How do I change the time zone and/or date and time on my computer?

Changing the time zone and date/time of a computer involves accessing the system control settings. It is a straightforward process, usually taking only a few minutes to complete.

In Windows 7:

1. Click on the clock display in the lower right corner of the task bar.

2. Click “Change date and time settings…” which will open the Date and Time dialog box.

3. From the Date and Time tab select the time zone from a drop down list.

4. To change the date, click “Change date and time…” and enter a new date and/or time (a calendar will be shown).

5. Then click “OK” to save the changes.

In Windows 10:

1. Open the Start menu and click the cog icon to open the Settings window.

2. From the Settings window select “Time & Language”.

3. From the left-hand side of the window select “Date & Time” and then toggle on the “Set time automatically” option.

4. To set a different time zone than the one automatically set, click “Time Zone” and select from the drop down list the time zone you wish to set.

5. To change the date and time, click “Change date and time…” and enter a new date and/or time (a calendar will be shown).

6. Then click “OK” to save the changes.

In Mac OS X:

1. Open the System Preferences window either from the dock or from the Apple menu.

2. From the System Preferences window select “Date & Time”.

3. In the Date & Time Preference pane, select the time zone from the drop down list.

4. To change the date/time, click on the lock in the bottom left corner and enter your password to make changes.

5. Then toggle off the “Set date and time automatically” option and enter the desired date and/or time (a calendar will be shown).

6. Then click “OK” to save the changes.

It is important to regularly update your computer’s time zone and/or date and time settings. They are required for applications such as file servers and email servers to accurately sync with each other and operate properly. Setting the wrong time zone or date and time can cause problems when running certain applications.