How to Change Time on HP Laptop Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

If you just noticed that the clock on your HP laptop is showing the wrong time, don’t panic — you’re not alone. Whether you’ve recently traveled to a different time zone, reset your laptop, or your system clock is just acting weird, adjusting the time on Windows 11 is super easy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions to change time on your HP laptop running Windows 11.

This isn’t just a quick tutorial — we’ll cover manual time settings, automatic syncing, troubleshooting tips, and even advanced tweaks if your clock keeps going wrong. By the end, you’ll have your laptop’s clock working perfectly, so you never miss a meeting, class, or game session again.

Table of Contents

Why Time Accuracy Matters on Your HP Laptop

Think about it — timekeeping on your laptop isn’t just for convenience. A wrong system clock can cause all sorts of problems:

Websites might refuse to load correctly.
Software like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Outlook may not sync properly.
Your laptop could fail security checks because certificates depend on accurate time.

So, keeping your clock updated isn’t just a cosmetic fix — it’s essential for smooth performance.

Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings

The first thing you need to do is access your laptop’s Date & Time settings. Here’s how:

Click on the Start Menu (Windows icon) in the taskbar.
Select Settings (or press Windows + I on your keyboard for a shortcut).
From the left-hand menu, choose Time & language.
Click on Date & time to open the settings panel.

Boom — you’re now ready to make changes.

Step 2: Turn Off Automatic Time Setting (Optional)

By default, Windows 11 sets the time automatically. If you want to manually change it, turn off this option:

Find Set time automatically and toggle it off.

This will allow you to manually adjust your laptop’s time.

Step 3: Manually Change the Time

Now that automatic time syncing is off, here’s how to set the time manually:

Under Set the date and time manually, click Change.
A pop-up window will appear — select the date and time you want.
Hit Change to save your settings.

And just like that, your laptop clock is updated.

Step 4: Adjust the Time Zone

If your time is still off, your time zone might be set incorrectly.

Go to the same Date & time settings.
Toggle off Set time zone automatically (if it’s on).
Under Time zone, select the correct option from the drop-down menu.

For example, if you’re in New York, choose (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

Step 5: Enable Automatic Clock Synchronization

If you want your HP laptop to always stay accurate without manual intervention, turn the automatic option back on:

Toggle Set time automatically to on again.
Scroll down and click Sync now under Additional settings.

Windows will fetch the correct time from Microsoft’s time server and apply it instantly.

Step 6: Change Clock Format (12-Hour or 24-Hour)

Prefer a 24-hour military-style clock instead of AM/PM? Easy fix:

In Date & time settings, scroll down and select Language & region.
Click Regional format and choose Change formats.
Adjust the Short time and Long time format to 24-hour if you like.

Step 7: Use the Taskbar for Quick Adjustments

Here’s a quick shortcut if you don’t want to dig into Settings:

Right-click the clock in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.
Select Adjust date and time — it takes you straight to the Date & Time settings page.

Step 8: Sync with a Different Time Server (Advanced)

Sometimes Microsoft’s default time server might not sync correctly. You can switch to a more reliable one:

Open Control Panel (search for it from the Start Menu).
Go to Clock and Region > Date and Time.
Click Internet Time tab and select Change settings.
Choose a different server like time.nist.gov.
Click Update now to sync instantly.

Step 9: Check for Windows Updates

An outdated system can sometimes cause clock errors.

Go to Settings > Windows Update.
Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.

This ensures your laptop has the latest fixes.

Step 10: Check BIOS/CMOS Battery (If Time Resets Frequently)

If your HP laptop keeps losing time every time you restart it, your CMOS battery might be dying. This small battery keeps track of time even when your laptop is off.

If you’re comfortable, replace the CMOS battery yourself.
Otherwise, take it to a technician to replace it.

This will stop the clock from resetting.

Step 11: Fix Time Sync via Command Prompt (Pro Users)

You can force your HP laptop to sync with a time server using Command Prompt:

Search for Command Prompt, right-click, and choose Run as administrator.
Type this command and hit Enter:

w32tm /resync
Wait for the confirmation message.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here’s what to do if your laptop time still doesn’t stay correct:

Make sure time zone is correct.
Disable and re-enable automatic time setting.
Check that your internet connection is working (time sync needs it).
Update Windows and drivers.
Replace CMOS battery if needed.

Tips for Keeping Your HP Laptop Clock Accurate

Keep Windows updated.
Avoid letting your battery drain completely (can sometimes cause time resets).
Use automatic time setting for hassle-free accuracy.

Conclusion

Changing the time on an HP laptop running Windows 11 is simple once you know where to look. Whether you do it manually or let Windows handle it automatically, you can get your clock back on track in minutes. And if the issue keeps coming back, you now know how to troubleshoot deeper problems like time zone settings or even a failing CMOS battery.

A properly set clock keeps your apps, meetings, and system running smoothly — so it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to fix it right.

FAQs

1. Why does my HP laptop keep showing the wrong time after restart?
This could be due to a dead CMOS battery, wrong time zone, or disabled automatic syncing.

2. Can I change time without admin rights?
No, you usually need administrator access to change system time.

3. What happens if my clock is wrong?
Some websites and apps may stop working properly, and security certificates can fail.

4. How do I force Windows 11 to sync time?
Go to Date & Time settings and click Sync now, or use w32tm /resync in Command Prompt.

5. Can I use third-party apps to sync time?
Yes, but it’s usually unnecessary — Windows’ built-in time service is accurate enough.