Upwork Time Tracking: How to Set It Up and Use

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• The upwork time tracker is part of the Upwork desktop app and is used for hourly contracts.
• It records time in 10 minute segments with activity levels and optional screenshots.
• Properly tracked time is eligible for Hourly Payment Protection.
• Clear memos and tracking only relevant work are the core upwork tracker best practices.
• Upwork tracking software helps both freelancers and clients keep work transparent and organised.

Think of the tracker as your black box flight recorder. If anything goes wrong with payment or scope, your Work Diary is evidence that you did the work.

What Is the Upwork Time Tracker and Why It Matters

Upwork’s time tracker is a desktop app feature that logs your activity on hourly contracts. When it is running, it:

• Counts your minutes in 10 minute billing segments
• Records keyboard and mouse activity
• Takes periodic screenshots while you work
• Sends everything into your Work Diary for each contract

For freelancers, this matters because only correctly tracked time on hourly contracts is eligible for Hourly Payment Protection. For clients, it provides visibility into what was done during billed hours without micromanaging.

As remote work and flexible schedules become normal, having a built in, consistent way to record hours and tasks is one of the biggest upwork tracker benefits.

Setting Up the Upwork Time Tracker

Installing the Upwork desktop app

To use the upwork time tracker, you first need the desktop app on your computer. The steps are straightforward:

1. Sign in to your Upwork account in a browser.
2. Go to the section where Upwork offers the desktop app download.
3. Choose your operating system and install the app.
4. Open the app and log in with the same account you use on the web.

Once logged in, you will see a list of your active hourly contracts in the app window.

How to open and start Upwork time tracker

Here is how to answer two common questions right away:

How to open Upwork time tracker

• On Windows, find the Upwork app in your Start menu.
• On macOS, launch it from your Applications folder or search.
• On Linux, open it from your applications menu or launcher.

How to start Upwork time tracker

1. Open the desktop app.
2. Select the correct hourly contract from the dropdown.
3. Type a short memo describing what you are about to work on.
4. Click the Start button.

From this moment, the tracker records your time in your Work Diary until you click Stop. Always double check that it is running before you sink hours into work.

How the Upwork Time Tracker Works

How does Upwork time tracker work

Once started, the tracker:

• Breaks each hour into six 10 minute segments
• Takes one random screenshot per segment while it is running
• Measures keyboard and mouse activity to show how active you were
• Attaches your memo to each segment logged in that session

In your Work Diary, each segment shows:

• A screenshot of your screen at that moment
• The memo or task name
• A simple activity bar

To be fully protected, you should:

• Track time only while working on that specific contract
• Ensure screenshots and activity clearly relate to the project
• Add detailed memos that explain what you were doing

Does Upwork time tracker take screenshots

Yes. The tracker captures a screenshot roughly once every 10 minutes. You can review these in the Work Diary. If a screenshot captures something sensitive, you can delete the screenshot and its associated time segment. Just remember that deleting a segment usually removes those minutes from billable, protected time.

This is why it is smart to pause the tracker when:

• You step away from your computer
• You answer unrelated messages
• You handle unrelated client work under another contract

Upwork Tracker Best Practices

Best practices for freelancers

If you want to get the full upwork tracker benefits and avoid headaches, build these habits:

1. Use the tracker for all hourly work
   • Manual time is more likely to be questioned and is not protected in the same way.
2. Write clear, specific memos
   • Instead of “writing”, use “writing section 2 of blog post on pricing” or “fixing mobile checkout bug”.
3. Track only relevant work
   • Make sure your open windows and screenshots clearly relate to the client’s project.
4. Stay within the weekly hour limit
   • Anything beyond the agreed weekly limit will not auto bill, even if you tracked it.
5. Pause during breaks
   • Stop tracking for phone calls, personal browsing, or lunch. Then restart with a new memo when you resume.

These simple upwork tracker best practices keep your Work Diary clean and make disputes very unlikely.

Best practices for clients

Clients can also use the Work Diary to manage projects better:

• Review Work Diary entries regularly, especially early in a contract.
• Check that memos and screenshots match the tasks you agreed on.
• Adjust weekly limits if you consistently need more or fewer hours.
• Have a quick weekly check in to discuss progress and priorities.

Using the tracker as a shared source of truth builds trust, especially if you have never worked together before.

Key Benefits of Upwork Tracking Software

When used correctly, the upwork tracking software delivers real value to both sides.

For freelancers

• Clear, automatic log of billable hours
• Protection for properly tracked time on hourly contracts
• A record you can review if there is ever confusion about what was done

For clients

• Transparency about how time is spent without micromanaging
• Easier budgeting and forecasting for ongoing work
• A simple way to confirm that work aligns with the agreed scope

Time tracking also fits into a bigger system of getting paid and winning better contracts. Once you are comfortable with the tracker, it is worth polishing the rest of your Upwork setup, from payment settings to proposal strategy. If you want help, you can read our guides on getting paid on Upwork and on bidding tools and alternatives, or work with our team for a deeper audit of your profile and processes.

Conclusion

The upwork time tracker is one of the most important tools on the platform for anyone working hourly. It:

• Records what you worked on and when
• Gives clients confidence in your professionalism
• Unlocks payment protection when something unexpected happens

Set up the desktop app once, get into the habit of starting and stopping the timer with good memos, and review your Work Diary regularly. After a short adjustment period, these habits will feel natural and will protect both your time and your income.

If you want to go further and build a complete Upwork system from proposals to payments and long term client relationships, our team at GigRadar can help you review your profile, refine your positioning, and design workflows that make your freelance business more predictable and less stressful.

FAQs

How does Upwork time tracker work

The Upwork time tracker runs inside the desktop app and is used for hourly contracts. When you start it on a specific contract, it records your work in 10 minute segments, tracks activity levels, and takes periodic screenshots. These segments are stored in your Work Diary and form the basis of your hourly billing and payment protection.

Does Upwork time tracker take screenshots

Yes, the tracker takes automatic screenshots while it is running, usually one per 10 minute segment. These images show whatever is on your screen at that moment. You can review and, if necessary, remove sensitive segments, though deleted segments typically are no longer billable or protected.

How to start Upwork time tracker

Open the Upwork desktop app, choose the correct hourly contract from the list, type a short memo describing what you are about to work on, and click the Start button. The timer begins logging your work until you manually click Stop.

How to open Upwork time tracker

After you install the Upwork desktop app, open it from your usual applications menu or launcher on your computer. Sign in, and you will see the main window with your active hourly contracts and the controls to start or stop tracking time.

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