DeskTime : Time Tracking and Productivity Tool Tested

How To Set Up Your DeskTime?

Step 1: Create Your Desktime Account

To begin, visit the official signup page. You'll encounter a basic registration form which asks for:

• First and Last Name – Text input
• Email Address – This will be used as your login ID and for all notification triggers
• Password – Set a secure password

There's also a mandatory checkbox to agree with the Terms and Privacy Policy, and an optional one for marketing preferences.

Once completed, click "Sign up for free". This triggers the account registration process and redirects you to the email verification step.

Step 2: Verify Your Email Address

DeskTime immediately sends a verification link to the email address you entered. The system then shows a countdown-timer interface (as seen in your screenshot), prompting you to check your inbox and spam folder.

UI Behavior Notes:

• You cannot proceed without clicking the verification link
• A "Resend email" button becomes clickable after a 60-second delay
• Verification is required for activating the account session

Also, remember that email delivery delays are common on corporate or firewall-heavy networks. Consider using a Gmail/Outlook personal account during testing.

Step 3: Initial Team Configuration

Once your email is verified, you're redirected to a form titled "Tell us about your team." This form is essential because DeskTime tailors your dashboard based on the responses here.

Fields You Must Fill:

• Organization Name – This will label your admin area and team reports
• How many team members will use DeskTime?
• Industry – Impacts pre-filled settings for work hours, reporting formats, etc.
• Phone Number – This field is mandatory, potentially used for two-factor authentication or account recovery.

If you're testing as an individual or small team, select "Just me" to skip unnecessary configuration layers.

Step 4: Select Your Use Case

Next, DeskTime presents a multi-select interface asking:

• "What will you use DeskTime for?"
• This step is critical for back-end setup and determines the default modules that will appear on your dashboard

You can use it for:

• Desktop Activity Monitoring: Enables time tracking of applications and websites.
• Workload Management: Tracks employee attendance, schedules, and real-time status. Also includes proof-of-work via screenshots if enabled later.
• Billing and Accounting: Activates time billing and invoice-ready reporting.
• Project Management: Supports project-level time tracking, task monitoring, and budget estimation.

You may select one or multiple. This won't restrict access to other modules, but you can always activate more features from the dashboard later.

Step 5: Accessing The Desktime Dashboard

After purpose selection, you're redirected to your main DeskTime dashboard 

Here's a breakdown of what you'll see technically:

1. UI Top Bar:

• Displays trial expiry date and subscribe button.
• User profile dropdown (top-right corner) for accessing levels and account info.
• Support chat bubble on the lower-right corner (real-time assistant).

2. Sidebar Menu Includes:

• Dashboard – General overview
• My DeskTime – Personal tracking panel
• Team Members – Team view 
• Projects, Work Schedules, Absence Calendar, Reports, Exports – Feature-specific modules
• Settings – Global and personal config area
• 

Step 6: Download The App

Tracking does not begin automatically in the browser. To activate real-time productivity and app usage tracking, DeskTime requires a lightweight desktop application.

From the My DeskTime panel, click the green Download App button.

After installation, sign in with the same credentials. It may take 1 minute for the first data sync to appear on the dashboard.

Final Thought

DeskTime is a wise, scalable choice when you are searching for a time tracker that goes beyond time-clocking. It is designed to work in modern workflows, is privacy aware, and is full of tools to provide managers and employees with data so they can work smart.

Moreover, with a free 14-day trial, zero credit card required, and full access to advanced features, there's no risk in trying it. The best part? You will gain a lot in terms of visibility and control.