"Set time zone automatically" does not work. Why and how to fix it?

Hi,

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.

I do appreciate your efforts and time.

You can try the steps below and check if it helps. 

1. Go to Search. Type Data and Time. Open it.
2. Click on Internet Time tab.
3. Click on Change settings.
4. Check Synchronize with the Internet time server.
5. Click on update now.
6. Click Ok.

 Also, you can check the Date and Time settings. 

1. Go to Search and type Change Date and Time.
2. Click on it to open.
3. Make sure set time automatically is on. 
4. Make sure set time zone automatically is on.

Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.             

HI!

Thank you for posting your attempted solution on Microsoft Community.

I do appreciate your efforts and time.

Both of your methods had no effect the last five times I tried them, and did not have any effect now either. I also restarted the computer, to no effect. The timezone option to "automatically set time zone" doesn't actually do anything. If this is a possible issue with my WiFi, my cable modem router, or my antivirus, please let me know.

Hope this helps in understanding the issue. Since the issue persists, do please find a way to fix it. A simple google search (or, you can BING IT! [tm]) - will tell you that I'm not the only person with the same issue. I will be happy to explain it to you again, if you want!

I will also be happy to explain the phrase "'Set time zone automatically' does not work." ...in case you should need further clarification.

:)  

THANK YOU!

Hi,

Thank you for the reply. Sorry for the delay.

Try to run the following commands and check if it helps.

1.  Open command prompt. (Type cmd in Search or Press Windows Logo Key+X. Click on Command Prompt admin).

 2. Type the following 4 commands at the CMD prompt:

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

sfc /scannow

powershell

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

1. Close the CMD window.

2. Check to see if the issue is resolved. If not, restart the PC.

Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.  

Hi Kalpana,

The last command (Get-AppXPackage...) was not recognized as an internal or external command...

Is there a different way how to fix the time zone function?

It's quite annoying that it doesn't work. Especially since I'm using Microsoft hardware (Surface 3). One would expect that you make sure that all the functions are flawless at least on your own hardware.

Regards,

Martin

I also travel all the time and none of the fixes I have seen here have worked for me, so let me change the question slightly. To be clear, the actual syncing of the seconds, minutes and hours works fine but it's the time ZONE change that doesn't.

Can one of you Microsoft luminaries explain HOW this is supposed to work? ie.

• Does it talk to my wifi router to get the time it shows.
• Or maybe it's the ISP router?
• Does it sync with time.windows.com then (theoretically) adjust the time zone based on IP address?

I'm in IT and pretty savvy, well expert really, so if I understand how it works then I might be able to figure out a fix that actually works.

don't know exactly HOW it works, but "it" is the tzautoupdate windows service.  it was new with build 1511, and the startup was set to manual.  it's still in the new 1607, but now the startup is disabled.  it was causing us such pain (our image is 1511), we ended up disabling the service in GPP.  we're GMT and it continually reverted to PST.

Would love to know what it actually does.  in fact we've had two PCs on the same LAN, one defaulting to GMT and on e defaulting to PST.