Auto Time Tracking

The core feature of CatchTime is automatically recording how long you use each app and website. The entire process runs silently in the background with zero manual effort.

How It Works

CatchTime uses different approaches on each platform to detect what you're currently using:

Desktop (Windows / macOS)

  • CatchTime checks which window is in the foreground once per second
  • It records the app name (e.g., "Slack", "VS Code") and window title (e.g., "meeting-notes.docx")
  • When you switch to another window, CatchTime automatically ends the previous record and starts a new one
  • If you stop using your keyboard and mouse for a while, CatchTime pauses recording (idle detection)

Android

  • CatchTime reads app usage data through the system's Usage Access permission
  • It records how long you open and use each app
  • It doesn't need to run continuously in the background -- it relies on usage statistics provided by the system

Browser Extension

  • With the browser extension installed, CatchTime can identify the specific websites you visit
  • Instead of just showing "Chrome", it shows "GitHub", "YouTube", and other site names
  • The extension communicates with the CatchTime desktop app through a local connection -- no data goes through external servers

What Gets Recorded

CatchTime records the following information:

  • App Name — The name of the application you're using
  • Window Title — The title text of the current window (helps you recall what you were doing)
  • Duration — How long you stayed on that window
  • Timestamp — The exact time the activity occurred

What Is NOT Recorded

CatchTime respects your privacy. The following are never collected:

  • No screen capture — No screenshots or screen recordings
  • No keystroke logging — No record of what you type
  • No file content reading — No access to the content of your documents
  • No personal data collection — No access to contacts, messages, etc.

CatchTime only cares about "which app you used and for how long" -- not "what you did inside the app."

Smart De-noising

To keep your data accurate and meaningful, CatchTime automatically handles these situations:

  • Brief switch filtering — If you briefly switch to a window for less than 3 seconds, it won't be recorded as a separate entry
  • Long session splitting — If you use the same app for more than 10 continuous minutes, the record is split into segments for easier review
  • Midnight splitting — If you use an app across midnight, the record is automatically split across two days

Idle Detection

When CatchTime detects that you've stepped away from your computer, it pauses recording:

  • On desktop, it monitors keyboard and mouse activity to determine if you're present
  • Time spent away from the computer is not counted toward any app's usage
  • When you return and start using the computer again, recording resumes automatically

Learn More