Change Vista Internet Time Server

February 13, 2007 · Filed Under Configuring Vista System Settings · 8 Comments 

By default Windows Vista is setup to synchornize with an Internet Time Server. This allows the computer to update its time automatically. This does require access to the internet using UDP port 123 and can be blocked if your firewall is not configured properly.

If you want to change your time server for any reason including to point at a local Time Server, this article will walk you through where to change the settings.
Note: If you are part of a Active Directory domain this will be controlled by Group Policies that will over ride local settings. Though most home users/small networks will not be part of a domain.

  1. First go to your Control Panel:

  2. Next go to Clock, Language, & Region:

  3. Then click Date & Time:

  4. Choose the Internet Time tab. Here you will see several pieces of information including:
    Time server currently set to
    Next synchronization time
    The last result of the synchronization including errors

  5. Clicking on the Change settings… might popup a UAC warning depending on your configuration if it does click Continue:

    If the UAC doesn’t pop then you should see the Internet Time Settings configuration window:

  6. In this window you can do two things. Configure if you want to use Internet Time or not by checking/unchecking Synchronize with an Internet Time server and set which time server you want to use for synchronization. These can be either the preconfigured servers in the drop down menu or you can type one of your choosing.
  7. Once you change yours settings you can test them by clicking Update Now You will get a status message right in that window.
  8. Once your done click Ok

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