In Windows, how do I change the date and time?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday in November in the US. For exact dates, see What are the start and end dates for Daylight Saving Time in the US?

On this page:

• Windows Vista
• Windows XP and earlier

Windows Vista

Changing the date and time

To change the date and time in Windows Vista:

1. Right-click the clock and choose Adjust Date/Time to open the Date and Time window.
   
   
2. Click Change date and time... . Vista's User Account Control will ask for your permission to continue. Click Continue.
   
   
3. In the Date and Time Settings window, under the clock display, change the time by clicking the appropriate time interval (hour, minute, or second) and typing the correct time (or use the up and down arrows to change the values).
   
   
4. To change the day, click the appropriate date on the calendar.
   
   
5. When you're finished, click OK.

You can also access the Date and Time window via the Control Panel:

1. From the Start menu, click Settings and then Control Panel.

   Note: The Windows Vista Start menu and Control Panel are different from the Windows Classic View (e.g., in Windows 2000). Therefore, navigating to certain items can be different. In the interest of broad applicability, most Knowledge Base documents assume you are using the Classic View. For information about switching your Windows Vista default view to Classic View, see In Windows Vista, how do I switch to the Windows Classic Start menu or Classic Control Panel?

2. Double-click Date and Time.
   
   
3. Click Change date and time... , and change date and time properties as needed.

Changing the time zone

To change the time zone:

1. In the Date and Time window, click Change time zone... .
   
   
2. Use the drop-down list to choose the appropriate time zone, and then click OK.

Windows XP and earlier

The Windows Taskbar has an area on the right called the system tray. It usually has a digital clock display on the bottom far right of the screen. If the clock doesn't display (or if you do not want to display the clock), right-click a blank portion of the Taskbar. Choose Properties, and check or uncheck the Show Clock or Show the clock box as desired.

Another way to access the Show Clock or Show the clock checkbox is to click Start, and choose Settings, then Taskbar... or Taskbar and Start Menu, and select the Taskbar Options or Taskbar tab. If you're using Windows XP with the default Start menu, from the Start menu, select Control Panel and double-click Taskbar and Start Menu.

Changing the date and time

To change the clock time:

1. Right-click the clock, and choose Adjust Date/Time.
   
   
2. Under the clock display, change the digital time by clicking the appropriate time interval (hour, minute, or second) and typing the correct time.
   
   
3. You can change the day by selecting the date from the calendar.
   
   
4. When you're finished, click Apply and then OK.

You can also access the date and time options by either of the two following methods:

• Double-click the clock.
  
  
• Use the Start menu:
  
  
  1. Click Start, and choose either Control Panel or Settings and then Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Date and Time icon.

Changing the time zone

In the date and time options window, you can use the Time Zone tab to set the time zone. You may notice that all times are in GMT. This is the International Standard time based on Greenwich Mean Time. Also, a checkbox at the bottom of the screen will adjust the time automatically for Daylight Saving Time (DST). Arizona and Hawaii are the only states in the US that don't follow DST. If you select the Arizona or Hawaii option in the drop-down list of time zones, the DST option is unavailable.

Also see:

• Time zones in Indiana