Fix ‘Your Clock is Behind’ or ‘Your Clock is Ahead’ Error on Mac

If your Mac displays the error message ‘Your clock is behind’ or ‘Your clock is ahead,’ you might be annoyed, as it can hinder your internet browsing. While this error seems insignificant, it requires immediate attention. Fortunately, resolving it is straightforward. This guide provides solutions to fix the clock error on your Mac.

Several factors can contribute to this clock error message:

*

Outdated website security certificates:

This issue is beyond your control, as it requires the website owner to update them.
*

Incorrect time and date settings:

Your Mac’s time and date settings might be inaccurate.
*

Inaccurate language and region settings:

Incorrect region settings can lead to time zone discrepancies.
*

Outdated browser cache:

Cached data in your browser can sometimes cause loading issues, including clock errors.
*

Outdated macOS version:

Older macOS versions might contain bugs that cause clock errors.

Before troubleshooting, quickly check your internet connection using [Link to Internet Connection Checker]. Addressing any connection issues will enhance troubleshooting effectiveness.

Automatically Set Time and Date

Setting your Mac’s time and date automatically is always a good practice, as it eliminates manual adjustments during travel or daylight saving time changes. This automatic setting can also resolve clock errors.

1. Open the

System Settings

app and navigate to

General

.
2. Enable the toggle next to

Set Date and Time Automatically

.
3. Ensure the

Time Server

section displays the correct server information. If not, select

Change

, enter your Mac’s password, and enter the server information as it appears. Alternatively, select

Reset

to use the default Apple time server.
4. Enable the toggle next to

Set Time Zone Automatically

(ensure

Location Services

are allowed in

Privacy & Security

).

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, disable the toggles in steps 2 and 4, manually enter the time and location, then re-enable the toggles to ensure automatic settings are functioning. Restart your Mac to finalize the changes.

Check Language and Region Settings

If setting the time and date automatically doesn’t fix the problem, adjust your Mac’s language and region settings:

1. In the

System Settings

app, go to

General

.
2. Under

Region

, verify the location is set to the correct country. If the issue persists, try changing your region to a different country, then switch it back.

Clear Your Browser Cache

An outdated browser cache can lead to incorrect page loading. Clearing your browser cache might help resolve the clock error:

Safari:

1. Open Safari and go to

History

from the menu bar.
2. At the bottom of the page, check the box next to

Clear History and Website Data

.
3. In Safari’s menu bar, go to

Safari

>

Preferences

.
4. Alternatively, press

Command + ,

(comma) and select

Privacy

.
5. This action might log you out of websites you’re currently signed in to.

Chrome:

1. Go to

History

>

Clear browsing data

.
2. Select

Basic

and

Cookies and other site data

(leave

Cached images and files

unchecked), then change

Time range

to

All time

.
3. Select

Clear data

.

Firefox:

1. Go to

History

>

Clear Recent History

.
2. Under

Time range to clear

, select

Everything

.
3. Check the boxes next to

Cookies

and

Cache

, then choose

Clear Now

.

Update macOS

Updating to the latest macOS version is crucial, as Apple frequently incorporates fixes in their updates. A recent macOS update might contain solutions for the clock error:

1. In the

System Settings

app, go to

General

>

Software Update

.
2. Wait for macOS to complete the update check.
3. If an update is available, select

Download and Install

and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Your Mac may restart multiple times during the update process. Allow the update to complete.

After logging back in, check if the update resolved the clock error.

Resolving the ‘Your clock is behind’ or ‘Your clock is ahead’ error can be caused by various factors. Employ the solutions outlined in this guide to rectify the issue. If the problem persists, contact Apple directly using their [Link to Apple Support Website]. Apple’s support team possesses extensive knowledge to assist in resolving this error permanently.