Keeping the correct date and time on your Ubuntu system is essential for various applications, logging, and system functionalities. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for changing the system date and time in Ubuntu using both command line and graphical methods.

Method 1: Using the Command Line

Step 1: Open Terminal

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal window.

Step 2: Check Current Date and Time

To view the current date, time, and timezone settings, run:

timedatectl

Step 3: Set the Date and Time

To change the date and time, use the following command:

sudo timedatectl set-time 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'

For example, to set the date to April 7, 2025, at 11:20:15 AM, you would run:

sudo timedatectl set-time '2025-04-07 11:20:15'

Step 4: Set Timezone

To change the timezone, first, list available timezones:

timedatectl list-timezones

Find your desired timezone (e.g., America/New_York), and then set it using:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone 'America/New_York'

Step 5: Enable NTP Synchronization (optional)

To keep your system clock synchronized with internet time servers, enable NTP (Network Time Protocol):

sudo timedatectl set-ntp on

Method 2: Using the Graphical Interface

Step 1: Open Settings

Click on the system menu in the top-right corner and select Settings.

Step 2: Navigate to Date & Time

In the Settings window, find and click on the Date & Time tab.

Step 3: Turn Off Automatic Time Zone

If enabled, turn off Automatic Time Zone to manually set your timezone.

Step 4: Set Date and Time

• Click on Time Zone to select your desired timezone from a map or dropdown menu.
• Adjust the date and time fields as needed.

Step 5: Enable Automatic Date & Time (optional)

If you want your system to automatically synchronize with internet time servers, turn on Automatic Date & Time.

Conclusion

These methods allow you to effectively change the system date and time in Ubuntu, whether through the command line or the graphical interface. Choose whichever method suits your preference for managing time on your system!

For more tips and guides on Ubuntu, check out other articles on CodeAllow.