Copilot , my CMOS battery inside my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop is out of order so much so that the battery cannot retain the correct date and time when i boot up my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop ......... Copilot , is there a Linux command that i can set or configure for my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop so that when i boot up my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop , my UBUNTU 26.04 Laptop WILL SHOW THE CORRECT DATE AND TIME WHEN I BOOT UP MY UBUNTU 26.04 LAPTOP
Since your CMOS battery is dead, your laptop can’t keep track of the date and time when powered off. Luckily, Ubuntu (and most Linux distros) can automatically sync the correct time from the internet at boot using NTP (Network Time Protocol). Here’s how you can set it up:
🛠️ Steps to Auto-Sync Time on Boot
Check if
systemd-timesyncdis installed (it usually is by default):timedatectl status- Look for
System clock synchronized: yesandNTP service: active.
- Look for
Enable automatic time sync:
sudo timedatectl set-ntp trueThis tells Ubuntu to always sync time from online servers when you boot.
Verify it works:
timedatectlYou should see the correct time after connecting to the internet.
Optional: Install
ntppackage (for more advanced syncing):sudo apt update sudo apt install ntpThis runs a background service that keeps your clock accurate continuously.
⚡ Important Notes
- You must have an internet connection at boot for this to work.
- Without persistence (if you’re still on a live USB), these settings may reset each reboot. On a full installation, they’ll stick permanently.
- Replacing the CMOS battery is the long-term fix, but NTP sync is a perfectly fine workaround.
So, you don’t have to replace the CMOS battery immediately — Ubuntu can correct the time automatically as long as you enable NTP sync.
Would you like me to walk you through configuring timedatectl step by step, or show you how to set up the more robust NTP service?




