Set or Change Timezone on Ubuntu: A Comprehensive Guide
Ubuntu, like any other operating system, comes with a set timezone, usually set to the location where the system was installed. However, to use the system effectively, it is important to set the correct timezone. This comprehensive guide will explain how to set or change the timezone on Ubuntu, using command line and GUI methods, and alternate methods such as timedatectl and tzdata. Additionally, it will cover how to check the current timezone and how Ubuntu manages time through synchronization with NTP, adjusting servers, and resolving time conflicts in multiple boot systems.
Before we dive into the details, let’s first understand the importance of setting the correct timezone in Ubuntu. When you install Ubuntu, it sets the system time to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, the system’s clock may not necessarily be accurate, and it is important to configure the correct timezone so that the clock shows the correct time. This is especially important for servers and users who need to coordinate activities with other people across multiple time zones.
Now that you understand the importance of setting the correct timezone, let’s explore the different methods to set or change the timezone on Ubuntu.
How to Set Timezone on Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 20.04 is the latest LTS release of Ubuntu and comes with a variety of tools to manage the system. Here are two different methods to set or change the timezone on Ubuntu 20.04:
Method 1: Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)
The CLI is a powerful tool to manage Ubuntu, and it can be used to set the timezone on Ubuntu 20.04 by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to list all available timezones:
timedatectl list-timezones
According to Linuxize, this command lists all available timezones.
- From the list, find the timezone that you want to set and copy its name.
- Type the following command to set the timezone:
sudo timedatectl set-timezone <timezone>
Replace <timezone>
with the name of the timezone you want to set.
- Verify that the timezone has been set correctly by typing the following command:
timedatectl
According to Linuxize, this command displays the current time settings.
Method 2: Using the Graphical User Interface (GUI)
If you prefer a more user-friendly interface, you can use the GUI to set the timezone on Ubuntu 20.04 by following these steps:
- Click on the system clock in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click on the
Date & Time Settings
option. - Toggle the
Automatic Timezone
option off. - Select the desired timezone from the list of available timezones.
- Close the
Date & Time Settings
window.
According to Hostinger, these are the steps to change the timezone using the GUI.
Congratulations, you have now successfully set the timezone on Ubuntu 20.04!
How to Change Timezone in Ubuntu Using Alternate Methods
Apart from the command line and GUI methods, there are alternate methods to change the timezone in Ubuntu. In this section, we will cover two such methods:
Method 1: Using timedatectl Command
The timedatectl
command is another way to change the timezone in Ubuntu. Here are the steps to do it:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to list all available timezones:
timedatectl list-timezones
According to Simplified Guide, this command lists all available timezones.
- From the list, find the timezone that you want to set and copy its name.
- Type the following command to set the timezone:
sudo timedatectl set-timezone <timezone>
Replace <timezone>
with the name of the timezone you want to set.
- Verify that the timezone has been set correctly by typing the following command:
timedatectl
According to Simplified Guide, this command displays the current time settings.
Method 2: Using tzdata Command
The tzdata
command is another way to change the timezone in Ubuntu. Here are the steps to do it:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to open the timezone selection screen:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
According to It’s FOSS, this command opens the timezone configuration screen.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to select the timezone.
According to It’s FOSS, this command will prompt you to select the geographical area and then the city corresponding to the timezone.
- Verify that the timezone has been set correctly by typing the following command:
date
According to It’s FOSS, this command displays the current date and time, including the timezone.
Congratulations, you have now successfully changed the timezone in Ubuntu using the alternate methods!
How to Synchronize Time in Ubuntu
It is important to ensure that your Ubuntu system’s time is synchronized with the correct time to avoid any issues with scheduling or time-sensitive tasks. In this section, we will cover how to synchronize time in Ubuntu.
Enabling Network Time Protocol (NTP)
The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network. Ubuntu comes with NTP installed by default, and it is recommended to use it to synchronize time. Here are the steps to enable NTP:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to install NTP:
sudo apt-get install ntp
According to Ubuntu Community Help, this command installs NTP.
- Type the following command to enable NTP:
timedatectl set-ntp true
According to Ubuntu Community Help, this command enables NTP.
