Fix Windows Time Service Doesn’t Start Automatically

The Windows Time service (W32Time) is a crucial clock synchronization service that Microsoft provides for Windows. This service automatically synchronizes the correct time for your system with an NTP (Network Time Protocol) Server, such as time.windows.com. Every PC running the Windows Time service relies on this service to maintain accurate time.

However, there are instances when the Windows Time service fails to start automatically, resulting in the error: "The Windows Time Service is not started." This can lead to your date and time not being synchronized properly. Without further ado, let's explore how to fix the issue of the Windows Time service not starting automatically using the troubleshooting steps outlined below.

Contents

1. Fix Windows Time Service Doesn’t Start Automatically
2. Method 1: Unregister and then Register Time Service
3. Method 2: Delete the Trigger Event Registered as Default Setting
4. Method 3: Enable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler
5. Method 4: Manually Start the Windows Time Service

Fix Windows Time Service Doesn’t Start Automatically

Before proceeding, make sure to create a restore point to prevent any potential issues.

Method 1: Unregister and then Register Time Service

1. Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Enter the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

   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

3. If the above commands don’t resolve the issue, try these additional commands:

   w32tm /debug /disable

   w32tm /unregister

   w32tm /register

   net start w32time

4. You should receive a message stating: "The Windows Time Service is starting. The Windows Time service was started successfully."
5. This indicates that your Internet Time synchronization is operational once more.

Method 2: Delete the Trigger Event Registered as Default Setting

1. Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Run the following command and press Enter:

   sc triggerinfo w32time delete

3. Define a new trigger event that matches your setup:

   sc triggerinfo w32time start/networkon stop/networkoff

4. Close the command prompt and verify if the Windows Time service issue is resolved.

Method 3: Enable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler

1. Press Windows Key + X then select Control Panel.
2. Navigate to System and Security and select Administrative Tools.
3. Double-click Task Scheduler and navigate to: Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Time Synchronization
4. Right-click on Synchronize Time and select Enable.
5. Reboot your PC to apply changes.

Method 4: Manually Start the Windows Time Service

1. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Locate Windows Time Service in the list, right-click, and select Properties.
3. Ensure the Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start), and if it is not running, click Start.
4. Click Apply followed by OK.
5. Disable Time Synchronization in Task Scheduler to avoid conflicts:
   1. Open Task Scheduler and navigate to Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Time Synchronization.
   2. Right-click on Synchronize Time and select Disable.
6. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Recommended for you:

• Fix Task Scheduler Error: One or More of the Specified Arguments are Not Valid
• How to Fix Default Printer Keeps Changing Issue
• Fix Webcam Not Working in Windows 10
• Fix Superfetch Has Stopped Working

That’s it! You have successfully fixed the issue where the Windows Time service doesn’t start automatically. If you have any questions regarding this guide, please feel free to ask in the comments section.