Features Below Available To: ✅ Grow Plan ✅ Track Plan ❌ Free Plan
The Monograph Desktop App makes it easier to track time while you work. Use the Desktop Timer to actively track your time, and optionally enable Smart Tracking to help Monograph generate intelligent time suggestions based on your work activity.
🚨 All users on a Grow or Track plan can download and use the Monograph Desktop App, regardless of their permission level.
Installing the Desktop App
Use the download link below to access the desktop app. When you select the download link, Monograph automatically detects your operating system and provides the appropriate installer. You do not need to choose a version manually.
After downloading the installer, follow the installation instructions for your device. Once installed, open the app and log in with your Monograph account through your web browser.
💡 On a Mac, drag the Monograph Time app into your Applications folder to complete installation.
Using the Desktop App
After installing the Desktop App and logging in, you can start using the Desktop Timer.
Use the Desktop Timer to:
Start a timer for your work
Stop an active timer when you're finished
See when a timer is actively running
Access the app from your computer's menu bar or system tray
Your active timer is designed to remain visible and accessible, helping you stay aware of the time currently being tracked.
Starting and Stopping the Timer
To start a new timer, click on the + button from the Quick Start menu on your desktop. Here, you can add the project/overhead, phase, role, activity, and note.
To start a timer from any existing time logged today, click the Play button next to the specific timer entry.
To stop the timer, click on Stop and log time. Always remember to stop the active timer when you're finished tracking work. Monograph will not stop a timer automatically.
Editing the Timer
Timer entries can be edited while the timer is running or after the entry has been saved.
To edit an entry while the timer is running, open the Timer and click the Edit icon next to the project details. From here, you can update the project or overhead, phase, role, activity, and note.
Note: The duration and date cannot be edited while the timer is running.
To edit a saved Timer entry, click the Edit icon next to the entry on your timesheet. From here, you can update the duration, date, project or overhead, phase, role, activity, and note.
Accessing the Tray Menu
Right-click the Monograph logo to open the Tray Menu and access additional options:
Open Monograph Time - Opens the Desktop App
Open timesheets - Opens the Timesheets page in your browser
Connect calendar - Opens the Profile > Integrations page in your browser, where you can connect Google or Microsoft 365
Check for updates - Checks for available Desktop App updates
Support - Opens the Desktop App article in Monograph's Learning Center
Quit - Quits the Desktop App
Enabling Smart Tracking
Smart Tracking can quietly observe activity on your device to help Monograph identify work that may be relevant to your timesheet.
Smart Tracking is separate from the Desktop Timer. You can use the Desktop Timer without enabling Smart Tracking, and Smart Tracking does not require an active timer.
To enable or disable Smart Tracking, click the Smart time tracking toggle. When enabled, icons for apps where Smart Tracking has detected activity will appear in the Desktop App.
💡 Smart Tracking requires macOS permissions. If the Smart time tracking toggle is unavailable, Monograph may need Accessibility permissions enabled.
See Managing Settings and Permissions below for how to grant Accessibility or Screen Recording permissions and how they work with Smart Tracking.
How Smart Tracking and the Desktop Timer Work Together
The Desktop Timer and Smart Tracking serve different purposes:
Desktop Timer - You actively start and stop the timer to track your time.
Smart Tracking - Monograph passively observes work activity when enabled and uses that information to generate Smart Time Suggestions.
You can use either feature independently or together.
Reviewing Smart Time Suggestions
Smart Tracking does not automatically create or save time entries to your timesheet. Instead, the activity captured through Smart Tracking is used to generate Smart Time Suggestions.
When Smart Time Suggestions are generated, they will appear when viewing the week's timesheet within the web version of Monograph. You can review each suggestion and decide whether to:
Accept it and add it to your timesheet
Edit it before accepting
Dismiss it if it isn't relevant
You remain in control of what is ultimately recorded on your timesheet.
📚 Learn more about Smart Time Suggestions.
Reset Today's Data
To clear the Smart Tracking activity captured for the current day, open the Desktop App and select Reset today's smart tracking data.
Resetting today's data will clear:
Today's activity data captured by Smart Tracking
Any Smart Time Suggestions generated from that activity
Once Smart Tracking data is reset for the day, the action cannot be undone. Time tracked using the Desktop Timer is not affected.
Updating the Desktop App
Monograph periodically releases updates to improve the Desktop App and add new functionality. You may encounter two types of updates:
Optional updates - You can continue using the app and update when convenient. The app will let you know when a newer version is available.
Required updates - Some updates require you to update and restart the Desktop App before continuing to use it.
What happens to active tracking during an update?
