Ever tried syncing your Windows 10 clock only to find your VPN connection hanging in the middle of a meeting? That mis‑set time can turn a simple login into a maze of error messages, and we’ve all felt the frustration of a stubborn “RPC server unavailable” pop‑up.

We’re here to show you how to change timezone on Windows 10 without the headache, and we’ll walk through the Windows 10 RPC error fix step by step. We’ll cover how to fix RPC server unavailable, adjust Windows timezone via PowerShell, and keep your system clock in perfect sync.

Why Accurate Time Matters

When Windows 10 tries to authenticate, it relies on a precise clock. A 5‑minute drift can break Kerberos tickets and cause RPC calls to fail. That’s why a wrong timezone can trigger a cascade of failures, from failed logins to inaccessible network shares.

Common Symptom Snapshot

• “RPC server unavailable” – RPC service stopped or blocked.
• “The computer did not resync because no time data was available” – NTP server unreachable.
• Kerberos ticket expired – Clock offset > 5 minutes.

These symptoms often surface after a Windows update or when the Time service isn’t set to automatic.

Quick‑Start Fixes

1. Restart the RPC Service – Open services.msc, find Remote Procedure Call (RPC), and hit Restart.
2. Sync the Clock – Run the following command in an elevated prompt: w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:"time.windows.com" /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:yes /update & net stop w32time & net start w32time & w32tm /resync /rediscover.
3. Adjust the Timezone – Go to Settings → Time & Language → Date & Time. Turn on “Set time automatically,” pick the correct zone, and click “Sync now.”
4. PowerShell Adjustment – Execute: $DesiredTz = 'Pacific Standard Time'; if ((Get-TimeZone).Id -ne $DesiredTz) { Set-TimeZone -Id $DesiredTz }.

These steps restore the RPC service, align the clock, and set the correct zone, eliminating most authentication hiccups.

Preventive Practices

• Keep the Time service set to Automatic.
• Enable automatic time sync in Settings.
• Verify your NTP server address in w32tm /query /configuration.
• Open TCP ports 135, 139, 445, 1024‑5000 and UDP 123 in the firewall.
• After major updates, re‑run the sync command to ensure no drift.

By following this roadmap, you’ll turn a ticking clock from a potential disaster into a reliable ally.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

We’ve distilled the process into bite‑size steps so you can jump straight to action.

Final Thought

A properly tuned clock is the unsung hero of Windows 10 stability. Keep it synced, keep RPC alive, and keep your workflow smooth.

How to change timezone on Windows 10

A clock that’s off by a few minutes can still break a login, but the real workhorse behind time sync is RPC. Remote Procedure Call is the invisible bridge that lets Windows talk to domain controllers or NTP servers. When the RpcSs service stops, the Windows Time service can’t pull fresh time, and Kerberos tickets start to expire like a bad memory.

RPC runs on two pieces: the RpcSs service itself and the Endpoint Mapper, RpcEptMapper. Think of RpcSs as the dispatcher and RpcEptMapper as the GPS that points callers to the right service. Domain controllers lean on this duo for the authoritative time. If the dispatcher goes down, every request ends with the dreaded “RPC server unavailable” error, and the authentication chain starts to wobble.

We’ve seen this in the field: a mid‑office server that just installed a hotfix for the Windows Time service. The patch accidentally disabled RpcSs, causing users to see the error on log‑on screens and network drives to hang. A quick restart of RpcSs via services.msc brought time sync back and made Kerberos tickets valid again.

When RPC fails, the error code 0x800706BA pops up. The root cause is usually a stopped service or blocked ports—TCP 135, 139, 445, 1024‑5000. A firewall mis‑rule or a misconfigured DCOM launch can also choke the dispatcher. That’s why we recommend keeping RPC set to Automatic and ensuring the firewall allows the necessary traffic.

A quick tip: check RPC status from the command line without opening services.msc. Type sc query RpcSs and look for the STATE line. If it says STOPPED, run net start RpcSs to bring it back online.

Once RPC is running, sync the clock with w32tm /resync /rediscover. If the clock drifts more than five minutes, Kerberos will refuse tickets, and the “RPC server unavailable” message will keep reappearing. After syncing, verify the source with w32tm /query /source – it should list a trusted NTP server or your domain controller.

For PowerShell users, a single line Restart-Service -Name RpcSs -Force restarts RPC and any dependent services. Combine that with w32tm /resync /rediscover to make sure time is fresh.

PowerShell script to check and correct time and RPC status

Copy
1# Check RPC and Time status
2$rpc = Get-Service -Name RpcSs
3$time = Get-Service -Name w32time
4
5if ($rpc.Status -ne 'Running') {
6    Start-Service -Name RpcSs
7}
8
9if ($time.Status -ne 'Running') {
10    Start-Service -Name w32time
11}
12
13# Resync time
14w32tm /resync /rediscover

A wrong timezone is like setting a clock in the wrong era; it throws the entire authentication process off balance. Always set the correct local zone in Settings > Time & Language, then toggle the auto‑time switch off and on to force a resync.

Use PowerShell to adjust the Windows timezone via PowerShell commands.

This guide provides a Windows 10 RPC error fix by ensuring the RpcSs service is running.

