Time settings

Question

Hi there,

When I set up my desktop a while ago, I manually set up my time to display 10 minutes earlier so that I'd never be late. Xero, my accounting software has somehow now registered this and won't let me in until my time is correct, and it won't change my time to the correct time, even though I have changed my settings?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi Jorja Parker,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating this must be, especially when an important app like Xero won’t let you sign in because the system time isn’t quite right. Even a small time difference can cause this, since many accounting and security‑based apps rely on your computer’s clock being perfectly in sync.

I can see that Q&A Assist has already suggested a few steps. I’ll add more detail to those below and include an additional step that may help:

Step 1: Confirm automatic time settings

Please go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time and make sure both Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically are turned on. Also double‑check that the time zone shown matches your location.

Step 2: Force a time resync

On the same page, scroll down and select Sync now. This forces Windows to refresh the time directly from the internet time server, which often clears small offsets like the 10‑minute difference you’re seeing.

Step 3: Sync using Internet Time

If the time still doesn’t correct itself, press Windows + R, type timedate.cpl, and press Enter. Open the Internet Time tab, select Change settings, make sure Synchronize with an Internet time server is checked, then click Update now and save the changes.

After that, please restart the PC and try opening Xero again.

Please let me know how it goes. I’m happy to help further if needed.

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Answer 2

Update the Windows time so it matches the real current time; Xero is checking this and will block sign-in if the device clock is wrong.

Follow these steps in Windows 10:

1. Select Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
2. Turn Set time automatically to On.
3. Turn Set time zone automatically to On as well.
4. If the time is still incorrect, turn Set time automatically Off, then under Set the date and time manually select Change.
5. In Change date and time, set the correct Date and Time, then select Change.
6. Make sure the Time zone is correct for the location. If needed, turn Set time zone automatically Off and choose the correct time zone from the Time zone drop-down.
7. If the region observes daylight saving time, ensure Adjust for daylight saving time automatically is On (under the same Date & time settings if time zone is not set automatically).

After correcting the Windows time and time zone, close Xero completely, then reopen it or refresh the browser and try signing in again.

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References:

• Set time, date, and time zone settings in Windows
• Need help signing in to Skype for Business?