> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.timetracker.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Projects troubleshooting

> Fix the most common project problems in TimeTracker: missing projects, blocked deletes, empty budget columns, section errors and duplicate project keys.

Start here when a project is not behaving. Each section names the symptom, the cause and the fix.

## I cannot find a project

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The projects list is empty">
    **Cause.** Your role's supervision scope reaches no project. A scoped role sees only projects it manages or is staffed on.

    **Fix.** Ask a project manager to add you in **Settings → Group**, or ask an admin to widen your role's scope at **Settings → Roles**. See [/projects/project-visibility](/projects/project-visibility).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A project I created has disappeared">
    **Cause.** It was archived or deleted, or you are looking at the **Active** view.

    **Fix.** Switch the dropdown beside **New project** to **All**. Archived rows carry an **Archived** chip; trashed rows show a Trash chip.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A link says the project is gone">
    **Cause.** It was permanently deleted, or it is outside your reach. TimeTracker gives the same answer for both, so a stray link cannot be used to probe what exists.

    **Fix.** Ask to be added to the project, or check **Settings → Trash**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Projects is missing from the sidebar">
    **Cause.** The **Projects & tasks** app is switched off. That hides Projects, Clients and Tasks together.

    **Fix.** An owner or admin turns it back on in **Settings → Apps**. Nothing was deleted.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A new project vanished right after I created it">
    **Cause.** It had no manager and no members, so a scoped role could not see it.

    **Fix.** Whoever creates a project becomes its manager by default. Check **Settings → General** and set a manager if it is blank.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Budget and money problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The Budget column reads 'No budget set' but a budget exists">
    **Cause.** It is a **money** budget, which is measured against cost, and your role cannot see cost. The figures were never sent.

    **Fix.** Ask an admin for `rate.viewCost` or `time.viewCost`. An **hours** budget would have shown.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="There is no Budget card in Settings → Finance">
    **Cause.** One of three things: the **Budgets & profitability** app is off, you lack `budget.manage`, or your plan does not include budgets.

    **Fix.** Check **Settings → Apps**, then your role, then your plan. See [/concepts/plans-and-features](/concepts/plans-and-features).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The Resets control is missing on a retainer budget">
    **Cause.** **Resets** only appears when the project's **saved** billing method is **Retainer**. Changing the dropdown does not reveal it until you save.

    **Fix.** Set the billing method to Retainer, click **Save billing method**, then reopen the budget card.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Spend is lower than the hours I know were logged">
    **Cause.** Only **approved** time counts toward spend and margin.

    **Fix.** Read the awaiting-approval caption on Overview, then clear the queue. See [/approvals/overview](/approvals/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Margin looks too good to be true">
    **Cause.** Some people have no cost rate, so their hours cost nothing.

    **Fix.** Set cost rates at **Settings → Rates**. See [/rates/cost-rates](/rates/cost-rates).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The Overview tab is completely blank">
    **Cause.** The **Budgets & profitability** app is off. Both panels on Overview are budget surfaces.

    **Fix.** Turn it on in **Settings → Apps**.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Section problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="'A project keeps at least one section.'">
    You tried to delete the last section. Add another one first.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'A project keeps at least one Done section, so finished work has somewhere to land.'">
    You tried to delete or demote the only **Done** stage. Completion counts, recurring tasks and dependency gating all need one. Create another Done section first.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'A project keeps at least one section that isn't Done, so new work has somewhere to start.'">
    You tried to delete or promote the only open stage. An unchecked task needs somewhere to return to. Create another non-Done section first.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'This section still has tasks. Choose where they should move before deleting it.'">
    The section is not empty. Pick a target in the **Move tasks to** dropdown in the delete modal. The **Delete** button stays disabled until you do.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'Pick a different section for these tasks to move to.'">
    You chose the section you are deleting as the destination. Pick another one.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="There is no three-dot menu on a section header">
    You lack `project.manage`. Section structure is a management action.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Project key problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="'Another project already uses that key.'">
    Project keys are unique across the workspace. Pick a different two to five letter key.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'Use 2–5 letters (A–Z), e.g. CL.'">
    The key must be 2 to 5 uppercase letters. Digits, spaces and symbols are stripped as you type, so a too-short key is the usual cause.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Old tasks kept the old prefix after I changed the key">
    That is intended. Changing the key prefixes **new** task numbers only. Task ids already stamped never change, so an id in an email or a commit message keeps working. See [/tasks/task-numbers](/tasks/task-numbers).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Delete and archive problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="'…still has 412 time entries, 3 invoices and cannot be permanently deleted. Archive it instead.'">
    **Cause.** Time entries, invoices and expenses block a permanent delete. A system of record does not orphan them to make a delete succeed.

