Network Requirements for Time Sync in Android Devices

Publish Date: 24-Apr-2024 Last Modified Date: 27-Aug-2025 SOTI MobiControl
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Summary

Android devices do not synchronize correctly with time servers in network environments that have restrictive settings.

Related SOTI ONE Platform Products

SOTI MobiControl

Related Device OS

Android Classic;Android Enterprise

Issue Description

Android devices with OS automatic time settings turned on cannot sync to an accurate time despite being connected.

Environment

  • All SOTI MobiControl versions.
  • Restrictive Wi-Fi or VPN Connections.

Symptoms

Device time is incorrect even with the automatic time synchronization and automatic clock set enabled in the OS.

Prevention

To prevent this issue, remove restrictions from the network time synchronization servers and ports for the Android devices.

Cause

Restrictive network settings can block devices from syncing with time servers. Specifically, Android devices need access to the time servers and UDP port 123. If blocked, device time auto-syncing is prevented when configuring time sync using NTS.

Issue Resolution

For automatic time on Android devices, whitelist time.android.com and UDP port 123 on firewalls. Devices need to communicate with time servers for time synchronization.

Additional Information

Time Overview Android documentation:

https://source.android.com/docs/core/connect/time

Network Time Detection Android documentation:

https://source.android.com/docs/core/connect/time/network-time-detection

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