Title: Server time offset
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Server time offset

 *  Resolved [x3me88](https://wordpress.org/support/users/x3me88/)
 * (@x3me88)
 * [17 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/)
 * Hi,
 * I have a time problem: The server time is set with a wrong time zone, so the 
   time is some 16 hours behind “real” time. I can’t even get it right by choosing
   the biggest UTC difference in the settings, but nevertheless I wouldn’t want 
   to modify the real time zone.
 * Now, I’m also running a SMF forum on that server and SMF has a neat option called“
   Server time offset”, which sets the time difference from the server time (if 
   it is wrong, like in my case). But WordPress doesn’t, and this creates me a lot
   of trouble because my feeds don’t show up as fresh in feed readers.
 * Is there any way I could set the time offset?

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Moderator [Samuel Wood (Otto)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/otto42/)
 * (@otto42)
 * WordPress.org Admin
 * [17 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839513)
 * The server time *should* be set to UTC. Period. All computers are supposed to
   be set to UTC. They then figure out their local time based on that and their 
   timezone settings.
 * So when you look at the Settings->General screen, you should see “UTC time is
   2008-08-21 15:42:19” or whatever. Make sure that that value is correct. If not,
   then the server time needs to be fixed. Complain at your host until they do it.
   It is important that WordPress knows the real UTC time as well as the offset,
   because it uses both values in different places. Simply setting the offset larger
   won’t fix the problem.
 * You might consider trying my [Automatic Timezone](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/automatic-timezone/)
   plugin.
 *  Thread Starter [x3me88](https://wordpress.org/support/users/x3me88/)
 * (@x3me88)
 * [17 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839514)
 * Yes, I know. And the UTC time is incorrect. And I have complained, a lot, but
   they still do not want to fix it. I will most likely change my host, but until
   then I would like to be able to somehow fix that time.
 *  Moderator [Samuel Wood (Otto)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/otto42/)
 * (@otto42)
 * WordPress.org Admin
 * [17 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839517)
 * Sorry, but it simply can’t be done. Like I said, WordPress needs to know *both*
   times, because in some places it uses the GMT/UTC time (feeds, for example). 
   Increasing the offset to a ridiculously large number would make the display look
   right on the blog, but everything else would be wrong, including the internal
   times on the posts as well as the feeds not working properly in feed readers.
 * The server time *must* be correct.
 * However, if you manually edit the database and look in the wp_options table, 
   you’ll find a gmt_offset setting. The value of that is the offset. Manually set
   it really high and there you go. Won’t fix your problems though.
 *  Thread Starter [x3me88](https://wordpress.org/support/users/x3me88/)
 * (@x3me88)
 * [17 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839518)
 * Ok, thanks, I’m just gonna have to speed up the host change then, this is really
   frustrating, and I’ve complained like a thousand times.
 *  [cocteauboy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cocteauboy/)
 * (@cocteauboy)
 * [17 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839905)
 * I just found out my own servers are set to Mountain, while I am Eastern, making
   my timestamps show up as MST. It’s very annoying.
 * And really? Nothing I can do to offset that myself?
 * troy (thanks!)

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Server time offset’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [offset](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/offset/)
 * [server](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/server/)
 * [time](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/time/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 5 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [cocteauboy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cocteauboy/)
 * Last activity: [17 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-time-offset/#post-839905)
 * Status: resolved

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