Can't set time in Win11

Question

Hi

Just installed a fresh copy of Win11 Enterprise latest version from genuine iso on VirtualBox

I cannot set back the date to 2021 for instance, immediately the date is back, disconnect from net, disable auto time zone update, disable server time update, nothing works, date will be back very quickly!

Is this a known bug of Win11?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello, StewartBW

Here are some ideas and thoughts that I would like to share and discuss with you.

This behavior is not a bug—it's an intentional security feature in Windows 11 (and Windows 10) called "Secure Time Seeding" or "Time Rollback Protection".

Why Does Windows Automatically Correct the Date?

Windows 11 enforces time synchronization to prevent security risks, as many encryption protocols (like HTTPS, Kerberos, and BitLocker) rely on accurate system time. If the time is too far off, it can cause certificate validation failures and other security issues.

How to Bypass This (Temporarily for Testing)?

If you absolutely need to set the date back (e.g., for software testing), try these steps:

1. Disable Windows Time Service

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

• Find "Windows Time", right-click → Stop the service.

• Set its Startup type to Disabled.

2. Disable Time Sync in Registry

• Open Registry Editor (regedit).

• Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient

• Set "Enabled" to 0 (zero).

3. Disable Internet Time Sync Manually

• Open Control Panel → Date and Time.

• Go to the Internet Time tab → Change settings.

• Uncheck "Synchronize with an Internet time server".

4. Disable Secure Time Seeding (if available in your version)

• Some Windows 11 Enterprise builds allow disabling this via:

bcdedit /set {default} disabledynamictick yes

(Run Command Prompt as Administrator.)

5. Test in an Offline Environment

• Disconnect the VM from the network completely (disable VirtualBox NAT/Adapter).

• Some VMs (like Hyper-V) may still sync time from the host—check VirtualBox settings.

Final Notes

• If you're testing time-sensitive software, consider using a Windows Sandbox or a snapshot before changing the time.

• Some enterprise environments enforce time policies via Group Policy (gpedit.msc).

Regards,

Allison