Ubuntu: change time zone [Guide]

Are you on Ubuntu and looking to change the time zone to a new one but don’t know how to do it? We can help! Follow along as we go over how to change time zones on Ubuntu!

Ubuntu: change time zone – Gnome desktop

To change the time zone on the default Ubuntu Linux desktop, Gnome Shell, do the following. First, press the Win key on the keyboard to open up search mode. After opening up the search mode in Gnome, type out the word “time.”

Once you’ve typed in the word “time” in the search box, Gnome should display “Settings” with “Date & Time” next to it. Select the “Date & Time” option with the mouse. By selecting this option, you will open up the Gnome time settings area.

Inside the Gnome time settings area, you’ll see several different time options. If you’d like to change the time zone on Ubuntu from the one chosen when Ubuntu was installed, do the following.

Step 1: Locate “TimeZone” in the Date & Time window.

Step 2: Next to the “TimeZone” area in Gnome, you’ll see a selected time zone. This selected time zone is what you chose during the installation. Click on it with the mouse.

Step 3: After clicking on the time zone with the mouse, a map will appear. This map is identical to what is used during the Ubuntu installation to choose a time zone.

Using the map, select your new time zone. If clicking on the map doesn’t do it for you, you’ll also be able to use the search box to find your new time zone.

Step 4: Once you’ve chosen your new time zone, close the window. Ubuntu will automatically apply your new time zone choice and use it.

Ubuntu: change time zone – KDE desktop

If you’re using Kubuntu, rather than standard Ubuntu, you’re on the KDE Plasma 5 desktop. Changing the time zone on KDE is a little different than standard Ubuntu. To start, press the Win button on the keyboard.

After pressing the Win button on your keyboard, the KDE Plasma 5 menu will appear. In the menu, type out “Date & Time” in the search box. Upon typing out “Date & Time,” an app with that title should appear in the search results.

Click on “Date & Time” in the search results to open up the KDE Plasma 5 time configuration area. Launching the date and time area may take a couple of seconds, so don’t panic if it doesn’t open right away.

When the “Date & Time” window is open in KDE Plasma 5, look for the “Time Zone” tab in the window and click on it with the mouse. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions below to change your time zone.

Step 1: First, look through the list of time zones displayed on the screen. It is a very long list, so you may need to use the top search box.

Step 2: Once you’ve located the new time zone you wish to switch your Ubuntu KDE desktop to, select the choice with the mouse.

Step 3: After selecting the new time zone choice with the mouse, find the “Apply” button in the bottom-right corner of the “Time Zone” tab, and click on it. By selecting “Apply,” KDE Plasma 5 should automatically update to the new time zone.

Ubuntu: change time zone – Mate desktop

To edit the Mate desktop environment’s time zone on Ubuntu, you will need to change settings in the Time And Date Manager. To start, open up the Mate app menu. If you are using the Brisk menu in Mate, press Win and search for “Time And Date Manager.” Otherwise, look through the Mate app menu for it.

Once the “Date And Time Manager” is open, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: Look inside of the Date And Time Manager for the “Time zone” area. Once you’ve found it, click on the “Edit” button with the mouse.

Step 2: After clicking on the “Edit” button, a time zone map will appear, similar to the map you’ve seen during the installation. Using the map, select the new time zone.

Step 3: Click the “Confirm” button to apply the changes. The Time zone will update instantly.

Ubuntu: change time zone – XFCE4 desktop

To change the time zone on the XFCE4 desktop environment on Ubuntu, you’ll have to edit the settings in the “Time and Date” window. To access the “Time and Date” area, start by pressing the Win button on the keyboard to open up the app menu.

After opening up the “Time and Date” window, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: Find the “Time zone” box at the top of the “Time and Date” window, and click on it with the mouse.

Step 2: After clicking on the “Time zone” box, a world map will appear. Using the world map, select your new time zone. Alternatively, use the drop-down menu to choose a time zone.