On September 20, 2026, Morocco made a significant transition by officially reverting to GMT without any time limitations, marking the end of GMT+1 which had been in place since October 2018. For users operating on Windows 11 who have not yet installed the September update, the system clock continues to reflect the outdated time zone. This discrepancy can lead to confusion, as an appointment scheduled for 2 PM may instead appear as 3 PM on your calendar, or vice versa, without any notification to alert the user about this inconsistency.
Transition to Permanent GMT and Its Implications
This decision was first announced on June 25, 2026, by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch during a government council meeting. The change is formalized in decree n° 2.26.530, published in the official bulletin n° 7521 on June 29, 2026, which clearly states that clocks will be set back by 60 minutes at 2 AM on September 20. Morocco had adopted GMT+1 in October 2018, a time zone previously used as a summer time adjustment that was later established as a permanent standard, with a temporary return to GMT during Ramadan. However, this arrangement had grown unpopular among the populace, leading to a petition for a return to "natural time" that garnered over 250,000 signatures, eventually exceeding 300,000 by the end of March 2026.
At 2 AM, the time becomes 1 AM, a simple adjustment that signifies the end of permanent GMT+1. It is important to note that this change should be viewed as a definitive shift away from GMT+1, as Morocco will no longer adjust its clocks back in autumn or forward in spring. The country will maintain GMT throughout the year, including during Ramadan. This change also affects travelers and businesses that interact with Europe, as Marrakech will now be two hours behind Paris or Brussels during the European summer and one hour behind during the winter months.
Windows 11 and the September Update Fix
Microsoft has proactively addressed this situation, ensuring that Moroccan users are not left in the lurch. The necessary fix was included in the cumulative update for September, which adjusts Morocco's standard time to align with the transition to permanent UTC+00:00 effective from September 20, 2026. Therefore, Windows will reflect the new time setting that corresponds with this permanent change. This adjustment is also integrated into updates for Windows 10.
The September update is part of a much larger release, addressing 966 vulnerabilities, including 105 classified as critical and two zero-day exploits already being used in attacks. While the Moroccan time zone adjustment may only be a single line item in the extensive changelog, it holds immediate significance for millions of daily users. As with all Patch Tuesday updates, these fixes are mandatory and will be automatically downloaded and installed via Windows Update.
It is worth noting for users of Windows 11 24H2 that the end of updates for the Home and Professional editions will take effect on October 13, 2026. Devices running these editions will no longer receive fixes for known issues, time zone updates, technical support, or monthly security updates. Users who are still on this version should ensure they obtain the fix before the deadline to avoid being stuck with an outdated time zone setting.
For those who do not install the update, Windows will continue to operate under the assumption that Morocco is still on a permanent GMT+1, which will skew all time-dependent activities such as Outlook reminders, scheduled Teams meetings with colleagues abroad, planned scripts, and file timestamps. For instance, an appointment set for 10 AM prior to September 20 may appear as one hour off on an unupdated machine compared to what is displayed on a smartphone or an online calendar.
A manual fix is still accessible with just a few clicks, without having to wait for the automatic deployment. Users can open the date and time settings or type the command timedate.cpl in the Run window to verify that the selected time zone aligns with the new permanent GMT. For businesses managing IT systems centrally, forcibly installing the update remains the most reliable solution to prevent cascading time discrepancies across multiple workstations.
One lingering concern that has yet to be widely discussed involves older connected devices such as routers, cameras, and certain smart home devices that rely on outdated time zone databases that have not been updated for years. Unfortunately, these devices will not be automatically corrected by any Patch Tuesday update.
As reported by laptopspirit.fr.
