This was the first thing I ever did in the CLI (Command Line Interface) or Command Prompt (CMD) in Windows.

It is what set me off on the this whole quest of learning about computers and taking control and ownership in the way I use technology.

More on that story here

So, I thought it would be nice as a first resource post.

Windows Time Zone Utility#

The Windows Time Zone Utility tzutil is a built-in command-line tool for managing system time zones.

It provides direct control over Windows time zone settings through simple commands, enabling both manual adjustments and automated time zone management via scripts.

It is good for

  • Troubleshooting time-related issues in Windows
  • Quickly checking or changing time zones without using the graphical interface

The following guide covers the essential commands and operations available through tzutil.

Accessing and Using Windows Time Zone Utility#

  1. Open the Run dialog:

    Press Windows key + R

  2. Enter Command Prompt:

    Type cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter

(Pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter opens the Command Prompt in Administrator mode)

  1. Check your current time zone:

    tzutil /g

    This will display your current time zone ID

  2. View available time zones:

    tzutil /l

    This shows a full list of time zone IDs you can use

  3. Change your time zone:

    tzutil /s "Pacific Standard Time"

    (Replace “Pacific Standard Time” with your desired time zone from the list)

Tip#

In the Command Prompt type color 02 when it first opens. This will give you a green on black display like The Matrix.

Welcome to the start of your hacker career ;)