How to Change Your Server's Timezone from the Settings Page

Does your server log show times that look hours off from your own clock? Your game server runs on its own clock, and you can choose which timezone that clock uses. This guide shows you how to change it from the RiverHosting panel in a few clicks.

Before you start

• You need access to your server in the RiverHosting panel at https://panel.riverhosting.com.
• If you are a subuser, your account needs the Settings (Rename) permission to change the timezone. The server owner can add it on the Users tab.
• The new timezone only takes effect the next time the server starts, so pick a quiet moment if players are online.

1. How to change the timezone on the General tab

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and open your server.
2. In the SERVER section of the left-hand menu, click Settings, then the General tab at the top of the page.
3. Find the Timezone setting. It sits below the Server Name and Description fields.
4. Open the dropdown and pick the timezone you want. Each entry shows its current GMT offset, so you can see how far it is from UTC. Choose Server default if you want to go back to the standard setting.
5. Click Save Changes.
6. If your server is not offline, a restart prompt opens. Confirm it to restart the server so the new timezone is applied.

2. What the timezone changes and how to check it

The Timezone setting is the clock your game server runs on. It affects:

• Timestamps in your server logs
• In-game time
• Anything a plugin does at a set time of day

To check that the change worked:

1. Click Console in the left-hand menu.
2. Watch the live console for new log lines after the restart. Where your game shows times in its log, they should now follow the timezone you picked.

3. Schedules use their own timezone setting

Changing the server timezone does not change the timezone on your schedules. Each schedule has its own Timezone dropdown, so check it when you create or edit one.

1. In the SERVER section of the left-hand menu, click Settings, then the Schedules tab at the top of the page.
2. Click New Schedule, or edit an existing schedule.
3. In the Simple tab, choose how often it runs and set the Timezone dropdown to the one you want.

Troubleshooting

• I cannot see the Timezone setting or cannot save it: Your account probably lacks the Settings (Rename) permission. Ask the server owner to update your permissions on the Users tab.
• The times did not change: The new timezone only applies after the server starts again. Restart the server and check the live console once it is back online.
• No restart prompt appeared: The prompt only opens when the server is not offline. If the server is offline, the change is used the next time you start it.
• My scheduled task runs at the wrong time: Schedules have their own Timezone dropdown. Open the schedule on the Schedules tab and check the timezone and time there.
• My schedule moved by an hour: Schedules are saved in UTC, so daylight saving changes shift the local run time. Edit the schedule and set the time again.

Need help?

If your server times still look wrong after a restart, the RiverHosting support team is happy to take a look. Visit https://riverhosting.com/support and tell us which timezone you selected and what time you see in the console.