Basic command

w32tm /resync

The command requests a synchronisation using the source Windows currently knows about.

Rediscover the source

w32tm /resync /rediscover

This discards cached source information and asks Windows Time Service to discover a suitable source again.

It is particularly useful after:

  • Returning a domain member to DOMHIER.
  • Changing the PDC Emulator peer list.
  • Transferring the PDC Emulator role.
  • Changing DNS records for an organisational time name.
  • Replacing or restoring a time server.

Resynchronise another computer

w32tm /resync /computer:SERVER01

Add /rediscover where a new source should be found:

w32tm /resync /computer:SERVER01 /rediscover

Remote operation requires appropriate administrative access and firewall/RPC conditions.

/nowait

w32tm /resync /nowait

Returns without waiting for the resynchronisation operation to complete.

This is useful in scripts where the result will be checked separately, but it makes the immediate command output less useful as evidence.

/soft

w32tm /resync /soft

Requests a resynchronisation using existing error statistics rather than discarding them. This option is rarely needed in routine administration.

No time data was available

The computer did not resync because no time data was available.

This means Windows did not obtain a usable sample. Check:

  • The selected and configured source.
  • DNS resolution.
  • UDP port 123.
  • The peer with w32tm /stripchart.
  • Whether the upstream NTP server is synchronised.
  • DC advertising and the domain hierarchy on domain systems.

Repeatedly running /resync will not repair those faults.

The service has not been started

Check the service:

sc query w32time

Start it if appropriate:

net start w32time

On standalone workgroup systems, Windows Time may use trigger-start behaviour rather than running continuously.

Access is denied

Run the command from an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell session. For remote resync operations, confirm administrative access and remote-management conditions.

Recommended sequence after a configuration change

w32tm /resync /rediscover
w32tm /query /source
w32tm /query /status
w32tm /query /configuration

Microsoft documentation

Related information