The ntpdate command has been deprecated and removed from modern Linux distributions. If you encounter the “ntpdate command not found” error on Debian, Ubuntu Linux systems, this guide shows you how to synchronize your system time using the modern replacements: systemd-timesyncd and chrony.
$ ntpdate
bash: ntpdate: command not found
You may also see the following error when trying to enable NTP synchronization:
$ timedatectl set-ntp true
Failed to set ntp: NTP not supported
Software Requirements and Linux Command Line Conventions
Category
Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used
System
Debian 13 (Trixie) or newer, Ubuntu 24.04 or newer
Software
systemd-timesyncd or chrony
Other
Network connectivity to NTP servers
Conventions
# – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command $ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
The ntpdate command is no longer available on Debian 13+ and Ubuntu 24.04+. Use systemd-timesyncd or chrony instead.
Quick Steps to Sync Time
Step
Command/Action
1. Install timesyncd (Debian 13)
sudo apt install systemd-timesyncd
2. Enable NTP sync
sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
3. Check sync status
systemctl status systemd-timesyncd
Why Was ntpdate Removed?
DID YOU KNOW?
The ntpdate command was deprecated by the NTP Project years ago and has now been completely removed from Debian 13 (Trixie) and is only available as a transitional package on Ubuntu 24.04. The main reasons for its removal include: one-shot design (ntpdate only sets the time once and exits, rather than continuously maintaining accurate time), no drift correction (it cannot compensate for clock drift between syncs), conflict with daemons (ntpdate conflicts with running NTP daemons like ntpd), and better alternatives exist (systemd-timesyncd and chrony provide superior functionality).
Check What NTP Packages Are Installed
Before proceeding, check if systemd-timesyncd or chrony is already installed on your system:
$ dpkg -l | grep -E "systemd-timesyncd|chrony"
If neither package is listed in the output, you will need to install one of them. Use systemd-timesyncd for a lightweight solution suitable for most systems, or chrony for more advanced features and better handling of unreliable network connections.
Using systemd-timesyncd
The systemd-timesyncd service provides automatic time synchronization. It is a lightweight NTP client suitable for most systems.
Install systemd-timesyncd: Install the package if it is not already present on your system.
$ sudo apt install systemd-timesyncd
Enable NTP synchronization: Enable automatic time synchronization.
$ sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
Verify synchronization status: Check that the time sync service is running and connected to NTP servers.
$ systemctl status systemd-timesyncd
Look for “active (running)” and the “Status” line showing the contacted NTP server.
Force immediate synchronization: If you need to sync time immediately, restart the timesyncd service.
$ sudo systemctl restart systemd-timesyncd
DEBIAN USERS
On Debian systems without sudo configured, use su - to become root before running privileged commands, or prepend commands with su -c "command".
Using Chrony
If you need more advanced NTP features, chrony is an excellent alternative. It handles intermittent network connections better and can also act as an NTP server.
Install chrony: Install the chrony package using your package manager.
$ sudo apt install chrony
Start and enable the service: Ensure chrony starts automatically on boot.
$ sudo systemctl enable --now chrony
Check synchronization sources: Verify that chrony is connected to NTP servers.
INSTALLATION TIPS
Installing chrony will automatically disable systemd-timesyncd to prevent conflicts between the two time synchronization services.
One-Time Manual Sync
If you need to perform a one-time synchronization similar to what ntpdate provided, you have two options:
Using chronyd with -q flag
This method queries NTP servers and sets the time once, then exits, similar to ntpdate behavior. Note that you must stop the chrony service first if it is running:
The “ntpdate command not found” error is expected on modern Debian and Ubuntu systems since ntpdate has been deprecated and removed. The recommended replacements are systemd-timesyncd for desktop systems and chrony for servers or systems with intermittent network connectivity. Both alternatives provide superior time synchronization compared to the legacy ntpdate command.
For more information on NTP and time synchronization, refer to the official Chrony documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still install ntpdate on Debian 13 or Ubuntu 24.04? On Debian 13 (Trixie), the ntpdate package has been completely removed from the repositories and is not available for installation. On Ubuntu 24.04, a transitional package exists but it simply redirects to ntpsec-ntpdate. It is recommended to use systemd-timesyncd or chrony instead.
What is the difference between systemd-timesyncd and chrony? The systemd-timesyncd is a lightweight SNTP client suitable for most desktop systems. Chrony is a full NTP implementation that handles network interruptions better, provides more accurate timekeeping, and can act as an NTP server. Use chrony for servers or systems requiring high precision.
How do I check if my system time is synchronized? Run systemctl status systemd-timesyncd and look for “active (running)” in the output. The “Status” line will show which NTP server has been contacted. You can also run timedatectl status and check for “System clock synchronized: yes”.
Why does timedatectl set-ntp true fail with “NTP not supported”? This error occurs when no NTP client service is installed or running. Install systemd-timesyncd with sudo apt install systemd-timesyncd, then enable it with sudo systemctl enable --now systemd-timesyncd before running the timedatectl command again.
