How to Check Screen Time on a PC, and the Best Screen Time Trackers
Built-in Windows 11 options and apps that track apps and websites · Updated
Windows 11 has no screen time dashboard for an adult like the one on a phone. You can see battery use by app in Settings on a laptop, use Microsoft Family Safety activity reports for a family member, or install a screen time tracker such as ActivityWatch, StayFree or Ascension to see time on apps and websites.
Key takeaways
- Windows 11 has no built-in screen time report for your own account.
- Battery usage in Settings shows which apps use battery on a laptop, not a full screen time report.
- Microsoft Family Safety shows app and device time for family members, and only the organiser can see it.
- ActivityWatch is a free tracker that keeps your data on your own computer.
- To track time on websites, use a tracker with a browser extension, such as Webtime Tracker or Ascension.
Details reflect each tool as of September 2026. Notice something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
How to check screen time on Windows 11
Battery usage (laptops)
- 1.Open Settings, then System.
- 2.Select Power & battery, then Battery usage.
- 3.Under Battery usage per app, see which apps have used the most battery.
This shows battery use rather than time spent, and it is meant for laptops.
Microsoft Family Safety activity reports (family members)
Family Safety activity reports show which apps and games a family member used, for how long, and when they used their devices. Only the family organiser can turn on and view the reports, and web activity only appears when the family member uses Microsoft Edge.
This is designed for parents and does not report on your own account.
The best screen time trackers for PC
Seven screen time trackers for Windows compared, September 2026
| Tracker | Tracks apps | Tracks websites | Blocks distractions | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Yes | Yes | Yes | On your computer | $12.99/mo or $50 once |
| ActivityWatch | Yes | With extension | No | On your device | Free |
| StayFree | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Free download |
| ManicTime | Yes | Yes | No | On your computer, cloud optional | Free version for Windows |
| RescueTime | Yes | Yes | Paid plans | Online dashboard | Free Lite, $9/mo |
| Clockify | Auto tracker | Auto tracker | No | Cloud | Free plan |
| Webtime Tracker | No | Yes, in Chrome | No | In your browser | Free |
1. Ascension
Price: 15-day free trial, then $12.99/month or $50 one-time
Ascension is a powerful Windows application designed to improve digital habits and productivity. It blocks distracting content on the web and tracks your digital usage automatically to give insights on how one can improve.
- Automatic tracking: apps and websites recorded in the background.
- Reports by timeframe: view your time by hour, day, week or month.
- Custom categories: group apps and websites your own way, such as work, study or social media.
- Impact Points: give each app and website a positive or negative score, and see a total for how your time was spent.
- Pomodoro timer: time focus sessions and breaks manually, alongside the automatic tracking.
- Data export: save your reports as Excel files.
- Blocking: schedules, time limits and locks on distracting sites.
Best for: people who want to see their screen time and reduce it in one app.
2. ActivityWatch
Price: Free and open source
ActivityWatch is a free time tracker designed to keep your data private. It records the active app and window title, and browser extensions add websites.
- Local data: stored on your own device and never sent to a server.
- Cross platform: Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.
Best for: free, private screen time tracking.
3. StayFree
Price: Free download
StayFree is a Windows app designed to show and limit time on apps and websites.
- Usage tracking: time on apps and websites.
- Limits and schedules: daily limits, session limits and blocks at set times.
Best for: a free tracker with simple limits.
4. ManicTime
Price: Free version for Windows, paid licence and cloud plans
ManicTime is a time tracker designed to build a detailed timeline of your day, including apps and documents.
- Detailed timeline: every app shown across the day.
- Works offline: a licence keeps data on your own hardware.
Best for: a detailed record of work time.
5. RescueTime
Price: Free Lite, Solo Focus $9/month or $84/year
RescueTime is a time tracker designed to show where your time goes without starting a timer. It records apps, websites and documents.
- Automatic tracking: runs in the background on Windows, Mac and phones.
- Focus Sessions: block distracting sites on paid plans.
Best for: tracking across computer and phone.
6. Clockify
Price: Free plan, paid from $3.99/seat/month billed yearly
Clockify is a time tracker designed for logging work hours, with an auto tracker for apps and websites that only you can see.
- Auto tracker: included on the free plan.
- Timesheets: log hours by project.
Best for: tracking work hours for free.
7. Webtime Tracker
Price: Free
Webtime Tracker is a Chrome extension designed to show how long you spend on each website. It has 90,000 users and a 4.7 rating on the Chrome Web Store.
- Website time: time per site in Chrome.
- Local storage: data stays in your browser.
Best for: tracking website time only.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have screen time?
Not for your own account. Microsoft Family Safety reports screen time for family members to the family organiser, and Battery usage shows battery use by app on laptops. A screen time tracker app is needed for a full report.
How do I check screen time on my PC?
Install a screen time tracker such as ActivityWatch, StayFree or Ascension. On a laptop, Settings, System, Power & battery, Battery usage also shows which apps use the most battery.
How do I track time spent on websites?
Use a tracker with a browser extension. Webtime Tracker tracks website time in Chrome for free, and Ascension tracks websites across Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi.
Can I set time limits on apps in Windows 11?
Microsoft Family Safety lets a family organiser set app and game time limits for family members, but the limits do not apply to websites. For your own account, use a third party app.
Can I export my screen time data?
Yes, with some trackers. Ascension exports reports as Excel files, and ActivityWatch exports its raw data as JSON.
What is the best free screen time tracker for Windows?
ActivityWatch. It is free, open source and keeps all data on your own device.
Available on Windows 10 & 11