Fix SharePoint Group Calendar Displaying the Wrong Time Zone
Question details
Users need a SharePoint group calendar to display scheduled events in their individual local time zones instead of the site's default regional time zone.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing a national or global group calendar in SharePoint across multiple time zones.
- Observed behavior
- The calendar events display using the SharePoint site's regional time zone setting, ignoring the viewer's local computer or Outlook time zone, which causes confusion for users in different regions.
Determine the primary time zone of your target audience and ensure you have Site Owner permissions if you plan to change the default SharePoint site regional settings.
Synchronize the SharePoint Calendar with Microsoft Outlook
The most effective way to view SharePoint events in your local time is by syncing the calendar to Outlook, which automatically adjusts to your computer's time zone.
SharePoint calendars natively use the site's regional settings. By connecting the calendar to Microsoft Outlook, the events are downloaded and dynamically adjusted to match the local system time of each individual user.
Navigate to the SharePoint site and open the group calendar you want to synchronize.
Click on the 'Calendar' tab located in the top ribbon of the SharePoint interface.
Click the 'Connect to Outlook' button in the 'Connect & Export' group.
A prompt will appear in Microsoft Outlook asking for permission to add the SharePoint calendar. Click 'Yes' to confirm and view the events in your personalized local time.
Update Individual Microsoft 365 Regional Settings
Users can manually update their personal Office profile (Delve) settings so the web version of SharePoint reflects their individual time zone.
Configure the SharePoint Site's Regional Settings
If the majority of a site's users are located in a specific region, site administrators can change the default time zone for the entire site.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can SharePoint automatically detect and display a user's local time zone?
By default, SharePoint lists and calendars use the site's configured regional time zone. It does not automatically detect the local computer's time zone for web viewing unless the user manually updates their personal Microsoft 365 profile settings.
Why does my SharePoint calendar show the correct time in Outlook but the wrong time on the web?
When synced to Outlook, the calendar relies on your local computer's system time zone settings. The web view, however, relies strictly on the SharePoint site's regional settings or your personal Microsoft 365 account profile settings.
Do I need admin rights to change my personal time zone in SharePoint?
No, changing your personal time zone via your Microsoft 365 profile (Delve) does not require admin rights. However, changing the default baseline time zone for the entire SharePoint site does require Site Owner or Administrator permissions.
