How to Fix Exchange OWA Incorrect Time Stamp Error

Learn how to fix the Exchange OWA time issue that causes the OWA interface to show an incorrect time stamp and an error message.

Problem

If you are using Exchange 2019 and you try to log on to your mail via the Outlook Web App (OWA) interface, you may encounter a problem where the OWA time is an hour behind the OS time. This can cause an error message like this:

:-(
Something went wrong
We can’t get that information right now. Please try again later.
X-FEServer SERVERNAME
Date: DATE

This article will explain why this issue occurs and how to fix it by adjusting the time zone settings on the Exchange server and the OWA mailbox.

Why does the Exchange OWA time issue occur?

The Exchange OWA time issue occurs because the OWA interface uses the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) zone of the country/region where the Exchange server is located. However, if the UTC zone for that country/region follows daylight saving time (DST) and the Exchange server does not, then the OWA time will be an hour behind the OS time.

For example, if the Exchange server is located in Iran, which stopped following DST in March 2023, and the OS time is set to Iran Standard Time (IRST), which is UTC+3:30, then the OWA time will be UTC+2:30, which is an hour behind the OS time.

How to fix the Exchange OWA time issue?

To fix the Exchange OWA time issue, you need to do two things:

• Set the time zone on the Exchange server to a region that matches the UTC zone of the country/region where the server is located. Make sure that the UTC zone for that country/region does not follow DST.
• Set the time zone on the OWA mailbox to match the time zone on the Exchange server.

Set the time zone on the Exchange server

To set the time zone on the Exchange server, you can use the tzedit.exe tool, which is a graphical user interface for editing the Windows registry keys that store the time zone information. You can download the tzedit.exe tool.

To use the tzedit.exe tool, follow these steps:

1. Run the tzedit.exe tool as an administrator on the Exchange server.
2. Select the time zone that matches the UTC zone of the country/region where the server is located. For example, if the server is located in Iran, select “(UTC+03:30) Tehran”.
3. Uncheck the “Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Time” option.
4. Click “OK” to save the changes.
5. Restart the Exchange server to apply the changes.

Alternatively, you can also edit the registry keys manually by following the steps in this article.

Set the time zone on the OWA mailbox

To set the time zone on the OWA mailbox, you need to log in to the OWA interface and change the regional settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the OWA interface with your credentials.
2. Click the Settings icon at the upper right corner, and select View all Outlook settings.
3. Click General > Language and time.
4. Select the same time zone that you set on the Exchange server. For example, if you set the time zone to “(UTC+03:30) Tehran” on the Exchange server, select the same option on the OWA mailbox.
5. Click Save to apply the changes.

After you complete these steps, the OWA time should match the OS time and the error message should disappear.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How can I check the current time zone on the Exchange server and the OWA mailbox?

Answer: You can use the Get-TimeZone cmdlet in the Exchange Management Shell to check the current time zone on the Exchange server. For example, you can run the following command:

Get-TimeZone

The output will show the current time zone, the UTC offset, and the DST status. For example, the output may look like this:

Id : Iran Standard Time DisplayName : (UTC+03:30) Tehran StandardName : Iran Standard Time DaylightName : Iran Daylight Time BaseUtcOffset : 03:30:00 SupportsDaylightSavingTime : True

You can use the Get-MailboxRegionalConfiguration cmdlet in the Exchange Management Shell to check the current time zone on the OWA mailbox. For example, you can run the following command:

Get-MailboxRegionalConfiguration -Identity <mailbox identity>

The output will show the current time zone, the language, and the date and time formats. For example, the output may look like this:

Identity : contoso.com/Users/John Smith Language : en-US DateFormat : M/d/yyyy TimeFormat : h:mm tt TimeZone : (UTC+03:30) Tehran WorkingHoursTimeZone : (UTC+03:30) Tehran DefaultFolderNameMatching : Default DefaultFolderNames : {Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items, Drafts…}

Question: How can I change the time zone on multiple OWA mailboxes at once?

Answer: You can use the Set-MailboxRegionalConfiguration cmdlet in the Exchange Management Shell to change the time zone on multiple OWA mailboxes at once. For example, you can run the following command:

Get-Mailbox -ResultSize Unlimited | Set-MailboxRegionalConfiguration -TimeZone “(UTC+03:30) Tehran”

This command will get all the mailboxes in the organization and set their time zone to “(UTC+03:30) Tehran”.

Question: How can I verify that the Exchange OWA time issue is fixed?

Answer: You can verify that the Exchange OWA time issue is fixed by logging in to the OWA interface and checking the time stamp on the email messages and the calendar events. The time stamp should match the OS time and the time zone that you set on the Exchange server and the OWA mailbox.

Question: What are the consequences of not fixing the Exchange OWA time issue?

Answer: If you do not fix the Exchange OWA time issue, you may experience the following problems:

• You may receive an error message when you try to log in to the OWA interface.
• You may miss or be late for meetings and appointments that are scheduled via the OWA interface.
• You may send or receive email messages with incorrect time stamps, which can cause confusion and miscommunication.

Summary

In this article, we have explained how to fix the Exchange OWA time issue that causes the OWA interface to show an incorrect time stamp and an error message. The solution involves setting the time zone on the Exchange server and the OWA mailbox to match the UTC zone of the country/region where the server is located. We have also provided some FAQs and links to helpful resources for more information.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We recommend that you consult with your IT administrator or a qualified Exchange expert before making any changes to your Exchange server or OWA mailbox settings. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following the instructions in this article.