Windows Time Service (W32Time) or the Clock Synchronization Service is a Microsoft Windows service. It is responsible for synchronization of time and date on your Windows PC to show the correct time according to your location. If you get the Windows Time Service not running error in your Windows 10 PC, it will start showing wrong time and date. Correct time on your PC is very important as your PC updates, reminders, etc. can be scheduled accordingly.
The synchronization is basically done through an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server and every PC irrespective of their location use the same service to maintain the accurate time in their systems.
Users across the world have identified various reasons behind the Windows Time Service not running error in Windows 10. If you too are facing the same problem, the reasons behind this could be:
A faulty System File related to Windows Time Service
Missing Windows Time Service
Faulty Windows Time Service, etc.
How To Fix Windows Time Service Not Running Error
There is a series of methods that you can try to fix the issue when the Windows Time Service is not running on your PC. Let us discuss the methods one by one, starting with the best of all methods.
#1 – Set Windows to Auto Trigger Windows Time Service
Usually, Windows Time Service starts automatically with Windows startup, but it may stop doing so because of some error or glitch. Also, if the Windows Time Service is not set to trigger automatic, then this issue may arise. To check or alter that and finally fix the Windows Time Service is not running error, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R key together to open the Run box. In the Run box, type services.msc and press the Enter button.
Step 2: The Services window will open up. Now, scroll down the list of services till you find Windows Time service and double-click on it.
Step 3: A new Windows Time Properties box will open. Here, from the drop-down list of Startup type, select the Automatic option. Check if the service status is running, if not then click on Start.
Step 4: Now, click on Apply and Press Ok.
These steps would have started the Windows Time Service and the time on your PC would be synced now. If nothing happened, then you can try to trigger the same using command prompt in the next method.
#2 – Using a Different Time Server
Windows Time Service is not running problem can also arise if there is an issue with the Time Server. You can change your Time Server manually to fix this issue. Follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Press Windows key and R key together to open RUN.
Step 2: Type Timedate.cpl and hit Enter key from keyboard
Step 3: Another window will open with settings options for date and time. At the top, click on the ‘Internet Time’ tab. Now click on the Change Settings option.
Step 4: A new box pops up on the screen. Under the Server dropdown list, select time.nist.gov and click on Update Now. Click on OK to save the changes.
You can also use pool.ntp.org as the server, since it has been successful in solving the error of Windows Time service is not running for many users.
After changing the time server, if Windows is showing time correctly, then your problem has been solved. If not, try the next method.
#3- Registering the W32Time file (Alternate Method) to fix Windows Time Service Not Running
We already tried to reregister and restart the W32Time service in Method #3. Here’s an alternate way to reregister and restart the service in Command Prompt. Follow these steps to do so:
Step1: Open the Command Prompt as Administrator .
Step 2: Now run the following commands (Copy the text and press Enter to execute them in the same sequence in which it is given)
net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
net start w32time
Type these commands one by one and press Enter. Don’t break the sequence and don’t misplace or replace any character. Make sure you check it twice before you run them.
Once all these commands are run correctly, you will get a message saying, “The Windows Time Service is starting. The windows time service was started successfully.” This means that your Windows Time Service has restarted and you have successfully fixed the Windows Time service is not running error in Windows 10. If this wasn’t helpful, try this one last step.
#4- Using Command Prompt to Re-Register Time service
1 – Open Windows search and then search cmd in it.
2 –Right click on command prompt icon and then click on run as admin
3 – Now, Run the commands given below One By one and hit enter each time
pushd %SystemRoot%\system32 .\net stop w32time .\w32tm /unregister .\w32tm /register .\sc config w32time type= own .\net start w32time .\w32tm /config /update /manualpeerlist:”0.pool.ntp.org,1.pool.ntp.org,2.pool.ntp.org,3.pool.ntp.org”,0x8 /syncfromflags:MANUAL /reliable:yes .\w32tm /resync popd
4 -Now, check whether issue got resolved
#5 – Check the Motherboard Battery
A lot of times, the Windows Time Service is not running error may pop up because of your PC’s Motherboard battery. This battery gives power to your PC’s timer that keeps a check on the correct time. You will have to solve the issue by replacing the battery.
To do that, shut down your PC and detach all links. Then, open your PC case, and search for the battery on your motherboard. Cautiously open the battery case and refill it with another one.
Now attach all the links like before and restart your PC and check if the time is running right. Remember that opening your PC case may void your guarantee, so it is advisable to take your PC to the official service center if it is still under guarantee.
