--- url: /guides/track-time.md description: Start a timer, log time after the fact and compare it with the estimate. --- # Track time on a task Track time when you want to know how long work really takes: run a timer while you work, or log the time afterwards. The task's **Time tracking** row shows what you logged next to the estimate, and its bar shows any time over the estimate in red. ## Before you start A list you create in the app starts with the **Simple list** preset, which has **Time Tracking** and **Timer** off ([Set up a list](/guides/set-up-a-list#turn-features-on-or-off)). Lists made any other way than **New list**, such as the lists of a folder copied with **Duplicate**, and older lists, have every feature on. If a task has no **Time tracking** row, turn them on: 1. In the sidebar, open the list's **More actions** (**…**) menu and choose **Configure**. The list's settings window opens. 2. Open **Features**. You see the feature switches. 3. Switch on **Time Tracking**, then **Timer**. Tasks in the list show the **Time tracking** row. ::: warning Edit access needed Turning features on needs [**Edit** access](/concepts/sharing) to the list and **Update** in the **Lists** block of your permission set. See [Permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access). ::: ## Run a timer 1. Open the task. Its **Time tracking** row shows a play button. 2. Click **Start** (the play button) in that row. The **Focus session** card opens: a timer for one stretch of work, as in [Plan a focus day with a timer](/recipes/focus-day-with-a-timer). ::: warning Logging time needs access To run a timer or log time you need **Edit** access to the list and **Create** in the **Time logs** block ([Permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access)). ::: ::: info Only one timer at a time If the button does nothing, a timer already runs on another task: stop that one first. The timer lives in this browser or app: it survives a reload, but another device doesn't see it. ::: 3. Pick a length. The card opens on 90 minutes. * **25**, **50** or **90** minutes: a countdown, [Pomodoro-style](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique); * **∞**: a stopwatch that counts up until you stop it; * another length, typed in the field: ```text 40m ``` The card shows when the session ends, such as **until 15:30**. 4. Click **Start**. The clock runs in the task and at the top of the sidebar. Click that clock to open the task from anywhere. 5. For a break, click **Pause**. The clock stops. 6. When you are back, click **Resume**. The clock runs again, and a focus session's end moves by the length of the pause. 7. When you finish, click **Stop**. The time is logged on the task. A session with a length stops and logs by itself when it runs out, and says **Focus session finished**. ![A 25-minute focus session running on Draft the Q4 budget with 12:00 left, its Pause and Stop buttons, and the timer at the top of the sidebar](/shots/guides/track-time-1.light.webp){.light-only} ![A 25-minute focus session running on Draft the Q4 budget with 12:00 left, its Pause and Stop buttons, and the timer at the top of the sidebar](/shots/guides/track-time-1.dark.webp){.dark-only} ## Log time afterwards 1. In the task's side panel, click the **Time logs** tab. The task's time entries appear. ![The Time logs tab of the task side panel with one entry and the Log time button](/shots/guides/track-time-2.light.webp){.light-only} ![The Time logs tab of the task side panel with one entry and the Log time button](/shots/guides/track-time-2.dark.webp){.dark-only} 2. Click **Log time**. The **Time tracking** form opens. ::: warning Logging time needs access **Log time** needs **Edit** access to the list and **Create** in the **Time logs** block. ::: 3. In **Time spent**, type a duration: ```text 1h 30m ``` ::: info Duration format A duration is numbers with units, decimals allowed (`1.5h`). A day counts as 24 hours and a week as 7 days, not working days. A bare number, such as `45`, isn't a duration. ::: | Unit | Means | |---|---| | `w` | week (7 days) | | `d` | day (24 hours) | | `h` | hour | | `m` | minute | | `s` | second | A duration with every unit but seconds: ```text 2w 4d 6h 45m ``` 4. If the work was on another day, change **Date started**. 5. Optionally, add a **Work description**. 6. Click **Save**. The entry appears in **Time logs**, and the row adds it to the total. ## Estimate and overrun 1. Click the **Time tracking** row (or **Add time** when it is empty). The **Time tracking** form opens. ::: warning No Estimate field? Setting an estimate needs **Edit** access to the list, and **Time tracking** in the **Task fields** block and **Update** in the **Tasks** block of your permission set. ::: 2. In **Estimate**, type the [estimate](/reference/task-fields) as a duration: ```text 4h ``` 3. Click **Save**. The row shows a bar: * blue for time logged; * gray for time remaining; * red for time over the estimate. ![The Time tracking row of a task with an estimate of 4h and 5h logged: the bar runs past the estimate in red](/shots/guides/track-time-3.light.webp){.light-only} ![The Time tracking row of a task with an estimate of 4h and 5h logged: the bar runs past the estimate in red](/shots/guides/track-time-3.dark.webp){.dark-only} ## Invoice task example: three entries against 3h | Work | Time spent | Date started | |---|---|---| | Collect invoices (timer) | 50m | Mon 09:00 | | Fill in the template (timer) | 1h 30m | Mon 14:00 | | Call with the accountant (logged later) | 30m | Tue 10:00 | With an estimate of `3h`, 10 minutes are left. ![The Time logs panel of Prepare the invoices: three entries against an estimate of 3h, 2h 50m logged and 10m remaining](/shots/guides/track-time-4.light.webp){.light-only} ![The Time logs panel of Prepare the invoices: three entries against an estimate of 3h, 2h 50m logged and 10m remaining](/shots/guides/track-time-4.dark.webp){.dark-only} ## If it doesn't work * **There is no Time tracking row.** The list has **Time Tracking** turned off. Turn it on in **Configure** → **Features** ([Before you start](#before-you-start), [Set up a list](/guides/set-up-a-list#turn-features-on-or-off)). * **There is no play button.** The list has **Timer** turned off, or you can't log time on this task. Turn **Timer** on in **Configure** → **Features** ([Set up a list](/guides/set-up-a-list#turn-features-on-or-off)). If you lack the access to log time, see [Log time afterwards](#log-time-afterwards) and ask a workspace admin. * **The play button does nothing.** A timer already runs on another task: hover the button to see "A timer is already running on another task", then click the clock at the top of the sidebar to open that task and stop it ([Run a timer](#run-a-timer)). * **There is no Estimate field.** You have no **Edit** access to the list, or your permission set can't change the **Time tracking** field. Ask a workspace admin for both ([Permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access)). * **You see "Use a format like 2w 4d 6h 45m".** A bare number isn't a duration. Add the unit, such as `45m` ([Log time afterwards](#log-time-afterwards)). * **You can't edit or delete an entry.** Only the person who logged it can change it. They also need edit access to the list and **Update** or **Delete** in the **Time logs** block ([Permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access)). * **The timer is gone after you cleared your browser data.** The timer is stored in the browser. Log the time by hand ([Log time afterwards](#log-time-afterwards)). ## Related * Focus day: [Plan a focus day with a timer](/recipes/focus-day-with-a-timer), timers and a Today view together. * [Set up a list](/guides/set-up-a-list): turn **Time Tracking** and **Timer** on. * [Permissions and access](/reference/permissions-and-access): who can log, edit and delete time. * Today view: [Build your own Today view](/guides/build-a-today-view), to pick what to work on next.