ActivityWatch’s community frequently asks about privacy, data storage, platform support, and how to extend tracking. For more support, visit forum.activitywatch.net or join Discord.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/ActivityWatch/activitywatch/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Is ActivityWatch free?
Is ActivityWatch free?
Yes. ActivityWatch is completely free and open source under the MPL-2.0 license. There are no paid tiers or premium features.
Does ActivityWatch send my data anywhere?
Does ActivityWatch send my data anywhere?
No. All activity data is stored locally in a SQLite database on your machine. The server only binds to
localhost by default, so no data ever leaves your device.What platforms are supported?
What platforms are supported?
Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. iOS is not currently supported.
Why isn't ActivityWatch tracking my active window?
Why isn't ActivityWatch tracking my active window?
Check that
aw-watcher-window is listed in the Buckets page at http://localhost:5600. On macOS, grant Accessibility permission under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. On Linux X11, ensure xdotool and xprop are installed.How do I fix 'address already in use' on port 5600?
How do I fix 'address already in use' on port 5600?
Another process is occupying port 5600. Open
~/.config/activitywatch/aw-server/aw-server.toml (Linux/macOS) or %APPDATA%\activitywatch\aw-server\aw-server.toml (Windows) and change port to a free port such as 5601.Where is my data stored?
Where is my data stored?
- Windows:
%APPDATA%\activitywatch\aw-server\ - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/activitywatch/aw-server/ - Linux:
~/.local/share/activitywatch/aw-server/
How do I back up my data?
How do I back up my data?
Stop ActivityWatch, then copy the database directory above. You can also export individual buckets as JSON from the dashboard’s Raw Data view.
Why does the dashboard show no data?
Why does the dashboard show no data?
Make sure ActivityWatch is running (look for the system tray icon) and at least one watcher is active. A new installation may show an empty dashboard for the first few minutes while the first events are recorded.
Can I track browser activity?
Can I track browser activity?
Yes. Install the aw-watcher-web browser extension for Chrome or Firefox, available from activitywatch.net.
How do I uninstall ActivityWatch?
How do I uninstall ActivityWatch?
- Windows: Use Add/Remove Programs, then delete
%APPDATA%\activitywatch. - macOS: Drag ActivityWatch from Applications to Trash, then delete
~/Library/Application Support/activitywatch. - Linux: Delete the extracted directory and
~/.config/activitywatch.
What is aw-server-rust?
What is aw-server-rust?
An alternative server implementation written in Rust, planned to become the default. It exposes the same REST API and is compatible with all existing clients and watchers.
Can ActivityWatch sync across devices?
Can ActivityWatch sync across devices?
Yes, experimentally. Use
aw-sync (bundled with aw-server-rust) combined with a file-sync tool such as Syncthing or Dropbox. See the Sync guide.How do I report a bug?
How do I report a bug?
File an issue on GitHub using the provided issue template. Include your OS, ActivityWatch version, and steps to reproduce.