How to: Change the date and time settings on your Mac to use a certain NTP server


Instructions

  1. Open System Settings.

  2. Under the General tab, choose Date & Time.

    Mac System Settings with General selected and Date & Time highlighted.

  3. Ensure that the option "Set time and date automatically" is enabled (slid to the right).

    Date & Time settings showing “Set time and date automatically” enabled.

  4. Use Touch ID to unlock the setting.

    Pop-up asking to unlock Date & Time settings using password or Touch ID.

    Alternatively, you may type the username and password of an account with administrative privileges on your Mac. Then, click Unlock.

    User entering password and clicking Unlock.

  5. Click Set.

    Date & Time settings with Set… option for time source highlighted.

  6. Type your preferred server name and click Done.

    NOTE: NTP traffic is blocked at TTU's Internet firewall. Therefore, if your Mac is regularly connected to a TTU network, you must use the server ntp.ttu.edu. If your Mac is not connected to a TTU network, set a different time server, such as time.apple.com or time.nist.gov.

    Time Server field showing ntp.ttu.edu and Done button highlighted.

Outcome

On a regular basis, your Mac automatically updates its date and time from the server that you specified.

Final settings showing updated time source as ntp.ttu.edu.