Question 1

Does desktop time tracking work without an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since it reads activity from the operating system rather than syncing to a server in real time, it can keep recording offline. The data is written locally first.

Question 2

Does it track meetings, or just apps and files?

Accepted Answer

Desktop time trackers track everything, including the meetings. Memtime, for example, includes calendar entries alongside app and file activity, so a meeting shows up in the timeline the same way a spreadsheet or email does — as a timestamped block of time.

Question 3

What about phone calls?

Accepted Answer

Some desktop time trackers can even capture phone calls. Memtime, for example, can automatically capture your calls if you use a popular VoIP app on your desktop or have connected your iPhone to your Mac. They'll appear as a separate column in your activity timeline, and you can assign them to the right client in just a few clicks.

Question 4

What if I have several windows or documents open at once?

Accepted Answer

Desktop time trackers only record the window currently in the foreground, meaning wherever your mouse or keyboard was last active. As soon as you switch to another window, that one starts being tracked. So, even if you're moving between a meeting, an email, and an app, everything is captured accordingly.

Question 5

Can I edit or delete an activity after it's recorded?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, yes. With Memtime, for example, you have full control over your timeline. You can tell Memtime never to capture specific apps or activities, delete individual ones, or clear your timeline entirely. Nothing about this timeline is locked in once it's recorded—it reflects what you choose to keep. And remember: everything stays on your device, none of it is ever uploaded to the cloud.

Question 6

How is the desktop time tracker different from employee monitoring software?

Accepted Answer

Employee monitoring software is built to give a third party visibility into someone else's activity in real time, often through screenshots or live dashboards. A desktop time tracker is built around local storage, for the person doing the work to reconstruct their own day. There's no external viewer by design, which serves a different purpose than monitoring.

Question 7

Can I try Memtime before committing?

Accepted Answer

Sure. We offer a free 14-day trial with no credit card required. You won't be charged automatically when your trial ends, so there's no risk in getting started.

Question 8

What if I work across more than one device?

Accepted Answer

Most desktop time trackers are charged per user, so you can install it on multiple devices, just like Memtime. Keep in mind, though, that your activity data is stored locally on each device for privacy reasons, so it doesn't sync across devices.

Question 9

What if I have a meeting that wasn't on my calendar?

Accepted Answer

Desktop time trackers usually display offline periods in your timeline that you can name and later convert into time entries. Memtime, for example, mirrors your calendar, so any meeting you had scheduled will appear alongside your activity timeline. That's how you can match in-person appointments with the time around them.

Question 10

Can I see my activity down to the minute, or only in broad blocks?

Accepted Answer

Most desktop time trackers let the level of detail be adjusted, from a granular minute-by-minute view up to a condensed hourly summary. It all depends on whether the task requires precise billing increments or a high-level overview of the day.

Question 11

How far back does the historical activity data go?

Accepted Answer

Since the timeline is continuously generated from the day the software is used, historical data typically goes back to that installation date, with no fixed cutoff. A full year or more of activity can usually be reviewed if needed.

Question 12

Can a desktop time tracker replace project management software like Jira, Asana, or ClickUp?

Accepted Answer

No, and it's not designed to do so. Desktop time trackers should work alongside those tools rather than replace them, syncing recorded time entries into the project structure that's already set up.

Question 13

Is Memtime an employee monitoring tool?

Accepted Answer

No, definitely not. Memtime cannot be used for employee monitoring or surveillance of any kind. All activity data is stored locally on your device and visible only to you, not to your colleagues, managers, clients, or anyone at Memtime. Our app gives you visibility into your own workload, without anyone else having access to that data.

Desktop-Zeiterfassung per App

Desktop-Zeiterfassung, die zu deinem Arbeitsstil passt

Automatische Zeiterfassung am PC kann, was Browser-Tools nicht können

Desktop-Zeiterfassung passiert da, wo die Arbeit passiert

Desktop-Zeiterfassung erfasst aktive Fenster, Dateien und deine Arbeitsfortschritte

Zeiterfassung am PC macht vergessene Zeiten abrechenbar

Desktop-Zeiterfassung kann privat und nur auf deinem Gerät erfolgen

Manuelle Zeiterfassung vs. Zeiterfassung am PC

FAQs