Want to simulate a trip to Japan or Botswana? Windows keeps choosing the wrong time zone? Find out here how to change the time zone in Windows (without messing up the computer’s time and date).
First, Clean Like an Edwardian
For a silky but not polished, not shiny yet clean look on your wood paneling, turn to the cleaning agent the United Kingdoms’ Edwardian era trusted for the job: dark, warm beer.
Beer’s gentle acidity works well against greasy fingerprints, and the coloring is not that wrong either, I fathom.
So much for time travel; now… how about time zone travel? Grab a pint, if you will, and certainly your Windows 11 machine:
How to Change the Time Zone in Windows
Time needed: 5 minutes
To change the time zone for Windows 11 and Windows 10 (and override automatic selection):
- Open the Windows Start menu.
- Select Settings from the Start menu.
Windows keyboard shortcut: Press Windows I to open Windows settings directly.
- Open the Time & Language category.
- Select Time zone.
Windows 10: On Windows 10, you can skip this step.
- Select Off for Set time zone automatically.
- Choose the desired time zone under Time zone.
UTC offset: If you do not find the time zone by name or location, you can use the offset from UTC; to find your offset, visit a time zone map and converter, for instance.
Standard or daylight saving: Note that all time zone offsets are listed (and will be applied) in standard time, i.e. without any changes for daylight saving time.
- Typically, choose On for Adjust for daylight saving time automatically.
Manual time zone changes: With this Off, you have to switch to a different time zone (using the appropriate offset from UTC taking into account daylight saving time) manually to adjust or change the system time manually.
How to Change the Time Zone in Windows: FAQ
Can I set the time and date manually, too?
Yes, in addition to setting the time zone you can also change the time on Windows (instead of having Windows retrieve the current date and time from a time server).
Can I leave Windows to set the time automatically? Will that reset my time zone?
Yes, you can have Windows 10 synchronize time with a time server. This will not change the time zone.
Will changing the time zone alter how time is displayed in Windows (e.g., the time format)?
No, if you manually set the time zone in Windows, the format for language, date and time display will not change.
You can set how time displays (e.g., in 12- or 24-hour format), of course.
What does setting the time zone do in Windows?
Changing the time zone makes your Windows computer behave as if it was in that time zone.
You can
- view appointments in Brazilian local time before your trip there, for example,
- feel at home away from home or
- correct Windows picking the wrong time zone automatically.
Changing the time zone
- will not change the time and date to which your computer is set, and
- you will not send emails from the future, for instance.
(How to change the time zone tested with Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 Version 21H1; updated March 2024)