the computer.
9. Run SFC Scan
You can use System File Checker (SFC) to fix the problem if there is a corrupted file that is causing Windows time synchronization to fail.
- Start “Terminal (admin).”
- Paste the following command and click to enter.
![fix-time-sync-failed-problem-new-sfc-scan](https://www.maketecheasier.com/assets/uploads/2022/12/piku.jpg)
- Windows will repair damaged files, if any, during the process. When it’s done, close Windows PowerShell, restart your computer, and check if the time synchronization failed issue.
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Common questions
Can a weak CMOS battery cause incorrect time on a computer?
The Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) battery powers the CMOS chip that stores system configuration information, including the date and time. Although a rare occurrence, a weak CMOS battery can cause the incorrect time to appear on your PC. What you can do is reset the CMOS and see if that fixes the problem.
Can malware cause the wrong time and date on your computer?
Yes. If your computer shows the incorrect time and date, even after trying the methods shared in this post, scan your computer with a good anti-malware tool. Additionally, you can use Windows Defender through the command line to create your own scripts and scheduled tasks for better protection.
What are some other ways to keep my computer time accurate?
If you are interested in alternatives, there are several available to you. For example, you can set your computer’s clock to daylight saving time automatically or use third-party time synchronization software, such as Atomic clock synchronizationTo ensure the time displayed on your computer is accurate.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Sandeep Babu.
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