Why does my clock drift or lose time over several weeks?
Quick Answer: Your clock drifts because tiny inaccuracies in its internal mechanism or battery cause it to gain or lose seconds over time. Even the best clocks aren’t perfectly precise, so small errors add up after weeks.
Most clocks rely on quartz crystals or mechanical gears that vibrate or move at a steady rate. But these rates aren’t perfect. Temperature changes, battery power dropping, or slight manufacturing differences can speed up or slow down the clock’s timing.
Since these tiny errors accumulate, your clock will gradually drift away from the correct time. That’s why regular syncing with a trusted source, like an internet time server, keeps your clock accurate.