How Do I Track Time Using the Chrome Time Tracker Extension?

The Chrome Time Tracker extension allows you to easily track time from your browser, wherever your work takes you across the web. You can track time to document your business' and team's productivity, or to bill back to the Client for your services worked.
 
 

Download the Extension

To download the Time Tracker extension, use these steps: 
  1. Go to the extension page in Chrome's web store here (or search for FreshBooks Time Tracker)
  2. Click on the Add to Chrome button
  3. Then click on the Add extension button in the pop-up inside your Chrome browser
  4. The extension, as a FreshBooks icon, is now installed, next to the address bar.

Set Up

  1. Once you have the Chrome Time Tracker extension downloaded, click on the extension icon in your web browser
    Timer extension icon.
  2. Click on Sign In
    Sign in button on extension pop-up.
  3. In the pop-up that appears, enter your Email and Password, or Sign in with Google or Apple as needed and click Log In
  4. If needed, choose the Business you want to track time in. You'll continue to be logged in the extension even after you close the browser for up to 12 hours before being prompted to log in again. 

Track Time

Start Timer

  1. Click on the extension icon
  2. Click on Start Timer
    Start Timer button.
  3. The extension icon will update to show a green dot while the timer starts running
  4. Next, choose a recent Client or Project, or click Choose a client... and type in the Add a client or project field
  5. If the Client has an active Retainer, Apply to Retainer will be automatically checked off, if needed, uncheck the box to track this time outside of the Retainer
  6. Next, enter text in the Add a service, or What are you working on? fields if needed
  7. If you want to bill the time entry to your Client later, ensure Billable is checked off
  8. When you're done tracking time, click Log Time to finish. Or click Cancel to discard the Timer.
 
Notes:
  • If you need to create a new Project, use your web browser to create one with the steps here instead
  • If your Tracking Format is set to Duration, pause the Timer by clicking on the pause button, and resume by pressing the play button
  • The Timer will follow you wherever you go on your Chrome browser, even in multiple tabs
  • Click on the pop-out icon to have the Timer in its own window, clicking on this icon again will pop the Timer back into the corner of your browser window

    Pop out timer on webpage with window moving around.
 

Log Time

  1. Click on the extension icon
  2. Click on Log Time
    Log Time button.
  3. Feel free to use the plus + and minus - icons to adjust the time by 15 minute increments, overwrite the box by typing in the hours and minutes manually, or manually adjust the start time
  4. Next, choose a recent Client or Project, or click Choose a client... and type in the Add a client or project field
  5. If the Client has an active Retainer, Apply to Retainer will be automatically checked off, if needed, uncheck the box to track this time outside of the Retainer
  6. Next, enter text in the Add a service, or What are you working on? fields if needed
  7. If you want to bill the time entry to your Client later, ensure Billable is checked off
  8. When you're done tracking time, click Log Time to finish. Or click Discard to cancel logging the Time Entry.