> ## 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.

# Clock in and out

> Use the TimeTracker clock button to start your working day, take a break, and clock out. Covers day-off warnings, one open session, and what you see today.

The clock button lives in the top bar. Click it to start your day, take a break,
or finish.

## The clock button

| What it shows                             | What it means                                             |
| ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Clock in**                              | You are not clocked in.                                   |
| A running clock, for example `03:24:11`   | You are clocked in. It counts up from your clock-in time. |
| **Clock-out missing** with a warning icon | A previous session was left open and needs fixing.        |

Clicking it opens a small panel headed **Timecard**.

## Clock in

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click the clock button">
    It reads **Clock in** when nothing is open.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Clock in inside the panel">
    Your session opens immediately, stamped with the server's clock.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch the clock run">
    The top bar switches to a running counter and the panel shows a green
    **Clocked in** marker.
  </Step>
</Steps>

There is nothing to fill in. No project, no task, no description. The clock only
records that you are at work.

### Clocking in on a day off

If today is not a scheduled work day, a confirmation appears first:

> **Clock in on a day off?**
> Today isn't a scheduled work day for you. You can still clock in – your time
> will be recorded as usual.

Click **Clock in anyway**. The day is later marked **Worked on day off**.

<Note>
  Clocking in is never blocked for being early, late, unscheduled, or on a day off.
  TimeTracker records what happened and classifies it afterwards.
</Note>

## Take a break

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the clock panel">
    Click the running clock in the top bar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Take a break">
    This closes your current session. The clock stops.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Come back and click Resume">
    A new session opens. The gap between the two becomes your break.
  </Step>
</Steps>

While you are on a break the panel says "You're on a break. Resume when you're
back." and the button reads **Resume** instead of **Clock in**.

<Tip>
  **Take a break** and **Clock out** do the same thing to your session – both close
  it. The difference is what you do next. Coming back and clocking in again turns
  the gap into a break.
</Tip>

## Clock out

Open the panel and click **Clock out**. Your session closes and the day is
recalculated straight away.

The panel keeps showing what you did today:

| Line             | What it shows                                               |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Worked today** | Total time in closed sessions, plus any running one.        |
| **Breaks**       | Total gap time between sessions.                            |
| The shift list   | Each session as `09:04 – 13:00`. An open one reads `– now`. |

## One open session at a time

You can only have one session open. A second clock-in is refused with:

> You're already clocked in. Clock out before starting another session.

Trying to clock out when nothing is open gives:

> You're not clocked in right now, so there's nothing to clock out of.

## Example

Sarah Lin's Tuesday at Northwind Studio:

| Time  | What she does           | Panel afterwards                              |
| ----- | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| 09:04 | Clocks in               | Clock running, **Clocked in**                 |
| 13:00 | Clicks **Take a break** | "You're on a break. Resume when you're back." |
| 13:45 | Clicks **Resume**       | Clock running again                           |
| 17:10 | Clicks **Clock out**    | Worked today 7h 21m, Breaks 45m               |

Her shift list shows `09:04 – 13:00` and `13:45 – 17:10`.

## Permissions

You need `timecard.clock`. Owner, Admin, Project Manager, Finance, Member and
Contractor all hold it by default. Client contacts do not.

Two other things can hide the button:

* The **Time Clock** app is off in **Settings → Apps**.
* An admin has switched clocking off for you specifically. See
  [Turn clock access off for one person](/time-clock/turn-clock-access-off-for-one-person).

## Location rules

If your workspace uses location rules, clocking in may be held back while you are
away from an allowed network or place. You get:

> You can clock in from work. Nothing you've tracked is affected.

See [Location rules overview](/location-rules/overview).

## What happens next

* The session is stored under the calendar day it **started**, in your workspace
  timezone.
* Clocking out recalculates that day – worked minutes, break minutes, variance
  against your schedule, and a status.
* The day appears on your timecard, on the **Timecards** tab of the **Time** page.
* Nothing about this touches your timesheet or any project.

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I clock in from my phone?">
    Yes, anywhere you can sign in to the workspace. The elapsed time comes from
    the server, so it is the same on every device.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does closing my laptop clock me out?">
    No. The session stays open until you clock out. If you forget entirely, a
    daily sweep flags it – see [Missing clock-out](/time-clock/missing-clock-out).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I set the clock-in time myself?">
    Not at clock-in – the time is stamped by the server so it cannot be forged.
    You can correct it afterwards on your timecard.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if I work past midnight?">
    The whole shift belongs to the day it started. A shift from 23:00 to 02:00 is
    filed on the earlier date.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does clocking in start a timer too?">
    No. They are separate. Start a timer from the timer button if you also want to
    track work against a task.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                     | Cause                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No clock button in the top bar              | The Time Clock app is off, or you lack `timecard.clock`.         |
| "You're already clocked in."                | A session is open, perhaps from another device. Clock out first. |
| "That clock-out lands before the clock-in." | Only possible when editing times by hand. Check the times.       |
| The button says **Clock-out missing**       | A session was left open too long and was flagged.                |
| Clocking in gives a location message        | A location rule is holding it back until you are on-site.        |

## Related guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Timecards" icon="table" href="/time-clock/timecards">
    Read and correct the day's shifts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Missing clock-out" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/time-clock/missing-clock-out">
    Fix a session you left open.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Submit a timecard" icon="paper-plane" href="/time-clock/submit-a-timecard">
    Send a period for approval.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Time Clock overview" icon="clock" href="/time-clock/overview">
    How presence differs from tracked time.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>