Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically

Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically: Windows Time service (W32Time) is clock synchronization service provided by Microsoft for Windows which automatically synchronize the correct time for your system. The Time synchronization is done through an NTP (Network Time Protocol) Server such as time.windows.com. Every PC running Windows Time service uses the service to maintain accurate time in their system.

Fix Windows Time service doesn't start automatically

But sometimes it’s possible that this Windows time service doesn’t start automatically and you might get the error “The Windows Time Service is not started.” This means the Windows Time service failed to start and your Date & Time will not be synchronized. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically issue with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.

Windows could not start the Windows Time service on Local Computer

Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Unregister and then again Register Time Service

1.Press Windows Keys + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2.Type the following command one by one and hit Enter:

pushd %SystemRoot%\system32
.\net stop w32time
.\w32tm /unregister
.\w32tm /register
.\sc config w32time type= own
.\net start w32time
.\w32tm /config /update /manualpeerlist:”0.pool.ntp.org,1.pool.ntp.org,2.pool.ntp.org,3.pool.ntp.org”,0x8 /syncfromflags:MANUAL /reliable:yes
.\w32tm /resync
popd

Unregister and then again Register Time Service

3.If the above commands don’t work then try these:

w32tm /debug /disable
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
net start w32time

4.After the last command, you should get a message saying “The Windows Time Service is starting. The windows time service was started successfully.

5.This means that your Internet Time synchronization is working again.

Method 2: Delete the trigger event that is registered as the default setting

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2.Type the following command in cmd and hit Enter:

sc triggerinfo w32time delete

3.Now run the following command to define a trigger event that suits your environment:

sc triggerinfo w32time start/networkon stop/networkoff

Delete the trigger event that is registered as the default setting

4.Close command prompt and again check if you’re able to Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically issue.

Method 3: Enable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Control Panel.

control panel

2.Click System and Security and then click Administrative Tools.

Type Administrative in the Control Panel search and select Administrative Tools.

3.Double click on Task Scheduler and navigate to the following path:

Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Time Synchronization

4.Under Time Synchronization, right-click on Synchronize Time and select Enable.

Under Time Synchronization, right-click on Synchronize Time and select Enable

5.Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 4: Manually Start the Windows Time Service

1.Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

services windows

2.Find Windows Time Service in the list then right-click and select Properties.

Right-click on Windows Time Service and select Properties

3.Make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start) and the service is running, if not then click on start.

Make sure Startup type of Windows Time Service is Automatic and click Start if service is not running

4.Click Apply followed by OK.

5.Now Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler may start Windows Time service before the Service Control Manager and in order to avoid this situation, we need to disable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler.

6.Open Task Scheduler and navigate to the following path:

Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Time Synchronization

7.Right click on Synchronize Time and select Disable.

Disable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler

8.Reboot your PC to save changes.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically but if you still have any questions regarding this post then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

2 thoughts on “Fix Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically”

  1. Hi, Method 1 worked for me, the first set of instructions. Didn’t need to go any further. Thanks for your help

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