Your computer's clock may be as many as a few seconds to a few minutes off the correct time. Therefore, Windows includes a time synchronization scheduler to synchronize your clock automatically, located on the Internet Time tab in the Date & Time Settings. The default interval for this process is one week (which is 604,800 seconds). There is no way to change this interval through the user interface, it has to be done using the registry editor (regedit).
Steps
Open Internet Time Synchronization.
To do this, open Date and Time Settings. You can do this either through the Control Panel, or by clicking on the time on the taskbar, then clicking “Change date and time settings…” then clicking the “Internet Time” tab.
- Verify the computer is set to synchronize automatically.
Open the Registry Editor.
There are several ways of doing this, choose the most convenient for you. If you get a User Account Control dialog, click Yes.
- Press the Windows logo key and R. This will open the Run dialog. Then type regedit and click OK.
- Alternatively, open the Start Menu and type “regedit” in the search box. Click the regedit program to open.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001servicesW32TimeTimeProvidersNtpClient.
Just click the arrows next to the folder icons to navigate to the correct directories. You may have to scroll a bit when you reach the SYSTEM key.
Right click on the SpecialPollInterval key, then click Modify.
Convert your desired time to seconds.
You can quickly do this using Google or a website like Easysurf.
Click Decimal.
Then, enter your interval in seconds (without commas), and click OK.
Close the Registry Editor.
Open Date and Time Settings.
Click Internet Time, click Change Settings, then Update Now. This will immediately synchronize your clock. Click OK to close the dialog.
Confirm your new synchronization interval works.
If it does, the next synchronization time should be exactly one interval away from the time you synchronized.
Tips
- A synchronization interval of one day is usually enough for most users. However, if you need a highly accurate time and your clock drifts often, an hour should be suitable. Under no circumstances should you poll a time server more often than once every 15 minutes.
- If you are interested in how it works, look up “Network Time Protocol”.
- If your computer is not synchronizing at the correct time, you may need to tell the Time Service to use the SpecialPollInterval setting. See this link for instructions.
Warnings
- Keep in mind that it takes several seconds to synchronize the time. So, do not make the interval one second. This will cause unnecessary load to your computer, as it will be constantly running the synchronization program.