Getting Started

Installation:

• Go to: Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Install from disk

• Select the downloaded zip file

Once installed and enabled:

• Open Scene Properties → Time Tracker

• (Optional) Enable the N-Panel version in Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Time Tracker

• Time tracking starts automatically as soon as Blender opens

Time Categories Explained

Total Time

The total amount of time Blender has been open for a project.

This includes:

• Total time

• Active time

• AFK time

• Render time

Active Time (True Work Time)

Active Time = Total Time − AFK Time − Render Time

This represents the actual time spent working in Blender:

• Mouse movement

• Keyboard input

• Viewport interaction

This is the most accurate indicator of productive work.

AFK Time (Away From Keyboard)

AFK time is counted when:

• No input is detected for longer than the AFK Threshold

• Mouse and keyboard activity immediately stops AFK tracking

AFK Threshold

• Adjustable in Time Tracker → Settings

• Default: 60 seconds

• Range: 10–600 seconds

Example:

If the AFK threshold is set to 60 seconds, Blender must receive no input for 60 seconds before AFK time begins counting.

AFK time never counts during rendering.

Render Time

Tracks the time spent rendering:

• F12 renders

• Viewport renders

• Canceled renders are still counted correctly

Render time is excluded from Active Time.

Wasted Time (Unsaved Work)

Time is counted as wasted when:

• You open Blender

• Work on an unsaved file

• Close Blender without saving

That entire session minus the time spent afk is added to Global Wasted Time.

If you were afk during this session, this time will not count as wasted time. Because its not really wasted time in blender if you didn't even use it.

This helps identify how much time you spent working on ideas which you ended up abandoning.

You will see a warning in the UI whenever a file is unsaved:

⚠ File not saved — time will be counted as wasted!

Session vs Project vs Global Time

Current Session

Tracks time since the file was last opened:

• Total

• Active

• AFK

• Render

You can reset this using Reset Session (does not affect saved data).

Full Project

Displays the time spent across all session on the current project version open:

• Total

• Active

• AFK

• Render

All Projects Ever

Tracks the total time across all projects:

• Total Blender time

• AFK time

• Render time

• Active time

• Wasted time

Project Leaderboard

The leaderboard lets you compare projects visually and numerically.

What Is a Project?

A project is identified by its filename, without the version suffix.

Examples:

• scene_v1.blend

• scene_v2.blend

• scene3.blend

All versions are grouped under the same project.

Version Naming Rules (Important)

Supported naming patterns:

• _v1, _v2, _v3, etc.

• Blender-style numbering: project1, project2

Examples:

• character_v1.blend

• character_v2.blend

• environment3.blend

Each version:

• Has its own tracked time

• Appears under the same project group

Leaderboard Sorting

You can sort projects by:

• Total Time

• Active Time

• AFK Time

• Render Time

Sorting changes both the displayed value and the order.

Searching Projects

• Use the search bar at the top of the leaderboard

• Make sure to press Enter on your keyboard after typing the word in the search bar

• Clear the search with the ❌ button

Expand / Collapse Projects

• Expand individual projects to see versions

• Expand or collapse all projects at once

• Each version shows its own breakdown

Deleting Projects

• Click the 🗑️ icon next to a project

• Deletes all versions of that project

• Requires confirmation

• Cannot be undone

Merging Projects

You can merge two projects into one

In the leaderboard, click the merge icon on the project you want to get rid of.
You will then see a prompt asking which project to merge it with. This second project will not be deleted and will combine both of the projects times.

Renaming Projects

In the leaderboard, you can click on the rename icon next to a project's name.

Organizing Projects

You can create folders to organize your leaderboard.

In the leaderboard, you can click on the folder icon to create a new folder. You can also add sub-folders.

Name Conflict Warning (Save As Protection)

When saving a file:

If you use Save As with a name that already exists in the leaderboard, Time Tracker pauses the save process and shows a warning.

You are given three safe options:

1. Save As with a different name

2. Delete the existing project from the leaderboard then save again

3. Save again with the same name

   • Time of your current session will be added to the already existing project in the leaderboard

This prevents accidental data loss.

Import & Export

Export Time Data

• Saves all tracked data to a backup file

• Includes:

  • Projects

  • Versions

  • Global stats

  • Wasted time

Import Time Data

• Its recommended to Reset the global time before importing, but not necessary

• Restores a previous backup

Perfect for:

• Add-on updates

• Blender upgrades

• Multiple machines

Reset Options

Reset Session

• Resets only the current session

• Does not affect saved project data

Reset All Time

• Completely wipes all tracked data

• Clears:

  • Global time

  • Leaderboard

  • Wasted time

Requires confirmation.

Uninstalling Time Tracker

From the add-on preferences:

• Click Uninstall Time Tracker

• Blender will remove all add-on files

• Restart required