How-To

How to Make Windows 11 Change Time Zones Automatically

By Brian Burgess

Published March 29, 2023

If you travel across the globe, no worries about your laptop’s clock settings. You can change time zones automatically on Windows 11.

Your PC needs the correct time settings. While you can manually change the time zone, you might prefer to make Windows 11 change time zones automatically when you’re on the move.

Luckily, making it happen through Windows 11 settings is a straightforward process. You won’t need to keep manually changing the time zones whenever you travel across a different time zone.

To change time zone settings automatically on Windows 11, follow the steps below.

How to Change Time Zones Automatically on Windows 11

Having the ability to keep track of time zones so you can keep your calendars and communications across time zones is a time saver. The feature is helpful for business users with clients around the globe.

To make Windows 11 change time zones automatically:

1. Press the Windows key and launch Settings, or hit Windows key + I to launch the Settings app directly.

2. Select the Time & language option from the left panel.
3. Click Date & time from the options on the right.

4. To allow Windows 11 to change zones automatically, toggle the switch next to the Set time zone automatically option to the on position.

5. If your laptop’s time still seems incorrect, click the Sync now button under the Additional settings section.

What if Set Time Zone Automatically is Grayed Out?

You might run into a situation where the option to set the time zone automatically is grayed out based on your system settings. The reason is most likely due to location services being disabled. If you find the option grayed out, you can fix it quickly.

Note: Before continuing, ensure you are logged into the laptop with Administrator credentials.

To fix grayed out time zone settings on Windows 11:

1. Launch Settings by using the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut.
2. When the Settings app opens, select Privacy & security from the left panel.
3. Scroll down the left pane and click the Location option under the App permissions section.

4. Now, enable the Location services and Let apps access your location options.

5. Restart Windows 11, and the option to set the time zone automatically should now be available.

Moving forward, you can make Windows 11 change time zones automatically. The time will change on your laptop as you cross regions and different time zones. You won’t need to make time and date changes manually and will be able to get things done easier.

Manage Your PC Time and Date on Windows 11

Resetting your system’s clock all the time is inconvenient. But you can make Windows 11 change time zones automatically for easier PC management. In addition to being useful for business users, it is also helpful for personal use scenarios.

There are other ways you can manage the clock on your Windows PC. For example, you can manually change the time and date or change the date and time zone on Windows 11.

Also, if you want to get more from the system clock, check out the process to show seconds on the system clock or how to add extra clocks on Windows 11 for different time zones. And if you are not on Windows 11 yet, take a look at how to synchronize the system clock on Windows 10.