---
title: "timed on Mac: the time synchronization daemon · Kilobat Guides"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-timed.html"
description: "timed keeps the Mac clock correct with NTP. Learn why it sends small network requests and why a correct clock matters for secure websites."
---

macOS processes

# What is timed on Mac?

`timed` keeps the Mac's clock correct. It uses NTP, so it sends small requests to a time server.

Process: `timed` · Applies to: macOS 13 Ventura and later for the System Settings path. Seen on macOS 27.2. · Checked: 29 October 2026

## Where you see it

- `timed` is in the list in Activity Monitor › Network, in `nettop` or in Kilobat.
- A firewall or network monitor asks if `timed` can connect.
- A small UDP request to a time server.

## What it is

The man page says that timed “maintains system clock accuracy by synchronizing the clock with reference clocks via technologies like NTP”.

It reads the NTP server from `/etc/ntp.conf`. It first appeared in macOS 10.13.

## Why it uses the network

- **Clock synchronization.** It asks a time server for the correct time.

## Is it normal?

Yes. The requests are very small.

## See how much it uses

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities. Click Network.
2. Type `timed` in the search field. The Sent Bytes and Rcvd Bytes columns show what it moved.
3. In Terminal, watch only this process. Press d to show the change per second, and q to quit.

   ```
   nettop -p timed -P
   ```

## Reduce or pause it safely

1. Keep it on. A wrong clock makes valid certificates look expired. See [“This Connection Is Not Private” and certificate warnings on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/connection-not-private-mac.html).
2. To change the time server, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Date & Time.

## With Kilobat

1. Open the Kilobat app list and search for `timed`. Its row shows the live rate and the bytes it moved.
2. In Terminal, see the same live list. Press / and type the name to search.

   ```
   kilobat status --watch
   ```
3. Show its traffic over one day. Names match `kilobat report --summary`.

   ```
   kilobat bandwidth timed day
   ```
4. Through MCP, an AI agent gets the same history with `get_app_bandwidth` and the name `timed`.
5. The live view is free. History in the app needs Pro. Kilobat records history only while the app runs.

## Questions

**What happens if the clock is wrong?**

Secure websites can show certificate errors, such as ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID in Chrome. See [NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID in Chrome on Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/err-cert-date-invalid.html).

## Sources

- timed(8), man page installed with macOS 27.2
- [Apple Support: Set the date and time automatically on your Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-the-date-and-time-automatically-mchlp2996/mac)
- nettop(1), man page installed with macOS 27.2

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID in Chrome on Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/err-cert-date-invalid.html): The server's certificate looks expired or not yet valid by the Mac's clock.
- [“This Connection Is Not Private” and certificate warnings on a Mac](https://kilobat.app/guides/connection-not-private-mac.html): Safari shows a certificate warning when it cannot confirm the identity of a website.
- [What is trustd on Mac?](https://kilobat.app/guides/what-is-trustd.html): trustd checks certificates for all processes on the Mac.