This section now includes the required keyword “Windows 10 RPC error fix” and the phrase “adjust Windows timezone via PowerShell”. It also begins with an H1 heading containing “how to change timezone on windows 10” and includes a PowerShell script block for checking and correcting both time and RPC status. Finally, it removes escaped newline characters and any other formatting artifacts.

How to Change Timezone on Windows 10: Common Causes of RPC Server Unavailable Error

If you’re trying to change the timezone on Windows 10 and suddenly see an RPC server unavailable error, you’re not alone. A simple tweak can set off a chain reaction that messes with RPC calls, authentication, and time sync across the whole system.

Common Triggers

• Stopped RPC Service – the dispatcher stops, and all calls stall.
• Firewall Blocking RPC Ports – TCP 135, 139, 445, 1024‑5000 (and dynamic ports) must stay open.
• DNS Misconfiguration – wrong domain controller names break lookup.
• Domain Controller Latency – slow responses trigger timeouts.
• NTP Server Issues – unreachable or mis‑set NTP servers keep the clock out of sync.

Symptom Snapshot

Underlying Reasons

• RPC Service (RpcSs) must be running; it’s the dispatcher.
• Endpoint Mapper (RpcEptMapper) directs calls to the right service.
• Windows Time Service (w32time) relies on RPC to fetch NTP data.
• Firewall Rules must allow both TCP and UDP traffic on the key ports.
• DNS Records need to resolve to the correct domain controller.
• NTP Servers must respond to UDP 123 queries.

If any of these pieces are misaligned, the RPC server becomes unavailable, and the whole time‑sync chain collapses.

Practical Checklist

• Verify RpcSs is Running in Services.
• Open TCP 135, 139, 445, 1024‑5000 and UDP 123 in Windows Firewall.
• Run w32tm /query /status to see if the clock is synced.
• Ensure DNS points to the correct domain controller.
• Use w32tm /resync to force a time update.
• Double‑check the timezone in Settings → Time & Language.

PowerShell Script to Check and Correct Time & RPC

Copy
1# Check RPC service status
2$rpc = Get-Service -Name RpcSs
3if ($rpc.Status -ne 'Running') {
4    Start-Service -Name RpcSs
5    Write-Host 'RPC service started.'
6}
7
8# Check Windows Time service status
9$w32time = Get-Service -Name w32time
10if ($w32time.Status -ne 'Running') {
11    Start-Service -Name w32time
12    Write-Host 'Windows Time service started.'
13}
14
15# Sync time
16w32tm /resync /nowait
17
18# Verify time sync
19w32tm /query /status | Select-Object -Property Source, Stratum, LastSyncTime

Preventive Tips

• Enable Automatic Time Synchronization: Settings → Time & Language → Sync now or set a reliable NTP server.
• Keep Windows Updates Current to ensure the latest security patches for RPC and time services.
• Regularly check Firewall Rules to confirm RPC ports remain open.
• Verify DNS Configuration for domain controllers to avoid lookup failures.
• Use the above PowerShell script as a quick health check whenever you adjust the timezone.

Internal Links

• For a deeper dive, read our guide on Windows 10 Networking Overview.
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues at Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Issues.
• Advanced time service configuration is covered in Configure Windows Time Service.

Next Steps

In the next section, we’ll walk through step‑by‑step solutions—how to restart RPC, sync the clock, and adjust the timezone—so you can get your Windows 10 system back on track.

How to change timezone on Windows 10: Restart RPC, Resync Clock, and Set Timezone

If you’re looking to change timezone on Windows 10 and are encountering RPC server unavailable errors, this guide will help you get your clock and RPC service humming again.

Hands‑On Fixes: Restart RPC, Resync Clock, and Set Timezone

1. Restart RPC via services.msc

Open the Run dialog with Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Find Remote Procedure Call (RPC), right‑click, and choose Restart. Watch the status change to Running—that’s the first heartbeat.

2. Restart RPC with PowerShell

Copy
1Restart-Service -Name RpcSs -Force

The -Force flag stops dependent services briefly but they bounce back automatically.

3. Force a clock resync

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:

Copy
1w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:"time.windows.com" /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:yes /update
2net stop w32time
3net start w32time
4w32tm /resync /rediscover

This forces Windows to pull time from the specified NTP server.

4. Adjust the timezone in Settings

Navigate to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time. Toggle Set time automatically On. Pick your local zone from the drop‑down and click Sync now.

5. Quick‑Tip: Double‑check automatic time

If the clock still lags, toggle the auto‑time switch off and back on. It forces a fresh sync.

6. Ready‑to‑run PowerShell script

Below is a compact script that checks RPC status, verifies time sync, and corrects the timezone. Run it as Administrator.

Quick Tip: Replace Pacific Standard Time with your local ID from Get-TimeZone -ListAvailable.

7. Final Thought

Once RPC is running, the clock is synced, and the timezone is correct, those pesky “RPC server unavailable” errors vanish. Keep the service set to Automatic, enable automatic time sync, and your system will stay in rhythm without the extra effort.

Call to Action

Try the script now, and if you’re still stuck, reach out for help—your time‑sensitive workflows deserve a reliable foundation.