Windows 10 keeps failing to connect to online NTP server

ntpwindowswindows 10

I would like to keep my time up to date using an online NTP server. pool.ntp.org seems to work for other devices on the network, so that's the NTP server I want to use.

When I update the NTP server and click Update now, I always get the following error An error occurred while windows was synchronizing with pool.ntp.org. When I close the screens and re-open it, it says Windows successfully synchronized to time.windows.com on ..., even though it didn't..

In the Event logs I can find the following message: The time provider 'VMICTimeProvider' has indicated that the current hardware and operating environment is not supported and has stopped. This behavior is expected for VMICTimeProvider on non-HyperV-guest environments. This may be the expected behavior for the current provider in the current operating environment as well.. Just to make things clear, I am NOT using a VM.

Not sure if it's got something to do with it, but I am unable to install the KB3124263 update.

What have I tried/checked?

  • w32tm /resync
  • w32tm /unregister-register
  • net stop-start w32time
  • Windows Time service is set to Automatic and is running
  • added FW rules for ports 123 UDP (incoming and outgoing)
  • I can ping pool.ntp.org and tried other ntp servers too (same error)

Best Answer

It sounds like you have a problem reaching "pool.ntp.org" and so it is continuing to use "time.windows.com" because synchronizing with that time source is working.

You can get more details on why it may be failing by enabling the debug log file.

w32tm /debug /enable /file:c:\temp\ntpDebug.log /size:102400 /entries:0-300
w32tm /resync
REM *** Wait 60 seconds
w32tm /debug /disable

Then open ntpDebug.log with Notepad. Look for a message that explains a problem, and/or edit your original post with the contents of that file.

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