When trying to access a website, you may encounter the "Your clock is ahead" error message in your Chrome browser. This may be caused by various reasons such as incorrect system time, failed SSL certificate verification, mismatched time zone settings, or CMOS battery problems. Whatever the reason, you will not be able to access the website you want to visit. This guide will provide solutions to this error.

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Table of contents

• 1. Set the correct date and time
• 2. Select the correct time zone
• 3. Manually synchronize time and dates
• 4. Ensure the system area is correct
• 5. Change the Internet Time Server Settings
• 6. Modify Chrome launcher
• 7. Replace the CMOS battery of the computer
• 8. Reinstall Chrome

Quick fix

Before you get into advanced solutions, try these general fixes to see if they can fix clock errors in Chrome without adding to the hassle.

• Update Chrome – If the Chrome version is outdated, you may experience errors and failures. Updating it to the latest version can bring the latest bug fixes and performance improvements, which may be all you need to resolve system errors. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and go to Help -> About Google Chrome to check for updates.
• Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies – Clearing cache and cookies in Chrome can remove temporary data that may interfere with SSL certificate verification.
• Disable or remove Chrome extensions – Some Chrome extensions may conflict with SSL certificate verification, resulting in an error. Try to disable the extensions in question, or check their permissions, as some Chrome extensions may request special permissions that sometimes interfere with the SSL certificate, resulting in a clock error.

If these methods fail to resolve the issue, please continue to view the advanced solutions below.

1. Set the correct date and time

A website certificate is like a digital ID card used to verify its identity and facilitate secure communication. If your computer clock is set to the current time, your browser may incorrectly interpret the certificate as expired. This may result in a "Your clock is ahead" error because your browser cannot verify the identity of the website and may restrict or block access to the website. The solution is to make sure the time is set correctly on your PC.

Press Win I to open settings and go to Time and Language -> Date and Time . Switch the button next to Automatic Set Time to turn on.

Set the date and time, and then select Change in the pop-up window.

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2. Select the correct time zone

Choosing the correct time zone is just as important for SSL/TLS certificates, just like setting the correct date and time. Website SSL/TLS certificates usually rely on time zone information for verification.

After enabling the Automatic Time Zone Set option, click the drop-down arrow next to the time zone and select the correct option. Alternatively, click Change to manually set the date and time next to Change.

3. Manually synchronize time and dates

After setting the date and time on the device, it is important to sync with the time server you set. This ensures that your computer's internal clock accurately reflects the exact time. However, if your PC has a poor internet connection, it may take a long time for Windows to update dates and times.

An easy way to solve this problem is to manually synchronize time and dates under other settings by Settings -> Time and Language -> Date and Time -> Synchronization Now .

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4. Ensure the system area is correct

When the system area is accurate, it synchronizes the time settings with the appropriate geographic location. This prevents any certificate verification failures.

To do this, go to Settings -> Time and Language -> Language and Region , and click the drop-down arrow next to Country or Region and select the correct region.

5. Change the Internet Time Server Settings

Internet time servers are another function that maintains date and time configuration accuracy. However, sometimes a bad internet connection or switching to a default or new time server may affect your device date and time settings.

To avoid this, manually configure the Internet time server settings. Return to the data and time and click on the other clock .

Switch to the Internet Time tab and click Change Settings in the pop-up window.

Check the box next to Sync with Internet Time Server . Click the drop-down arrow next to the server , select time.windows.com , and then click OK .

While your PC will automatically sync with the time server, sometimes operations may fail, resulting in an "Error occurs when Windows syncs with the time server" issue. If this happens, try enabling time synchronization via the Task Scheduler.

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6. Modify Chrome launcher

Another way to fix the error is to add command line parameters to the Chrome launcher. This means giving it special instructions when Chrome starts, such as ignoring certain security errors or issues, including clock errors.

Note : This method may reduce your computer security because it ignores various website security issues. While it can help resolve errors, it may expose your computer to online threats without issuing any warnings.

If you want to continue, right-click on the Chrome icon and select Properties . In the Shortcuts tab, locate the target text box and add the following command at the end of the text: --ignore-certificate-errors. Click Apply -> OK to save changes.

You will be asked to enter the administrator's details to confirm the changes. If you don't remember your password, reset your Windows administrator password or change your administrator if you have multiple administrators on your PC.

When you want to restore normal state, delete the commands you added in the target field through Chrome's properties window.

7. Replace the CMOS battery of the computer

CMOS batteries are a common small button battery on computer motherboards. It is responsible for powering CMOS memory and storing important system configurations such as time and date, BIOS settings, etc. If this battery is damaged or loses power, it may result in an incorrect time setting, triggering a clock error.

Replacing the CMOS battery can resolve the error, as the battery's ability to maintain accurate time will be restored. However, before considering replacing the battery, we recommend that you try resetting it. Check out our guide or check out your device's user manual.

Replacing the CMOS battery can be a bit tricky. Therefore, it is best to bring the equipment to a qualified repair shop or seek help from a professional to ensure safe and accurate replacement.

Once the CMOS battery is working properly and your system is using the correct time data, SSL/TLS certificate verification issues will not occur and your PC will not display a clock premature error.

8. Reinstall Chrome

If none of the above methods can solve your problem, your last resort is to reinstall Chrome. By reinstalling Chrome, you can refresh its configuration and make sure it interacts correctly with the system's time settings.

You may want to back up important data before continuing to uninstall the application. Download Chrome from the official website and reinstall it on your device.

Tip : Did you know Chrome has its own task manager? Learn how to get started with it.

Get your clock back on track

Chrome is no stranger to errors. In addition to clock issues, Chrome sometimes gets plagued by crashes. If you are dealing with this issue, you can check out our featured list of fixes. If you are experiencing a missing Chrome scrollbar, check out how to restore it.

Image source: Unsplash. All screenshots were taken by Khizer Kaleem.

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