Also, if you are not good at handling PC, get help from someone who is good at this,
#5 – Use SC Trigger Command to Autostart Windows Time Service in CMD
Windows Time Service not running error can also be solved by setting it to automatically launch using Command Prompt. Usually, Windows Time Service starts automatically with Windows startup, but it may stop doing so because of some error or glitch. To trigger the service automatically, simply do as below:
Step 1: Open Command Prompt in Admin mode. To do so, press Windows + X keys together. From the menu that will open, click on Command Prompt (Admin) option.
Step 2: The Command Prompt box opens. Now type the following command before you press Enter to run it:
sc triggerinfo w32time start/networkon stop/networkoff
Once the command is successfully executed, it will trigger the Windows Time Service to run automatically. Now, restart your PC. You must find the Windows Time Service not running error has been resolved; check the time and date for that. If it’s not resolved, check out the next solution.
#6 – Reregister and Restart Windows Time Service
Here’s another command that could help you trigger the Windows Time Service. In this method, you will be stopping, then re-registering the Windows Time Service, then restarting it to see if the Windows Time Service not running issue remains. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Search cmd in windows search box. Now, right click on command prompt icon and click run as admin.
Step 2: When in Command Prompt, disable the Windows Time Service. For this, type net stop w32time and press the Enter key.
Step 3: Now to unregister Windows Time Service and to remove all the information from the Registry, type w32tm /unregister and press Enter.
Step 4: To re-register the Windows Time Service and to install the setting automatically, type w32tm /register and press Enter.
Step 5: To start the service again, type net start w32time and press Enter key.
Step 6: Now the final command is to synchronize your PC. For that, type w32tm /resync /nowait and press Enter.
Once you have carried out all the commands. Restart your PC and check the Windows’ time. If it’s working right, then your problem has been solved. If not then move to the next method.
#7 – Run SFC and DISM to fix Windows Time Service not running issue
System files can often be corrupted and as a result, cause problems on a regular basis. Windows Time Service not running can be an outcome of the same, and performing an SFC Scan may come in handy. SFC Scan stands for System File Checker scan and the following steps can carry it out:
Step 1: Search Command prompt in Taskbar search. Right click on the search result obtained (CMD icon) and click on run as administrator.
Step 2: The Command Prompt Window box will open on your screen; type the following command and then press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Once the scan starts, it will take up to fifteen minutes for the process to complete. It is advisable not to interfere with the scan.
Once the scan is done, restart your PC. Now, check if the error Windows Time Service not running still occurs.
If yes, perform a DISM Scan.
DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. To perform the DISM Scan, open Command Prompt as administrator as we did above and type the following command in Command Prompt:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
then, press Enter.
Once the DISM scan is finished, restart the PC again and check if the problem persists. If the issue is still present, repeat the SFC scan again as directed above and check if that solves the issue. If the issue was not fixed, try the next method.
#8 – Check Windows Time Service in Local System Account
If the Windows Time Service is not running, there are chances it is not enabled in the Local System Account settings. You can check for the setting yourself and solve the issue. Please follow these steps:
Step 1: Press Windows + R keys, together; the Run box will open up on your screen. In the Run box, type Services.msc and press the Enter key.
Step 2: The Services tool opens with all the services that your PC is running. Scroll down to find Windows Time and then double-click on it.
Step 3: The Windows Time Properties box appears. Here, go to the Log On tab and select the Local System account checkbox. Now, click on Apply and then press Ok button.
Check if the Windows Time Service not running problem is still there and if yes, go to the next method.
#9 – Check Task Scheduler for Windows Time Service settings
The Task Scheduler has certain tasks assigned to it for different functionalities of Windows to run. Task Scheduler also handles the functioning of Windows Time Service. In this method, we see if everything is set properly there, and if not, we fix it. Follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Click on the Start button, and in the Start Search Bar, type Task Scheduler and click on the first Search Result to open it.
Step 2: The Task scheduler box will open. On the left-hand pane, you will find a small arrow with the Task Scheduler Library; click on it to expand.
In the expanded library, look for Microsoft library; click on it to expand it.
Again, in the Microsoft’s library, look for Windows, then click on it to expand.
Step 3: Now scroll down to find the Time Synchronisation option and double-click on it.
Step 4: Now, you have to make sure that the Time Synchronisation is Enabled. To do that, right click on all the options in the center pane. From the context menu, select the Run option.
Note: If you see an option that says ‘Disable’ in the context menu, that means it is already enabled. To check the status, you can go to the Triggers tab in the center pane and scroll on the right side. Under the Status section, you can see if it is Enabled or Disabled.
Now check if the service has resumed and Windows Time Service not running error is not showing up. If not, try the next methods.
Finally,
I hope one of these solutions was useful to you and you were able to fix the Windows Time Service is not running error. Please let us know in the comments sections which solution helped you out.