How To Fix Wrong Timestamps On Gmail Messages

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gmaillogo.jpgLately, I'm noticing that all my messages in Gmail have the wrong time displayed on each message (everything is off by three hours). I checked my PC timezone settings and everything looks correct. I even check my Gmail  settings but there are no configuration settings to change the timezone settings.

Where in the world does Gmail get the time information for email messages to I can set the correct timzone??

Wow I see what you mean. I usually don't pay much attention to my account settings on the Internet (forums, online email accounts, etc…) but when I checked my Gmail messages, I also notice the same results…the time stamp is wrong on my email messages.

NOTE: to see the time stamp, open a message, then click on the show details link next to the date on the message.

You would think that the timezone setting can be changed in the Settings options of your Gmail account, but you can't. Instead, since the timezone information is a global setting, you need to change it at your Google account settings.

  • Here, you will see your Google account Personal information with the current time zone setting.

  • To change it, click on the Edit link next to Personal information. Then in the account information screen, choose your timezone by clicking on the check box next to Display all timezones followed by change the timezone (using the pull down arrow).

  • Once you make the change, click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen, followed by clicking on the Back link in the yellow confirmation notice.

You should now see the correct timezone displayed on the Personal information screen. To go back to your Gmail mailbox, click on the Gmail link on the right. The time stamps on your messages should now be correct.

If the time is still wrong, check the timezone setting of your your PC clock. It's probably needs to be change to the correct timezone setting that you want.

If you ever need to get to your Google account settings from Gmail, click on the Settings link (upper right of screen) , then select the Account tab. Scroll down to Google Account settings section and you will see the link for Google account settings.

Comments on How To Fix Wrong Timestamps On Gmail Messages Leave a Comment

October 16, 2008

Gyanendra Ojha @ 2:29 pm #

HI,

I have apply your suggestion but that same problem still there. can you suggest any more suggestion?

Thanks

Gyanendra Ojha

December 3, 2008

Saskia @ 7:41 am #

I also have the same problem but changing the Google timezone or my computer's didn't help. The funny thing is that the timestamp is correct in the inbox, but upon opening the mail I get another – wrong – timezone?

January 28, 2009

johny @ 2:00 pm #

you also need to correct your local time settings to your time zone in your computer clock

http://www.troublefixers.com/change-gmail-time-zone-when-moving-to-other-country-fix-gmail-time-zone/

March 4, 2009

Jeetendra KP @ 1:47 pm #

this is not right. I disagree..
i have a better solution Gmail has a lot of bugs..
send me mail at prajapati.jeetendra@gmail.com
to find the solution for this and every technology issue.. related to mails and C# and ajax..

prajapati.jeetendra@gmail.com

March 22, 2009

Rob Walker @ 9:01 am #

I have read so many fixes like this – and they don't work.
I have set the correct time zone etc in account settings.
Checked the PC time settings.
Still have the problem.
Can anyone help?

Rob Walker @ 11:07 am #

Thanks for the suggestions.
How would I do that?

Rob Walker @ 11:09 am #

Ok I can find the cookies
Rather than delete them all – which means losing a lot of passwords etc Can I choose a particular one ones to delete? What would be the clue?

Rob @ 12:28 pm #

I appreciate that quick response. I found cookies with the words "Google" Are you saying to delete only those.
Thanks
Rob

Rob @ 3:09 pm #

Some more information: I went on another computer and the time there was fine on gmail – but I received it here are the wrong time! So it is in my computer! I have tried checking for DST etc. But to no avail. Any suggestions welcome?

March 23, 2009

jas @ 6:23 pm #

I have the EXACT same problem as Rob, and as far as I know, it was not here few days ago.
ime stamps on all other computers are fine, but when I check on my laptop, they are 1 hr behind. my laptop time is correct, i have the correct time zone selected ( in laptop as well as gmail )
since its only when I check gmail on laptop, i think something has to be fixed on my computer.
I am getting the "DNS server unavailable" error when I try to sync tiem with any of the options mentioned under time.
any help ??

Rob @ 11:17 pm #

So clearly for me the problem is within Microsoft Outlook, which is affecting Google (since the Outlook messages are forwarded to Google.) Outlook was also affecting the time when Blackberry was sinc-ed with it. No problem when I use Google on another computer! I have tried all the regular fixes like the computer's time setting and daylight savings time etc etc.
Any ideas?

May 7, 2009

dean @ 2:12 pm #

same as me suggestion??

September 26, 2009

Wendy @ 2:10 pm #

After trying EVERYTHING I went to the same page (google account) and instead of changing the time zone in the edit profile section I clicked on Doc settings (further down on the same page). I changed the time zone and saved the change. When I opened up my gmail inbox the time was right! How come google help didn't tell us there is an option to change the time zone in google docs?

December 15, 2009

Susan Deborah @ 1:03 pm #

Dear All:

Wendy's plan works. I fixed the time in Google Docs and now the time stamp is correct. Thanks dear Wendy for sharing your insights on the time stamp.

