If you are receiving the error message on your Mac that says “Your clock is behind” or “Your clock is ahead,” it can be frustrating. This error can actually prevent you from browsing the internet, so it’s important to resolve it quickly.
Thankfully, there are several ways to fix this issue, and none of them are too difficult. In this guide, we will help you identify the root cause of the problem and provide solutions to fix it.
There are a few potential causes for the clock error message:
- Your Mac’s date and time settings are incorrect
- Your Mac’s time zone and region settings are wrong
- Your web browser’s cache is outdated or causing issues
- The security certificates for the website you are visiting are out of date
- Your internet connection is faulty
If a website’s security certificates are outdated, you’ll need to wait for the website owner to update them. However, for the other issues, there are steps you can take to resolve them. Before proceeding, you can check your internet connection using our troubleshooting guide to address any connection issues that may be affecting your Mac.
Now, let’s look at how you can fix clock errors in macOS.
Automatically Set the Time and Date
It’s recommended to have your Mac set the time and date automatically to avoid manual adjustments when traveling or during daylight saving time changes. This setting can also help resolve clock errors.
Step 1: Open the System Preferences app and navigate to General > Date & Time.
Step 2: Enable the toggle next to Set time and date automatically.
Step 3: Verify that the Source section shows Apple (time.apple.com). If not, select Set, enter your Mac’s password, and input the information as shown above in the Time Server section. Alternatively, choose Default to reset it to the Apple time server.
Step 4: Turn on the toggle next to Set time zone automatically using your current location (ensure Location Services are enabled in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Location Services).
Step 5: If the issue persists, turn off the toggles in steps 2 and 4, manually enter the time and location, then turn the toggles back on for automatic settings.
Step 6: Restart your Mac to complete the process.
Check Your Language and Region Settings
If setting the time and date automatically did not resolve the issue, adjusting your Mac’s language and region settings may help.
Step 1: In System Preferences, go to General > Language & Region.
Step 2: Verify that the location under Region is set to the correct country.
Step 3: If the problem persists, try changing the region to a different country and then back again.
Clear Your Browser Cache
Outdated browser caches can cause web pages to load incorrectly, so clearing them might help resolve the issue.
Step 1: For Safari, enable Show features for web developers in the Safari menu, then select Develop > Empty Caches for All Profiles or Manage Website Data > Remove All. In Chrome and Firefox, follow similar steps to clear cache data.
Update macOS
Updating your Mac to the latest version can often fix various issues, including clock errors. Apple regularly includes bug fixes in macOS updates.
Step 1: Go to System Preferences > Software Update to check for available updates.
Step 2: If an update is available, select Update Now and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 3: Let your Mac complete the update process, even if it restarts multiple times. Check if the update resolves the clock error after logging in.
If you’ve tried the solutions provided and still experience issues, consider contacting Apple support for further assistance. Apple’s support teams are knowledgeable and can help you address the problem effectively.
