How to Log Time

Logging your time allows you to track time spent on different tasks. This offers critical insights that allow you to manage time more wisely, improve estimates, identify inefficiencies, and bill accurately.

Logging Time

There are three ways you can track your time in HourStack: using the built-in timer, entering time manually, or using the timer available via our browser extension.

Use the Timer

Using the timer while you work helps you stay focused and track time accurately. The timer is available for any time entries you have scheduled today and shows the time logged out of the time scheduled for that time entry. To start the timer, click the Start (Play) button on the left, and a timer will begin counting your time.

Log time manually

Tracking time on tasks is made simple by using timers, however, if you didn't remember to start a timer on the task and need to go back and add the time manually, this is also quick and easy. To add time manually, click on the task or time entry to get the Task Settings Pane to show. On each time entry you will notice in the "Scheduled on" section there is a field labeled "Logged Hours". In this field enter the amount of time you spent on the task in HH:MM format (hours and minutes). When you have entered the actual time click Save to log those hours. The updated time will now be reflected in the task.

Track Time with the Browser Extension

Our browser extension allows you to start and stop timers for tasks no matter what other web page you are viewing. To learn more and install the browser extension visit the Browser Extensions category on our integrations page and download the relevant extension for your browser.

Notifications

When the timer reaches the same amount of time that was allocated, you can receive a notification informing you that you have reached your allocation for that task. If you go over the allocation, you will also notice the timer changes to a red color. To manage your notifications go to the Notifications settings page.

Completing Tasks and Time Entries

Once you are done editing a time entry, you’ll want to mark it as complete. To do so, click the checkmark on the right side of the timer from the time entry on your Calendar. Or, if you have the task sidebar open, click the checkmark under that time entry’s logged time input.

When all time entries scheduled on a task are marked as complete, the task status will show the task as complete. Likewise, when you mark the task itself as complete, all time entries within it will also be marked as complete.

If you complete a time entry with zero logged time, we assume you spent the full scheduled time on the task and automatically set the logged time to match the scheduled time.

• Logging Time
• Use the Timer
• Log time manually
• Track Time with the Browser Extension
• Notifications
• Completing Tasks and Time Entries