Time zone keeps changing

Maybe what's really happening is that Windows 11 is buggy in this way and none of your answers apply or are useful. I have Windows 11 Enterprise and keeps resetting to GMT time zone. How hard is it to code "Set time zone automatically" to use the selected time zone? Or figure it out from the user location/locale...In the US? Buggy, buggy, buggy! A junior developer could make this work properly. More bad code from Microsoft! I am working on moving to a Mac and leaving Windows 11 behind forever!

Hello, JasonWescott

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Yes, there could be potential underlying hardware or software issues causing the time zone to change unexpectedly on your laptop. Here are a few possible causes and troubleshooting steps:

1. BIOS/CMOS battery: If the time and date settings on your laptop are consistently incorrect, it could be a sign of a failing BIOS/CMOS battery. This small battery on the motherboard helps the system maintain its time, date, and other settings when the device is powered off. If the battery is failing, it can lead to time zone issues. Replacing the BIOS/CMOS battery may resolve the problem.
2. Windows Time service: The Windows Time service (W32Time) is responsible for time synchronization within a Windows domain. Issues with this service can lead to time zone discrepancies. You can try restarting the Windows Time service or resetting it to resolve any potential issues. To do this, press Windows + R to open Run, type services.msc and click OK. On the right side, locate the Windows Time service and double click on it. Under Startup type, select Automatic and click OK. If the service is not running, click on Start to start it.
3. Windows location access: The location access settings in Windows privacy settings could potentially affect the time zone on your laptop. Windows uses location services to automatically adjust the time zone based on your geographical location. Open Windows settings > Privacy & security > Location. Make sure that the "Allow apps to access your location" toggle switch is turned on. This will enable Windows to use your location for various services, including time zone adjustments.
4. Software conflicts or malware: Certain software conflicts or malware can interfere with the system's time and date settings, causing the time zone to change unexpectedly. I recommend trying a clean boot which starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It can be used to determine whether a background service or program is interfering or causing a problem:

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

These steps might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step.

5. Corrupted system files: Corrupted system files can sometimes impact the functioning of the operating system, including time zone settings. Running a System File Checker scan (sfc /scannow) in the Command Prompt can identify and repair any corrupted files.

How to use System File Checker in Windows - Microsoft Support

6. Driver issues: Outdated or corrupt system drivers can also impact the system's time and date settings. Ensure that all your device drivers are up to date by checking the manufacturer's website.

If none of these troubleshooting steps resolve the time zone issue, it may be beneficial to consult with the laptop's manufacturer for further diagnostics and assistance.

Yuhao Li

Microsoft Community Technical Support

I may have a solution, if your organization's domain is registered with Microsoft go see your account on "account.microsoft.com"
Step 1: Open your browser and visit the URL: https://myaccount.microsoft.com/
Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account (organisation domain).
Step 3: Click on Settings & privacy on the left pane.
Step 4: Under Region click on Time zone and then click on Change time zone.
Step 5: Select the timezone and click on Select.

Reboot your PC or laptop

Here is the rest of my investigation, the solution listed on the top did not work.

Now, I found something strange when I trace the problem back to the source, the problem of the change is not Windows but Outlook Classic (that's the one I'm currently using). It is Outlook that changes the time zone in Windows and not Windows that should change the time zone in the Outlook you can see in Outlook in the calendar option. Now, I have come to the conclusion that it is the Exchange On prime email account that has been migrated incorrectly to the new Exchange Online, this is where I am, I am in Hybrid mode in the AD and Azure AD, it is an update from the AD to Azure. It's a guess, I don't have any proof for the moment and it's just a user who has the problem.

I did a clean boot and the time zone is still incorrect, what's even worse is that my laptop is stuck in the no keyboard mode but my keyboard is working so is my trackpad