Set the correct time zone for your Raspberry Pi

A step-by-step guide to changing the time zone of your Raspberry Pi so that it displays the accurate time and date. …


Updated October 22, 2023

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A step-by-step guide to changing the time zone of your Raspberry Pi so that it displays the accurate time and date.

Raspberry Pi is a versatile single board computer that can be used for various applications including servers, home automation, and IoT projects. One important aspect of using a Raspberry Pi in any of these scenarios is ensuring that the device has the correct date and time. In this article, we’ll show you how to change the time zone on your Raspberry Pi so it displays the accurate local time and date.

  1. Open terminal on your Raspberry Pi
  2. Type sudo raspi-config in the terminal and press Enter. This command will open the Raspberry Pi configuration tool.
  3. Use the arrow keys to navigate to “Localisation Options” and select it by pressing Enter.
  4. Select “Change Timezone” using the arrow keys and press Enter. A list of available time zones will be displayed.
  5. Scroll through the list and select your desired timezone using the arrow keys. For example, if you are located in the United States, you can select “America” and then scroll down to choose your city’s timezone (e.g., “New York”).
  6. Press Enter to confirm your selection. The Raspberry Pi will now be set to your selected time zone.
  7. To verify that the change was successful, type date in the terminal and press Enter. This command will display the current date and time on your Raspberry Pi. If it is not displaying the correct time or date, repeat steps 2-6 and select the correct timezone.

Note: If you are using a headless Raspberry Pi (i.e., without a connected keyboard or monitor), you can use an SSH connection to access the terminal remotely. This way, you can change the time zone without physically accessing the device.

Changing the time zone in your Raspberry Pi is essential for accurate logging and scheduling of events. With the correct time zone set up, your Raspberry Pi will function more efficiently in various applications. Additionally, it ensures that any data you collect or transmit from your device is accurate and traceable to the right location.