How to Change Your NTP Time Server in Windows 11

By default, your Windows 11 system syncs its clock with Microsoft’s time server, typically time.windows.com. However, there are occasions when you might need to use a different NTP (Network Time Protocol) server. This could be due to the default server being unreachable or a preference for a local time server in your region. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to switch to your preferred NTP server using Command Prompt in Windows 11:

Changing the NTP Time Server

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Press Win + X and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click, and choose “Run as administrator.”
2. Enter the Command to Change the NTP Server:
   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command to set your desired NTP server. If you prefer a server in India, you can use 0.in.pool.ntp.org:w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:0.in.pool.ntp.org
3. Apply the Changes:
   • Press Enter after typing the command. This will configure your system to use the new NTP server.
4. Update the Configuration:
   • To ensure the changes take effect, type the following command and press Enter:w32tm /config /update
5. Resync Your System Clock:
   • Finally, synchronize your system clock with the new NTP server by entering this command:w32tm /resync

Refreshing Your NTP Time

If you need to refresh your NTP time, simply follow the synchronization step from above. Run the following command in Command Prompt:

w32tm /resync

This will update your system clock to match the specified NTP server.

Troubleshooting Time Sync Issues

If you encounter issues during the time sync process, such as errors while running the w32tm /resync command, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart the Windows Time Service:
   • Execute the following commands to stop and restart the time service:net stop w32time
net start w32time
2. Resync the Clock Again:
   • After restarting the service, try syncing the clock again using:w32tm /resync
3. Re-register the Windows Time Service:
   • If restarting the service doesn’t resolve the issue, unregister and re-register the time service:

w32tm /unregister
net stop w32time
w32tm /register
net start w32time

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and troubleshoot the time synchronization settings on your Windows 11 system. Using a local NTP server like 0.in.pool.ntp.org can ensure more accurate and reliable timekeeping for users in India.