Microsoft Windows ServerWindows Server 2022

How to Change Time Zone on Windows Server 2022

This blog explains how to change time zone on Windows Server 2024. How can I set the time zone and configure NTP on a Windows Server? The time zone on the Windows device must be aligned with the geographical location of your computer. This guide provides instructions on configuring the time zone in Windows Server and desktop versions (Windows 10 or 11) using Control Panel, command prompt, PowerShell, or Group Policy.

Change Time Zone on Windows Server 2022

Change the Time Zone in Windows using the Control Panel

Run the command ms-settings:dateandtime or search date & time settings or click the clock icon in the system tray and choose to Adjust date/time.

Search date & time settings

By default, Windows automatically synchronizes the time and selects the correct time zone for your computer (the Set time zone automatically option is enabled).
To manually set a time zone, use this option and select a time zone from the drop-down list.

Change time zone on Windows server

You can utilize the classic “Date and Time” Control Panel applet to manage time zone on Windows. Run the command timedate.cpl
If you received any error message, follow the instructions below for administrator permissions.

Run command timedate.cpl

Click on change time zone.

Change date and time zone in Windows server

Set the time zone according to your requirements and click ok.

Time zone settings on Windows server

Allow Change Time Zone permission via Group Policy

In this case, ensure that your account has permission to alter the time zone settings in Windows.
Open the local Group Policy editor (gpedit.msc).
Navigate to:

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policiers\User Rights Assignment

Open Change the time zone policy.

Local group policy editor

Verify administrators.

Change the time zone policy

After resetting your GPO settings, run the command prompt as an administrator and run the timedate.cpl command, and you can now alter your current time zone. You can change the time zone from the command prompt as a solution.

Change Time Zone Using Command Prompt

Search for Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator option.

Search command prompt

To confirm the current time zone, type the following command.

tzutil /g

Type the below command to note the time zone you want and hit Enter.

tzutil /l
Change time zone with command prompt

Type the below command and press Enter to set.

tzutil /s “Arab Standard Time”
Change time zone command

Enter the following command to verify if the time zone was updated successfully.

tzutil /g

Setup Time Zone using PowerShell

Search for PowerShell, and Run as administrator.

Search PowerShell

To confirm the current time zone, type the following command.

Get-TimeZone

To get the time zone, type the following command.

Get-TimeZone -ListAvailable
Get-timezone PowerShell command

Enter the following command to set the new time zone.

Set-TimeZone -Name “Arab Standard Time”

To verify the time zone was updated successfully, type the following command.

Get-TimeZone
Change time zone PowerShell

Set up Time Zone via Registry

Type regedit in the run command to open the registry editor.

Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation

The time zone settings have multiple values, as seen in the screenshot below.

Set up time zone via registry

To determine the exact value for each of the ten registry entries, first select the time zone in the local Date & Time configuration. Afterward, simply examine the registry values.
Note: all the available time zones are also listed in the registry in the key.
Open your Group Policy Management Console via search.

Search group policy management

Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Time Zones
Time zones in registry

Right-click on your local domain and choose.
Create a GPO to this domain and link it here…

Group policy management

Type a name and click ok.

Create new group policy

Edit group policy.

Edit group policy

Navigate to:

Computer Configuration\Preferences\Windows Settings\Registry

Right-click, click on Registry, select New, and then Registry Wizard.
Now that we have all the information we need, we can set the precise time zone for the local machine.

GPO new registry item

On the wizard’s first page, ensure that Local Computer is selected and click Next.

Registry browser local computer

On the second tab, the Registry Browser, locate the registry key.

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation

Select the box of each registry value. Use the scroll bar on the right to scroll down in the list. Click Finish.

Registry browser time zone information

The registry values have been imported.

Import time zone information in registry

First, we need to create a new collection. Right-mouse, click on Registry, select New, and then Collection Item.

Create new collection item

Type a name (TimeZone) for the collection item.
Now, you can move all individual registry items to this (TimeZone) per drag-and-drop.

Group policy management editor

Afterward, you can delete the Registry Wizard Values collection item (all underlying folders are automatically deleted).
The registry item has been created and will be distributed to all machines to which the Group Policy applies.

Change time zone via GPO

After configuring the time zone, restart your system to allow the changes to take effect.

Jamil Parvez

Jamil Pervez works as a Network Administrator, based in Kuwait with a Primary focus on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Certified MCSE, MCTP, MCITP, CCNP, CCIP, CCVP with 20 years of experience in administering Windows Servers, Exchange, VMWare, Veeam B&R, Veritas BackupExec.

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