User Guide

How the Tracker Works

A detailed walkthrough of background game tracking, managing detected processes, and understanding your statistical dashboard.

01

Understanding Process Tracking

Gametime Tracker runs as a lightweight, open-source background client on Windows. Because it uses no cloud services and runs completely offline, your tracking data is kept 100% private on your own hard drive. The tracking client operates by matching active Windows processes with known game executable files.

The App & Launcher Exception: Since the monitor scans running processes in Windows, it occasionally tracks background store launchers (like Steam, Epic, GOG, or Ubisoft Connect), browser instances, overlay clients, or system tools that you don't want to track.

Excluding Unwanted Processes: If you see an app, utility, or launcher running that you do not want in your library dashboard, simply click the Remove button on its card. This immediately deletes all logged playtime history for that item from your local database and adds the process name (e.g. chrome.exe or steamwebhelper.exe) to your Exclusion List.

Once a process is on your exclusion list, the tracker will ignore it completely. If you change your mind and want to track it later, you can manually re-add it using the "Add Game" button inside the tracker UI.

Windows Warning Notice

When you first open or install the app, Windows may show a warning pop-up (e.g., "Windows protected your PC").

This is standard behavior because the app is new and not verified by Microsoft. The app is completely safe and operates entirely offline. You can safely open it by clicking "More info" and then selecting "Run anyway".

Wuthering Waves.exe Active game tracking
chrome.exe Detected background browser
Overwatch.exe Active game tracking
Click Remove to permanently exclude non-game apps!
02

Understanding Statistics

Each game tracked compiles a suite of aggregates to help you analyze your play habits.

Today

Today's Playtime

Tracks the accumulated playtime logged during the current calendar day (local timezone, starting at 12:00 AM). The percentage display compares today's playtime to yesterday's final tally.

TODAY
2h 15m
▲ +45% vs yesterday
Week

Weekly Playtime

Calculates playtime logged for the current calendar week. The tracking week starts on **Saturday** and ends on **Friday**. The percentage comparison compares this week's total to the previous full calendar week.

WEEK
10h 30m
▼ -12% vs last week
Month

Monthly Playtime

Tracks the accumulated playtime from the first day of the current calendar month. The percentage highlights the growth or decline compared to the previous calendar month's total.

MONTH
42h 18m
▲ +18% vs last month
Total

Total Lifetime

The grand aggregate of all play sessions ever recorded for this executable since you began tracking it. This value is persisted locally in the SQLite database and does not clear unless the game is fully deleted.

TOTAL TIME
185h 44m
All-time
Session

Session Time

Shows the playtime logged during your most recent session. If the game is currently open, this value updates live in real-time, tick by tick, so you know exactly how long you've been playing in one sitting.

CURRENT SESSION
1h 12m
● Active session
Last 7 Days

Rolling 7-Day History

Displays a day-by-day bar chart of the last rolling 7 days. This allows you to evaluate short-term playtime spikes, view gaming habits over a week, and see which days you were most active.

7-DAY SUM
14h 50m
Last 7 calendar days