Network Time Synchronization

This Mini-How-To was created to help the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) user configure the Windows 7 Operating System for network time synchronization over the public internet using the Network Time Protocol (NTP).

Select the correct time zone on the desktop

Make sure the computer is configured for the correct time zone and to account for Daylight Saving Time (DST) if applicable. The following is an example for a Windows 7 Ultimate machine in the US & Canada Central Time Zone (GMT-06.00) which observes DST. Right-click the mouse on the system clock in the System Tray and click on Adjust date/time from the menu. Select the Time zone > Change time zone and configure for the local time zone and DST if applicable. Note that the user must have Administrator permissions to configure date and time on a Windows 7 machine.

Right click for time settings

Select correct local time zone 

The Network Time Protocol, time synchronization and the desktop PC

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is widely used over the public internet to synchronize computer clocks to a national standard time. The SOHO user may configure a built-in NTP client program (Windows 7) in order to maintain a high degree of time synchronization.

Windows 7 NTP time synchronization configuration

Right-click the mouse on the system clock in the System Tray and click on Adjust date/time from the menu. Select the Internet Time tab. The user can either use the default time server or the user can simply type in the address of a new time server in the Server: address box. Tap Update Now to verify the server connection can be made. Tap OK to finish the configuration. Note that the user must have Administrator permissions to configure date and time on a Windows 7 machine.

Right click to configure time settings

Configure time server address

Update after configuring time server address

Public time server information [Please note the Rules of Engagement for public time server access]

Public NTP Pool Servers (The recommended servers to use)

NIST Internet Time Service

USNO Network Time Servers

Other Public NTP Time Servers

How to change the Windows 7 internet time update frequency

The user can increase or decrease the frequency of updates by making a simple registry change. Add or change the SpecialPollInterval DWORD setting. Note the value is in seconds...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient\

For example the value is set to 86400 on my Windows 7 machines (that's in seconds), so the machines poll the time server once each day versus the default of once each week.

Update Interval Decimal DWORD Value (Seconds)
1 Minute 60
1 Hour 3600
1 Day 86400
1 Week 604800

IMPORTANT: This procedure contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article numbers to view the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

322756 - HOW TO: Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows.

  1. Log on as an Administrative user.

  2. Go to Start -> Run and type regedit at the command prompt.

  3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient\

  4. Add or change the DWORD of SpecialPollInterval with a decimal value in seconds. See KB article 322756

  5. Go to File -> Exit

  6. Log off the Administrator account and reboot the PC.

Last reviewed: 11 July 2010...awj
Copyright © 2010 - Alan W. Jarvi - All rights reserved
The Microsoft MVP Program