How to Sync Desktop Clocks to a Server Clock

You can sync the time on your desktop computer by following the instructions provided by Windows.  The clock in the Windows operating system is set to correspond with parameters built into the computer’s hardware system.  You can manually set your computer clock, or sync it with an online time server.

• Update the time displayed by the computer’s desktop clock if you have not set the clock to retrieve time from a server.  The time you set may not necessarily be accurate especially if you used a watch that was not accurate to set the computer clock.  Windows provides a way for you to connect to timeservers, which gives a guaranteed accurate time.  Server is the term used to describe a network of many computer systems that connect and interact with each other.  It works much like an Internet connection.


• Synchronize a desktop clock with a server using your Internet connection without altering the connection.


• Choose the timeserver you wish to use.  There is a Microsoft server as well as a server that belongs to a United States government called the National Institute of Standards and Technology.


• Turn on the computer and click on the clock in the Windows system tray. Select the option that allows you to change or adjust the time and date settings.


• Select the “Internet Time” option and click it. Select the “Change Settings” option in order to sync with the Internet time server.


• Synchronize the time and click “OK.” The desktop clock is now in synchronized with the Internet server.