Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: How to force a clock update using ntp?

Force NTP clock update on Ubuntu ARM embedded system

Quick Answer: Use the `ntpdate` command with the `-u` option to force an immediate update, e.g. `sudo ntpdate -u time.nist.gov`.

To force a clock update using NTP, you can use the ntpdate command with the -q option to suppress the time synchronization message.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Force NTP Update

  1. Step 1: Run the following command to force an NTP update:
sudo ntpdate -q -v time.nist.gov

Method 2: Set NTP Pool Priority

  1. Step 1: Edit the /etc/ntp.conf file and set the pool priority to a higher value, for example:
pool time.nist.gov iburst

💡 Conclusion

By using one of these methods, you can force a clock update at any given time and avoid the delay caused by NTP synchronization.

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