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windows server not syncing time

Allen Stone 141 Reputation points
2025-07-07T20:54:44.15+00:00

Hi:

My windows server has not synced time since January, 2025, see screenshot, can someone tell me how to fix this, thanks, Allen

Windows for business | Windows Server | Directory services | Other
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  1. Marcin Policht 87,895 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-07-07T22:00:09.0066667+00:00

    It looks like your Windows Server hasn't been able to sync time with an external source, which is common if the Windows Time service (W32Time) isn’t properly configured. If this server is the AD domain controller hostign the PDC emulator role in your enviornment, it must be set up to get time from a reliable external NTP server.

    First, configure the PDC to sync with external time servers

    1. Open Registry Editor
    2. Set server type to NTP
    • Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
    • Find the Type value, double-click it, and set it to: 
        NTP
    1. Make this server authoritative
    • Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config
    • Find AnnounceFlags, double-click it, and set it to: 
        0xA

      This value tells clients this is an authoritative time server and prevents sync issues if the server temporarily loses sync with its upstream NTP source.

    1. Enable NTP server functionality
    • Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpServer
    • Find Enabled, double-click it, and set it to: 
        1
    1. Specify external NTP servers
    • Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters
    • Find NtpServer, double-click it, and set it to a list like this: 
        time.windows.com,0x1 time.nist.gov,0x1 0.pool.ntp.org,0x1
    1. Set reasonable time correction limits
    • Back in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config
    • Set MaxPosPhaseCorrection and MaxNegPhaseCorrection to something like 3600 (seconds = 1 hour).
    1. Restart the time service

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

    net stop w32time && net start w32time
    1. Force a time sync

    Still in Command Prompt, run:

    w32tm /resync /nowait

    Then verify sync status:

    w32tm /query /status

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

    2 people found this answer helpful.

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  1. Christopher 0 Reputation points
    2025-12-02T02:14:26.36+00:00

    I followed the above and the Status returns as follows - still unsync'd
    C:\Windows\System32>w32tm /query /status

    Leap Indicator: 3(not synchronized)

    Stratum: 0 (unspecified)

    Precision: -23 (119.209ns per tick)

    Root Delay: 0.0000000s

    Root Dispersion: 0.0000000s

    ReferenceId: 0x00000000 (unspecified)

    Last Successful Sync Time: unspecified

    Source: Local CMOS Clock

    Poll Interval: 10 (1024s)

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