Each tracked minute counts as active when there was real input (typing, clicking, scrolling) or a video call. Mouse movement alone counts for up to five minutes and is then flagged, and a software mouse jiggler is flagged straight away. The activity percentage is active minutes divided by tracked minutes. Only counts are stored, never the keys pressed.
What counts
| Signal | Counted as active? |
|---|---|
| Typing, clicking, scrolling | Yes |
| On a video call (when enabled) | Yes, up to the call cap |
| Normal mouse movement | Yes, for up to five minutes with no other input |
| Mouse movement only, after five minutes | No, flagged as mouse-only |
| A jiggler: tiny repetitive movement | No, flagged immediately |
Why not trust the system idle timer
Jiggler apps and hardware devices keep the operating system believing the user is active. Clockgauge looks at the shape of the movement: a small area, repetitive and metronome-like, is treated as a jiggler. See mouse jiggler detection explained.
Reading the percentage
The activity percentage shows how much of the tracked time had real input. A designer reviewing proofs or a person reading a long document may have lower numbers than a person typing all day. Treat it as a conversation starter, not a score. See activity percentage explained.
An example day
| Time | What happened | Counted |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 to 10:30 | Writing a proposal | Active |
| 10:30 to 11:00 | Client video call | Active (call), within the cap |
| 11:00 to 11:20 | Reading a PDF, mouse resting | Mouse only for up to five minutes, then not counted |
| 11:20 to 12:30 | Editing a spreadsheet | Active |
The percentage for the morning is active minutes divided by tracked minutes.
Settings that matter
- Idle timeout: minutes of no real input before the timer pauses.
- Call detection: on or off.
- Call cap: minutes of consecutive call time that count.
Questions people ask
Does it record which keys I press?
No. It stores counts per minute only.
Can I set my own idle timeout?
The idle timeout is a host setting, five minutes by default.
Try Clockgauge
Clockgauge is an employee and freelancer time tracker that runs on your own computer: timers, consented random screenshots, activity levels, clients, projects and tasks, budgets, payroll balances and reports, paid once instead of per user per month..