Joy always,
Susan

December 22, 2009

mode @ 11:34 pm #

I adjusted the time in the Calendar settings in the Google Account settings (listed together with Google Docs settings) and that seems to work too :)

January 17, 2010

James @ 7:23 am #

I have tried all of the above but it *STILL* shows up the wrong time on every email sent and received. Every single one! I can't change my country, I change it, click 'save' and it just says 'settings not saved' with no error message.. ??

February 21, 2010

suzie @ 10:08 am #

I have been suffering with this for months.

I have done everything mentioned six or seven times each.

really really frustrated.

and generally when i ask other people – they say the first / easiest thing: change the settings. Um yeah. duh.

I can't get it to work/stick.

really sick of it!

March 11, 2010

Sarah @ 6:30 pm #

I also have the same problem. I recently realised that the time is correct when I check my email on another computer, or on my phone. So it may be something to do with my computer, and not the gmail settings. My computer time settings are accurate, though. Any advice would be appreciated. Much thanks.

March 14, 2010

Mary @ 4:41 pm #

gmail calendar has wrong GMT offset for central time zone. After the time adjustment from daylight savings to standard time, the time zone offset is still at GMT -6 instead of GMT -5. It is playing havoc with appointments.

March 23, 2010

Pouya @ 8:39 pm #

I have the same problem. everything was fine until 2 days ago, but since then my gmail stamps the mails for a different time zone. i tried everything such as changing the time zone in google docs and other places but it didnt fix the problem. my browser shows the right time and time zone when i enter the java code, but the problem is not fixed yet.

any help?

March 24, 2010

Aaron @ 4:17 pm #

I am having the same issues. On my 2 computers and phone receiving gmail the time stamp is off one hour. I verified the correct time zone in google account settings, documents, and calendar but still it is off. I just started noticing this past week. I am in the Central timezone and all messages are off by one hour.

March 26, 2010

James @ 10:12 am #

After putting up with this for a week I decided to try and fix it. And, well, now that I've wasted a God Damn hour on this I f'ing give up. Patience has run out. ALL MY GMAIL TIMESTAMPS ARE AN HOUR IN THE FUTURE. I've done EVERYTHING. Got the timezone update from MS. Changed to Central Time on Google Account settings, Calendar settings, Docs settings, saved every setting, logged out, logged in, cleared all Firefox history since the dawn of time, rebooted, prayed to the Heavens, and NO DICE. Gmail insists I live on the East coast. The only time I see the correct time is when I compose a message and hit "Save Now"…it will then tell me Draft saved at [correct time] (0 minutes ago)…but if then proceed to send it to myself, I'm taken to my inbox, and, what's this? Hey, I can send myself messages I've not yet written?!

Sure Google makes great things, but a time machine is not among them!! Grrrr… PLEASE HELP ME!

March 27, 2010

Mary @ 9:40 am #

I believe the issue is with the GMT offset. When we went back to standard time in Mid-March (originally scheduled for 2:00AM on April 4th), GMAIL didn't update their offset. It reads (for central time zone) GMT -6 instead of what should be GMT -5 with the time change. Looks like we are going to be messed up until April 4th (assuming that is when GMAIL will update their offsets. You could change your account settings to eastern time (if you are in the central time zone). I have chosen not to use the GMAIL calendar till after April 4th.

March 29, 2010

JG @ 3:02 pm #

This is a bug that gmail has to fix. The only solution for now is simple math.
In my case I just need to add 3 hours to all the times. Problem solved!

Pouya @ 4:53 pm #

its just my account that shows the wrong timestamp, both on my computer and other computers. i logged in with another accounts on my computer and they show the right time.

April 2, 2010

Monica @ 12:46 pm #

I just tried everything above: changing the time on my computer, on my BIOS, google account, google calendar, deleting cookies and nothing worked.

Then, I tried to login from another browser (I was using chromium) and time stamps were just fine! :/ I'm so upset :/

April 8, 2010

Lee Stevens @ 7:49 am #

*SOLVED* I managed to fix this by doing all of the recommended. What I think finally did it was actually changing the Time Zone on the 'Date and Time' of Windows.

Although the clock was right, it was showing my Time Zone as being USA.!

I changed this to GMT and also updated the Windows Time and it seemed to work ok.

May 26, 2010

Jeremiah Seacred @ 12:56 pm #

A good question

Searching google accounts help for: timestamp
http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=75049

It says:

"Web History doesn't use the time zone set in your Google Account to determine your current time zone. Instead, Web History uses the time determined by your operating system. "

PS…I was also confused for a while so don't feel bad. My date and time were correct but timezone was wrong on my computer.

June 16, 2010

keon @ 11:03 pm #

i still can not solve this prob
pc date….
doc date…
profile date….
still facing same prob

keon @ 11:13 pm #

but by using other broswer (mozilla)….
it is ok….
tq

August 4, 2010

cisco @ 9:35 pm #

After hours I just figured this out – Lee lead me in right direction. As long as all clocks are set at the right time (all synchronized) it does not matter what zone is as long as they are all the same. Finally!!!

August 16, 2010

Jazz @ 10:51 am #

@Wendy:

thanks a million for sharing this Wendy, I've also been trying everything and finally managed to change the time!

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