Windows Time Is Not Syncing Automatically

I had this problem with a Windows 11 machine but another identical machine worked fine.



The problem that the source is pointing to the Local CMOS clock and the configuration shows

Type: NTP (Policy)
NtpServer: ,0x1 (Policy)

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No matter what I tried (including overriding the registry `SpecialPollTimeRemaining` key, it would always reset back to CMOS and the broken `NtpServer`.



The solution I eventually found was to create a group policy using gpedit.msc under `Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Windows Time Service -> Time Providers -> Configure Windows NTP Client`

• Enable this policy
• Set the NtpServer to time.windows.com,0x9
• Set the Type to NTP

Save it, run `gpupdate` from Run to apply the policy.



Now you should see `w32tm /query /configuration` show

Type: NTP (Policy)
NtpServer: time.windows.com,0x9 (Policy)

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Once it shows this, go back into `gpedit.msc` and set the `Configure Windows NTP Client` to `Not configured`, re-run `gpupdate` to apply the new policy and now when you run `w32tm /query /configuration` it should show you the correct information

Type: NTP (Local)
NtpServer: time.windows.com (Local)

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and when you run `w32tm /query /source` it should show you

time.windows.com,0x9

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This was the only way I could reset windows time to use a NTP server correctly

I still see this bug regarding not syncing (and it is a bug) when Fast Start is turned off.

Clean install done just before Christmas. Every clean W11 install I have done behaves like this. Turn on Fast Start and the issues disappears immediately.



I manually sync on the 29th and...

Mooly said:

I still see this bug regarding not syncing (and it is a bug) when Fast Start is turned off.

Clean install done just before Christmas. Every clean W11 install I have done behaves like this. Turn on Fast Start and the issues disappears immediately.

View attachment 121456

I manually sync on the 29th and...

View attachment 121457

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That's an interesting observation about disabling Fast Startup causing the problem.
The only thing I can add to that is, I have Fast Startup disabled on all my computers, but only one computer has this automatic time syncing problem.

By the way. This is a great workaround for those who can't find a working solution.

Stigg said:

That's an interesting observation about disabling Fast Startup causing the problem.
The only thing I can add to that is, I have Fast Startup disabled on all my computers, but only one computer has this automatic time syncing problem.

By the way. This is a great workaround for those who can't find a working solution.

Make Windows synchronize time more often

www.pretentiousname.com

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Good fix - I just tried creating the bespoke task on my desktop PC. I've been using the simple program nettime NetTime - Network Time Synchronization Tool

MS must know about this bug and have been very slow to fix it.