# "The system date and time is incorrect." appears

- Product: Crabwise
- Category: Troubleshooting
- Type: Troubleshooting
- Updated: 2026-10-30
- URL: https://soji.dev/en/crabwise/support/troubleshooting/date-incorrect/

This article explains what to do if the Crabwise purchase sheet shows "The system date and time is incorrect." and you can't open your library. If your Mac's date or time has moved back more than five minutes from the last time Crabwise checked, it can't count the trial period correctly.

:::option{title="Set the date and time automatically"}
Open :ui[System Settings] > :ui[General] > :ui[Date & Time] and turn on :ui[Set time and date automatically]. Without a network connection, it can't be set automatically.
:::

:::option{title="Set the correct date and time by hand"}
If you set the clock by hand, change it to the current date and time. Don't set it ahead, either. If you open Crabwise with a date in the future, the trial can end early.
:::

:::option{title="Restart Crabwise"}
After you fix the date and time, click :ui[Try Again] in the purchase sheet, and Crabwise checks the date and time again. If that doesn't work, restart Crabwise. Once the date is correct, your library is usable again.
:::

Setting the date back doesn't extend the trial.

If it still doesn't work, include how your Mac's date and time is set (automatic or manual) and the message you saw when you contact us.