- Verify that NTP is enabled by typing the following command:
timedatectl
According to Ubuntu Community Help, this command displays the current time settings, including the NTP status.
Troubleshooting NTP Issues
If the NTP synchronization is not working, you can troubleshoot it by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to check the NTP status:
systemctl status ntp
According to Hostinger, this command checks the NTP service status.
- If the NTP service is not running, start it with the following command:
sudo systemctl start ntp
According to Hostinger, this command starts the NTP service.
Resolving Time Conflicts in Multiple Boot Systems
If you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer, you may encounter time conflicts between them. Here are the steps to resolve time conflicts in multiple boot systems:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to edit the
timedate
file:
sudo nano /etc/default/timedate
According to Ubuntu Community Help, this file contains the configuration for system time settings.
- Uncomment the line
#NTPSYNC=yes
by removing the#
character in front of it. - Save the file and exit the editor.
Making Windows Use UTC or Linux Use Local Time
If you have a dual-boot system with Windows and Ubuntu, you may encounter time conflicts between them. Here are the steps to make Windows use UTC or Linux use local time:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to edit the
timedate
file:
sudo nano /etc/default/timedate
According to Ubuntu Community Help, this file contains the configuration for system time settings.
- Uncomment the line
#NTPSYNC=yes
by removing the#
character in front of it. - Add the following line to the file to make Windows use UTC:
UTC=yes
Add the following line to the file to make Linux use local time:
UTC=no
- Save the file and exit the editor.
Congratulations, you have now successfully synchronized time in Ubuntu!
Tips and Tricks for Managing Time in Ubuntu
In this section, we will cover some tips and tricks to manage time in Ubuntu more efficiently.
Checking the Current Timezone
To check the current timezone in Ubuntu, follow these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command:
timedatectl
According to It’s FOSS, this command displays the current date and time settings, including the timezone.
Finding the Correct Timezone Format
If you are unsure about the correct timezone format for your area, you can find it by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command:
curl https://ipapi.co/timezone/
According to It’s FOSS, this command displays the correct timezone format for your area.
Updating the System Clock
If the system clock is not updated automatically, you can update it manually by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command:
sudo ntpdate ntp.ubuntu.com
According to Simplified Guide, this command updates the system clock.
Setting the Hardware Clock
If the system clock is not synchronized with the hardware clock, you can set the hardware clock manually by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command to set the hardware clock to the current system time:
sudo hwclock –systohc
According to Simplified Guide, this command sets the hardware clock to the current system time.
Setting the Timezone Automatically on Boot
If you want the timezone to be set automatically on boot, you can do it by following these steps:
- Open the terminal by pressing
Ctrl+Alt+T
on the keyboard. - Type the following command:
sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 1
According to It’s FOSS, this command sets the RTC (Real Time Clock) to local time.
Congratulations, you have now learned some tips and tricks to manage time in Ubuntu more efficiently!
Wrapping Up
In this article, we have covered how to set or change the timezone in Ubuntu using various methods, including the command line, GUI, timedatectl, and tzdata commands. We have also covered how to synchronize time in Ubuntu using NTP, troubleshoot NTP issues, resolve time conflicts in multiple boot systems, and make Windows use UTC or Linux use local time. Additionally, we have provided some tips and tricks to manage time in Ubuntu more efficiently.
We hope that this article has been helpful in setting up your Ubuntu system’s timezone and managing time more efficiently. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the comments section below.
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FAQs
Who can change the timezone in Ubuntu?
Only the root or user with sudo privileges can change the timezone in Ubuntu.
What is the Network Time Protocol (NTP)?
The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network.
How can I troubleshoot NTP synchronization issues in Ubuntu?
You can troubleshoot NTP synchronization issues by checking the NTP status and starting the NTP service.
What is the correct format for my area’s timezone in Ubuntu?
You can find the correct format for your area’s timezone by running the curl https://ipapi.co/timezone/
command.
How can I update the system clock in Ubuntu?
You can update the system clock in Ubuntu manually by running the sudo ntpdate ntp.ubuntu.com
command.
What is RTC in Ubuntu, and how can I set it to local time?
RTC (Real Time Clock) is a hardware clock that keeps track of time when the system is powered off. To set RTC to local time, run the sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 1
command.