Reset Timezone on Linux Systems

Linux Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Reset Timezone on Linux Systems

This section provides a tutorial example on how to view and change timezone settings on Linux systems using the 'timedatectl' command.

After installing a new Linux system, you want to check and reset its timezone to match the local time.

1. View the current timezone using the "timedatectl" command.

herong$ timedatectl

               Local time: Sat 2020-10-10 04:16:49 EST
           Universal time: Sat 2020-10-10 09:16:49 UTC
                 RTC time: Sat 2020-10-10 05:16:49
                Time zone: America/New_York (EST, -0500)
System clock synchronized: yes
              NTP service: active
          RTC in local TZ: yes

Warning: The system is configured to read the RTC time in the local time zone.
         This mode cannot be fully supported. It will create various problems
         with time zone changes and daylight saving time adjustments. The RTC
         time is never updated, it relies on external facilities to maintain it.
         If at all possible, use RTC in UTC by calling
         'timedatectl set-local-rtc 0'.

2. Reset timezone to Paris:

herong$ timedatectl list-timezones | grep Paris
Europe/Paris

herong$ sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/Paris

3. Reset the RTC (Real Time Clock) in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). As shown in the above warning message, setting RTC in local timezone may cause problems.

herong$ sudo timedatectl set-local-rtc 0

herong$ timedatectl
                 Local time: Sat 2020-10-09 10:16:49 CET
             Universal time: Sat 2020-10-10 09:16:49 UTC
                   RTC time: Sat 2020-10-10 09:16:49

                  Time zone: Europe/Paris (CET, +0100)
  System clock synchronized: yes
                NTP service: active
            RTC in local TZ: no