A quick guide to configure your Windows server computer to automatically adjust its clock for Daylight Saving Time, preventing appointment time mismatches and scheduling errors.
✨ When You Need This Guide
This guide is for you if:
You want to ensure your server's clock automatically updates for Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes.
Your appointment times are off by an hour after the clocks "spring forward" or "fall back."
You need to find and check the date and time settings on your Windows server.
You want to prevent future scheduling problems caused by an incorrect server time.
Why This is Important
Your server's clock is the source of truth for your entire scheduling system. If it's wrong, your appointment reminders and calendar times could be off by an hour, causing confusion and missed appointments for your staff and patients. Setting it to update automatically is the best way to prevent this.
You'll Need:
Administrator access to your server computer to change system settings.
✅ How to Enable Automatic Time Adjustments
Follow these steps on your server computer to ensure it handles DST changes correctly.
Open Date & Time settings on your server. The easiest way is to use the Windows search bar. Click the Start Menu or search icon, type Date and time settings, and select it from the results.
Locate the automatic settings toggles. In the settings window that appears, you will see several on/off switches.
Turn ON the following three settings. Ensure the toggles are blue or in the "On" position for:
Set time automatically
Set time zone automatically
Adjust for daylight saving time automatically
Verify your Time Zone. Just below the toggles, check that the Time Zone listed is correct for your location (e.g., (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time). If it's not, you may need to temporarily turn off "Set time zone automatically" to select the correct one from the dropdown menu, then turn the setting back on.
Close the settings window. Your changes are saved automatically, and you're all set!
💡 Common Scenarios & Solutions
If you've followed the steps but the clock is still incorrect, here are a few common scenarios and solutions.
What You Might Notice | Why It's Happening | How to Fix It |
The automatic setting toggles are grayed out and I can't click them. | This is common if your server is part of a corporate network (a "domain"). In this setup, time is managed by a central server, not the local computer. | This is often normal and secure. If the time is wrong, you will need to contact your IT administrator or service provider to correct the time on the primary domain controller for your network. |
All settings are on, but the time is still off by an hour. | The Windows Time service might need to be manually refreshed to sync with the internet time servers. | In the Date & Time settings window, look for a "Synchronize your clock" section and click the Sync now button. This forces your computer to check for the correct time immediately. A simple restart of the server can also trigger a fresh sync. |
My settings screen looks different from the pictures. | Older versions of Windows Server often use the classic Control Panel for these settings. | Go to the Control Panel, select Clock and Region, then Date and Time. Click the Change time zone button and ensure the checkbox for "Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Time" is checked. |
🎉 You'll Know It's Working When:
All three automatic time toggles are set to "On" in your Date & Time settings.
The clock on your server correctly "springs forward" or "falls back" when Daylight Saving Time begins or ends, with no manual changes needed from you.
💬 Need Help? We're Here!
For questions about how server time affects Aloha, you can contact our support team at 800-563-0469 or support@getaloha.com.