How to Check the NTP Server in Windows

Check the NTP server for your computer.

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) server is a configuration set in your Windows computer's registry. The NTP server synchronizes your clock's time with a central server, which is typically the primary domain controller for your Windows network. You can check if the primary domain controller is your NTP server by viewing the value in the Windows registry. You can also change the time server used in the registry settings.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" button. In the text box shown, type "regedit" and press "Enter." This opens your Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to "HKey_Local_Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters" in your Registry Editor. Double-click "Type" and enter "NTP" into the text box. Click "OK" to save your settings.

3. Navigate to the "HKey_Local_Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config" key in the Registry Editor. Double-click "AnnounceFlags" and enter "5" into the value. This sets the reliability of the server to medium.

4. Navigate to "HKey_Local_Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters" in the Registry Editor. Double-click "NtpServer" and enter the name of your time server. This can be an Internet server or the primary domain controller on the network. The network administrator provides you with the name of the domain controller. Click "OK" to save your settings.

5. Close the Windows Registry Editor. Click the Windows "Start" button and enter "cmd" into the text box. Press "Enter." This opens your command line utility.

6. Type "net stop w32time" into the command line and press "Enter." Type "net start w32time" and press "Enter." This stops and restarts the Windows time service and implements the changes made in the Registry Editor.

References

• Windows Networking: Configuring the Windows Time Service