How to log time with the time tracker

What should I ask my client before I start tracking time?

To help avoid billing issues, get on the same page with your client before tracking time. Check in on:

• What tasks you’re expected to handle
• How many hours you should aim for each week
• Whether manual time is okay for this contract

How do I log time?

1. Download the Upwork Desktop App if you haven’t already. (Learn more about the app here)
2. Open the Upwork Desktop App and log in
3. Select the correct contract
4. Describe what you are working on by entering a Memo and selecting an Activity tag (if provided by your client)
5. Select Start to start logging or select the off/on toggle (you’ll see one of these options)
6. When you’re finished working, select Stop or use the toggle switch (you’ll see one of these options)

How do memos and activities work?

You’ll use memos and activity tags to describe work and collaborate with your client. Memos are always required. Clients can choose whether to use activities to help them track and organize work on the project.

• If your client requires an activity tag and you don’t select one, you may see a warning that you can’t start tracking until you do
• If the client requires activity tags but hasn’t created any, they may need to do that before you can log time
• Memos — and activity tags when available — are required to be eligible for Hourly Payment Protection
• You can reuse memos and activity tags once you’ve entered them
• You can set a reminder in the desktop app’s settings to update memos and activities

How do I edit memos or activities?

During your time-tracking session

1. Return to the Upwork Desktop App
2. Edit your Memo and select a new Activity tag

After time has been tracked

You can only edit memos and activities for the current work week. You’ll make the edits in your contract’s work diary, which you can access from the app by selecting View work diary. Learn more about using your work diary.

How do I switch contracts in the desktop app?

1. Select the arrow icon at the top of the app to open the contract list
2. Choose a different contract
3. Select the new contract’s activity (if applicable) and enter a memo
4. Start tracking

How do I change my desktop app settings?

1. Select the settings icon or your profile picture (you’ll see one of these options)
2. Choose Settings
3. Adjust options like screenshot capture, memo reminders, and app notifications

How do I report a problem with the desktop app?

First try our troubleshooting articles — it's usually the quickest way to resolve any issue.

• For Windows and Mac operating systems, go here.
• If you use a Linux operating system, go here.

To report a problem:

1. In the app, select the settings icon or your profile picture (you’ll see one of these options at the bottom left of the app)
2. Choose Support and feedback
3. Describe the issue and select Submit

How do I view my time in the desktop app?

• Current session: Stopwatch next to the start/stop button. This tracks your current session but may not reflect billable time exactly
• Today and This week: These sections show actual billed time. Hover over the time to see tooltips. Select This week to open your weekly timesheet report

What does the time tracker track?

• Screenshots
  • Taken randomly once every 10 minutes when tracking is on
  • You can choose to be notified when they’re taken
  • You can remove screenshots before upload or later in your work diary
  • Only two monitors are supported for screenshots — a second monitor can be enabled in Settings
  • Deleting a screenshot removes the time segment’s activity
  • Manually entered time requires client approval and is not eligible for Hourly Payment Protection
  • Screenshots are deleted by us after one year
• What you're working on (memos and activity tags)
  • The memos you enter and the activity tags you select (if your client sets up activities)
  • You can update these anytime before your work diary review period ends, 12 hours after the weekly billing period closes. Learn more about the weekly billing cycle.
• Camera shots (optional)
  • Disabled by default, and only freelancers can enable them
  • If enabled, snapshots (not video) taken every 10 minutes
  • Can be deleted without affecting billable time
• User activity
  • Tracks keystrokes, mouse selects, scrolls, and active application/window name
  • A green bar under each screenshot shows how active you were per minute
  • Time without mouse or keyboard activity (like calls) may not be recorded and may require manual entry

How do I add manual time in the time tracker?

1. Open the Upwork Desktop App and select your contract
2. Select Add manual time
3. Choose the date and time, write a short work summary, and choose Save

Important to remember:

• You can only add manual time for open billing periods and for time slots where you haven’t already tracked time
• Once the work diary locks, you can't edit it
• Manual time can't be added to paused contractsSelect Add manual time in the app to get started. You'll see a reminder to align with your client. You must confirm your entry and understand that manual time is not eligible for Hourly Payment Protection. Learn more here.

What browsers are supported for time tracking?

We support the latest two major versions of these browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari

The time tracker may work with other versions, but since we don’t officially support them, we’re limited in the troubleshooting and resolutions we can provide. To find more resources on the Upwork Desktop App, go here.