Note: As of December 2025, the BigTime Time Agent Beta Program has been closed, and is no longer accepting new participants. If you're interested in learning more about Time Agent or other BigTime AI initiatives, please contact your customer success manager or email us at support@bigtime.net.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Full Walkthrough
Step 1: Install and Log In
Step 2: First Setup and Walkthrough
1. Connect Your Calendar (Optional)
2. Manage your Block List
3. Learn How Tracking Works
Privacy and Data Handling
Related Articles
Introduction
The BigTime Time Agent helps you track your work time quickly and accurately. It combines desktop activity with calendar events, so you can review your day and send it to your BigTime timesheet with just a few clicks.
Using the Time Agent involves two parts:
Initial Setup
- Install the application and log in with your BigTime account.
- If you work with more than one firm, choose which one to connect.
- Optionally connect your Outlook or Google Calendar and allow permissions (recommended for the best experience!).
- Adjust the Block List to exclude apps you don’t want tracked.
Everyday Use
- Start tracking with the Current Activity tab (tracking auto-pauses when your computer sleeps and will restart upon waking).
- Review and edit time in the Summary view, adding projects, tasks, or labor codes if needed.
- Save your daily time to the BigTime timesheet and add notes if necessary.
- Manage privacy: you can stop tracking anytime, disconnect calendars, or uninstall the app.
If you’ve already installed and set up Time Agent, go to Use the BigTime Time Agent Every Day. It gives you a short overview of all the features available in the app after the initial setup.
Full Walkthrough
Check the quick walkthrough below to learn more about how the setup looks:
Step 1: Install and Log In
1. Download the Time Agent app for Windows or macOS:
Once your firm enables the Time Agent, all employees can download and install it. The app works on both Windows and macOS.
| Note: Older versions of Windows and macOS may still run the application, but they are not officially supported. |
2. Once downloaded, users will be prompted to log in with their BigTime credentials:
3. Launch the app and sign in with your BigTime account.
4. Select the correct firm during login if you belong to multiple.
Step 2: First Setup and Walkthrough
When you log in for the first time, the Time Agent guides you through a Setup Wizard:
1. Connect Your Calendar (Optional but Recommended)
Connecting your calendar helps BigTime work smarter for you. When your Outlook or Google Calendar is linked, your scheduled events can sync directly with the Time Agent.
Why is this helpful?
- It’s often more accurate than activity tracking alone.
- In our research, most professionals record over 60% of their work activity on their calendar.
- This means you’ll spend less time entering data manually and more time focusing on your work.
You can connect your calendar now during setup, or later from Settings. You can also disconnect it at any time.
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The walkthrough shows you how to connect Outlook or Google Calendar.
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You’ll be prompted to log in with your Google or Microsoft account.
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Accept the requested app permissions.
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If you have multiple calendars, choose one from the dropdown.
- You can always change or disconnect your calendar later in Settings.
2. Manage your Block List
Your Block List lets you choose which apps shouldn’t be tracked. You’ll see all the apps installed on your computer, and you can block any of them with a single click. A red block icon will mark the app as excluded.
Why does this matter?
- Not every app you open is work-related. For example, you might listen to music on Spotify while working, but that time isn’t part of your billable hours.
- The same goes for apps like Netflix or YouTube if you use them for personal breaks, or Steam if you sometimes run games on your computer.
- Even productivity tools might not be relevant. For instance, you may use Slack or Discord for personal chats, or apps like Zoom and Teams for non-project calls you don’t want tracked.
Blocking these apps keeps your tracked time focused on actual work activity, so your reports stay clean and accurate.
You’re in complete control - add or remove apps from your Block List whenever you like in Settings.
- You’ll see all the apps installed on your computer in the Setup Wizard.
- After the initial setup, go to the Settings anytime to manage your Block List.
- Click any app to block it—a red block icon will mark it as excluded—and then click Save Changes.
3. Learn How Tracking Works
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The walkthrough introduces the Summary tab.
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Use the large Start/Stop button to control tracking manually.
- Tracking pauses automatically when your computer sleeps and resumes when it wakes.
- If you manually click pause, start tracking again when you begin working next!
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Click More Details to see which app and document are being tracked.
- After the walkthrough, the Time Agent is ready to use. You can revisit any of these settings later.
Privacy and Data Handling
The Time Agent only captures the application's and document's names (if applicable) and connected calendar event information. It does not record keystrokes, take screenshots, or capture the content of emails, documents, or messages.
No activity is ever sent to BigTime or your employer, whether tracking is on or off. Tracked activity is deleted after 30 days, and when the application is uninstalled from your computer.
| Privacy and Data Handling | |
| What is captured |
✅ Application name ✅ Document name (if applicable) ✅ Connected calendar event info |
| What is NOT captured |
❌ Keystrokes ❌ Screenshots ❌ Email, document, or message content |
| Data handling |
o No activity is ever sent to BigTime or your employer o Data is deleted after 30 days o All data is removed if you uninstall the application |