How to Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows


Your PC's clock is used to record the time whenever you create or modify files on your PC. You can change the clock's time and time zone.

You can synchronize your PC's clock with an Internet time server. This means that the clock on your PC is updated to match the clock on the time server, which can help ensure that the clock's time on your PC is accurate. Your clock is typically automatically updated once a week and needs to be connected to the Internet for the synchronization to occur.

Windows includes a list of available Internet time servers to select from by default, but you can add and remove time servers you want from this list.

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove Internet time servers (NTP server) used to synchronize your clock in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove an Internet time server.


 CONTENTS:



EXAMPLE: List of available time servers in Windows
Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-available_time_servers.png






OPTION ONE

Add Internet Time Server in Control Panel


1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Date and Time icon.

2. Click/tap on the Internet Time tab, and click/tap on the Change settings button. (see screenshot below)

If your PC is on a domain, then you will not have an Internet Time tab. Your clock will automatically synchronize with the domain controller instead.

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server-1.png

3. Check the Synchronize with an Internet time server box. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server-2.png

4. Type the time server (ex: "time-a.nist.gov") you want to add, and click/tap on OK.

You can see a list of Internet time servers at the Microsoft link below to add.

A list of the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) time servers that are available on the Internet

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server-3.png

5. Click/tap on OK, and close the Control Panel if you like. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server-4.png






OPTION TWO

Add Internet Time Server in Registry Editor


1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. In the right pane, make note of the string value numbers to see the next number (ex: "3") in the sequence you will need to create. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server_regedit-1.png

3. In the right pane of the Servers key, right click or press and hold on an empty area, click/tap on New, and click/tap on String Value. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server_regedit-2.jpg

4. Type the next number (ex: "3") in the sequence for the name of this new string value, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server_regedit-3.png

5. Type the time server (ex: "time-a.nist.gov") you want to add for this string value number (ex: "3"), and click/tap on OK.

You can see a list of Internet time servers at the Microsoft link below to add.

A list of the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) time servers that are available on the Internet

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server_regedit-4.png

6. When finished adding time servers, you can close Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-add_time_server_regedit-5.png

7. The added time server(s) will now be available in the list to select as the default Internet Time Server.






OPTION THREE

Remove Internet Time Server in Registry Editor


1. Change the default Internet Time Server to be a time server other than the one you want to remove.

2. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

3. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 4)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers

4. In the right pane of the Servers key, right click or press and hold on the string value number (ex: "3") of the time server (ex: "time-a.nist.gov") you want to remove, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-remove_time_server_regedit-1.png

5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

Add and Remove Internet Time Servers in Windows-remove_time_server_regedit-2.png

6. When finished removing time servers, you can close Registry Editor.


That's it,
Shawn


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