timedatectl Command
Beginner Systemd & Services man(1)Control system time and date settings
👁 8 views
📅 Updated: Mar 15, 2026
SYNTAX
timedatectl [COMMAND]
What Does timedatectl Do?
timedatectl controls system time and date settings. It manages the system clock, timezone, NTP synchronization, and RTC (hardware clock) settings.
timedatectl is the systemd way to manage time. It replaces manual date commands and ntpdate for time management. It can enable/disable automatic time synchronization via NTP.
Correct time is critical for certificates, logs, authentication (Kerberos), and distributed systems. timedatectl ensures the system clock is accurate and properly configured.
timedatectl is the systemd way to manage time. It replaces manual date commands and ntpdate for time management. It can enable/disable automatic time synchronization via NTP.
Correct time is critical for certificates, logs, authentication (Kerberos), and distributed systems. timedatectl ensures the system clock is accurate and properly configured.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| status | Show current time settings | timedatectl status |
| set-timezone | Set the timezone | sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/London |
| list-timezones | List available timezones | timedatectl list-timezones |
| set-ntp | Enable/disable NTP sync | sudo timedatectl set-ntp true |
| set-time | Set time manually | sudo timedatectl set-time "2024-01-15 14:30:00" |
Practical Examples
#1 Show time status
Shows current time, timezone, and NTP status.
$ timedatectl
Output:
Local time: Mon 2024-01-15 14:30:00 UTC
Time zone: UTC (UTC, +0000)
NTP synchronized: yes
#2 Set timezone
Changes the system timezone.
$ sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/Budapest#3 List timezones
Shows available European timezones.
$ timedatectl list-timezones | grep Europe
Output:
Europe/Amsterdam\nEurope/Berlin\nEurope/Budapest\nEurope/London
#4 Enable NTP
Enables automatic time synchronization.
$ sudo timedatectl set-ntp true#5 Set time manually
Disables NTP and sets time manually (disable NTP first).
$ sudo timedatectl set-ntp false && sudo timedatectl set-time "2024-01-15 14:30:00"Tips & Best Practices
Always use NTP: Enable NTP sync: timedatectl set-ntp true. Manual time setting drifts. NTP keeps the clock accurate.
Timezone vs UTC: Servers typically use UTC. timedatectl set-timezone UTC. Workstations use local time.
Disable NTP before manual time: You must disable NTP (set-ntp false) before setting time manually. NTP will override manual changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the timezone?
sudo timedatectl set-timezone ZONE. List available zones: timedatectl list-timezones.
How do I enable NTP?
sudo timedatectl set-ntp true enables automatic time synchronization.
How do I check if NTP is working?
timedatectl shows "NTP synchronized: yes" when time is synced.
Related Commands
More Systemd & Services Commands
Master Linux with Professional eBooks
Curated IT eBooks covering Linux, DevOps, Cloud, and more
Browse Books →