{"id":6022,"date":"2023-08-09T00:45:40","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T22:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/?p=6022"},"modified":"2023-08-11T18:50:17","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T16:50:17","slug":"change-the-timezone-on-a-vps-or-dedicated-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/contabo.com\/blog\/change-the-timezone-on-a-vps-or-dedicated-server\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change the Timezone on a VPS\/Dedicated Server (Windows & Linux)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Timezone<\/a> configuration is a critical aspect of any server setup, ensuring accurate time representation and synchronization across various applications and services. Whether you’re managing a Virtual Private Server (VPS)<\/a> or a Dedicated Server<\/a>, knowing how to change the timezone is a fundamental skill for every system administrator and server owner.
In this guide, we’ll provide simple step-by-step instructions, empowering you to synchronize time accurately and streamline server management. Get ready to wield complete control over your server’s time settings like a pro. Let’s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to change the current timezone on your VPS or Dedicated Server connect to your server as root via SSH<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check the current date, time and timezone use the following command:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

date<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
On my server the output is the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mon 7 Aug 2023 04:00:00 AM CEST  <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, the current timezone is Central European Summer Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To configure a different timezone use the following command:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
timedatectl set-timezone [new\/time_zone<\/em>]\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The available time zones can be found in \/usr\/share\/zoneinfo\/<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Change<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
If you go into the “Europe” folder and execute “ls” you will see ever city that is available to choose from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Change<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In our example we will set the timezone to Europe and Berlin. To do so, execute the following command:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 root@server1:~# timedatectl set-timezone Europe\/London<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
After the timezone has been changes, the output of the “date” command will be the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wed 11 Sep 2019 09:14:07 AM BST<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In case you are running Windows Server on a VPS, please contact our support team (support@contabo.de) as there will be some further adjustments required to keep the changes permanently. One of our technicians will then gladly apply the new configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get started, connect to your server using RDP. If you need help with that check out our Guide on “How to connect to my server using RDP<\/a>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now press [Windows]<\/strong> + [R]<\/strong> to open the run dialog. Alternatively you can open the search bar by pressing the Windows-key and type in “run” followed by pressing [Enter]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now paste in the following command:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
reg add \"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\TimeZoneInformation\" \/v RealTimeIsUniversal \/t REG_QWORD \/d 1 \/f<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Explanation:<\/strong><\/em> Windows always takes the time from the BIOS clock, and the host server has only one BIOS
clock. Therefore all VPS have the same time zone set. This command creates a QWORD (64 Bit) Value<\/strong><\/em> in “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\TimeZoneInformation<\/em>” called “RealTimeIsUniversal<\/strong><\/em>” and sets the value of it to “1<\/strong><\/em>“. This will allow the timezone of your instance to be different from the hostsystem ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To continue open the settings by hitting [Windows] + [i]<\/strong> or search for “Settings<\/em>” in the search bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now you can set the new time zone in “Time & Language<\/em>” -> “Date and Time<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For the new changes to take effect, restart your server.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Learn how to effortlessly change the timezone on your Windows- or Linux VPS or VDS with our step-by-step guide. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":17295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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