    **Fix.** Restore the project and archive it. Archiving preserves everything and keeps it reportable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The Delete permanently button stays disabled">
    What you typed does not match the project name. Use the copy button beside the name in the modal, then paste it into the field.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Delete permanently is not in the Actions menu">
    It only appears for a project already in the Trash. Delete it first, then reopen it from the **Trash** view.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I restored a project but still cannot find it">
    Restoring always returns a project to **Active**. Switch the list back from **Archived** or **Trash** to **Active**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A trashed project disappeared for good">
    The retention window elapsed and the purge ran. The default is 30 days – see [/settings/trash](/settings/trash).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Members and access problems

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="A teammate cannot see a project I can see">
    They are not on its roster and their role is scoped to their own projects. Add them in **Settings → Group**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="There is no Add member button">
    You lack `project.manage`. Ask an admin or the project manager.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The Cost column is missing from the roster">
    You lack `rate.viewCost`. The column is omitted entirely – header included – rather than blanked.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A project rate cell is plain text and will not open">
    You lack `rate.manage`. You can read the value but not change it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A client contact suddenly lost a project">
    The project was moved to a different client, which re-derives portal access at once. Move it back, or grant access under the new client. See [/clients/client-projects](/clients/client-projects).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A control disappeared while I was working">
    Capabilities are checked live. Someone changed your role. Reload the page to confirm.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Saving problems

| Message                                                                                          | Meaning                                            | Fix                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| "Enter a project name."                                                                          | The name is blank                                  | Type a name                                          |
| "Keep the name to 200 characters or fewer."                                                      | The name is too long                               | Shorten it                                           |
| "We couldn't save these changes. You may lack permission, or the project key is already in use." | A duplicate key, or a missing capability           | Change the key, then check your role                 |
| "We couldn't create this project. You may lack permission, or a field is invalid."               | The server refused the create                      | Check every field, confirm you hold `project.manage` |
| "Project created – the icon couldn't be saved."                                                  | The project exists, the image did not upload       | Open **Settings → General** and upload again         |
| "Use a PNG, JPG, GIF, or WebP image."                                                            | Unsupported format. SVG is not accepted.           | Convert the file                                     |
| "Image must be under 5 MB."                                                                      | The file is too large                              | Resize it                                            |
| "We couldn't save the budget. Check the amount and try again."                                   | A bad amount, or the plan does not include budgets | Enter a plain number, then check your plan           |
| "A margin floor is a percentage from 0 to 100."                                                  | The margin floor is out of range                   | Enter 0 to 100, or leave it blank                    |
| "We couldn't update the team. You may lack permission."                                          | The roster write was refused                       | Confirm `project.manage`, then retry                 |
| "We couldn't save that rate. Check the amount and try again."                                    | The rate is not a plain number                     | Enter something like `70` or `70.50`                 |

## Still stuck

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Access and permission errors" icon="lock" href="/troubleshooting/access-and-permission-errors">
    Every "Forbidden" message, decoded.
  </Card>

  <Card title="I cannot see a feature" icon="eye-off" href="/troubleshooting/i-cannot-see-a-feature">
    App off, plan locked, or capability missing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Missing or wrong hours" icon="clock" href="/troubleshooting/missing-or-wrong-hours">
    When the numbers do not add up.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Contact support" icon="life-buoy" href="/troubleshooting/contact-support">
    Get a human.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Projects overview" icon="briefcase" href="/projects/overview">
    How the project list works.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project visibility" icon="eye" href="/projects/project-visibility">
    Why you see what you see.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project permissions" icon="shield" href="/projects/project-permissions">
    Which capability governs what.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Project sections" icon="columns" href="/projects/project-sections">
    The rules behind the section errors.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Delete a project" icon="trash" href="/projects/delete-a-project">
    Why a delete gets refused.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>