If Smart Tracking is enabled, tracking pauses during the update and resumes after the app restarts. If Smart Tracking was turned off before the update, it will remain off.
If a Desktop Timer is running, the active timer stops during the update, and that tracked session is saved as a time entry. After restarting the app, you can start a new timer when you're ready to continue tracking.
📚 Learn more about updating the Desktop App.
Notifications
The Monograph Desktop App can send notifications to keep you informed about Smart Tracking and other relevant activity.
Notifications may let you know when:
Smart Time Suggestions are ready to review
Important Smart Tracking updates are available
Other relevant Desktop App events occur
Notifications are optional and are not required to use the Desktop Timer or Smart Tracking. You can allow or change notification permissions at any time through your device settings.
Managing System Permissions
While Smart Tracking and other features can be managed directly from the Monograph Desktop App, additional permissions may be required depending on your operating system. On macOS, required permissions can be managed through System Settings. Windows does not require additional permissions to use Smart Tracking.
Granting Mac Permissions
Smart Tracking requires Accessibility permission on macOS. This allows Monograph to recognize app usage and changes in focus, helping identify work activity that can contribute to Smart Time Suggestions.
When Accessibility or Screen Recording permission is required, the Desktop App will display a prompt to grant access.
To grant permissions:
Open the Monograph Desktop App. If permissions are needed, a Permissions screen will appear with an Allow button for each permission.
Click Allow next to Accessibility or Screen Recording. The corresponding panel in Mac System Settings will open with Monograph already listed.
Turn on the toggle next to Monograph.
Return to Monograph and click Restart to apply. The Desktop App must restart before the updated permission takes effect.
If any permissions were previously denied, navigate to System Settings → Privacy & Security, enable the applicable permission for Monograph, and restart the Desktop App.
If multiple Monograph entries appear in the permissions list, remove the older entry and ensure permission is enabled for the version currently in use.
Accessibility Permission and Smart Tracking
Granting Accessibility permission does not automatically enable Smart Tracking. These are separate settings:
Accessibility permission allows Smart Tracking to be used on the Mac.
Smart Tracking determines whether activity is actively tracked to provide Smart Time Suggestions.
Smart Tracking can be turned on or off at any time from the Monograph Desktop App.
Privacy and Visibility
Your underlying activity captured by Smart Tracking is private and is not visible to other users or administrators. Monograph securely processes this activity to help generate Smart Time Suggestions.
However, Smart Time Suggestions and accepted time entries may have different visibility depending on your firm's timesheet access:
Underlying desktop activity: Private and not visible to other users or administrators
Smart Time Suggestions: May be visible to administrators
Accepted time entries: Follow your firm's normal timesheet visibility and access rules
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I continue to use the browser timer?
During the initial release of the Desktop App, the browser timer will remain available temporarily. A warning will appear in Monograph to indicate that the browser timer will be retired in the future.
Once retired, the timer will be available exclusively through the Desktop App and Mobile App.
Will I lose time if a browser timer is running when it is retired?
No. Any running timer will automatically stop, and the tracked time will be saved to the timesheet. The entry can then be reviewed or edited as needed.
Why isn't Smart Tracking available?
If Smart Tracking is unavailable, confirm that:
Accessibility permission is enabled for Monograph in Mac System Settings.
Smart Tracking is turned on in the Monograph Desktop App.
After enabling or changing Accessibility permission, restart the Desktop App for the change to take effect.
What happens to a running timer if the Desktop App is closed?
If the Desktop App is closed while a timer is running, the timer will automatically stop and save the tracked time as a time entry. When the Desktop App is opened again, a message will confirm that the entry was saved. The entry can then be reviewed or edited from the timesheet.
Will the timer continue running if the computer or Desktop App restarts?
No. Monograph only tracks time while the Desktop App is running.
If the app closes normally, such as when quitting the app or restarting for an update, the timer will stop and save the time tracked up to that point.
If the app closes unexpectedly, such as from a crash, force quit, or power loss, Monograph will save the time tracked up to the last moment the timer was running.
Time will not continue to accumulate while the computer or Desktop App is off.
Note: If the computer goes to sleep while the Desktop App remains open, the timer will continue running. Stop the timer before stepping away for an extended period.
What happens if the timesheet locks while a timer is running?
If the timesheet locks while a timer is running, the timer will stop, and a warning will appear stating that the time cannot be saved to the locked timesheet. A message will display the project, phase, and duration that were tracked.
The time can then be added manually after an Admin unlocks the applicable timesheet, or entered into an open period.
I'm receiving a 404 error. What should I do?
If you're receiving an error, or the app isn't loading, contact our Support team for assistance.
Can the Desktop App be used offline?
No. In order to use the Desktop App, you must be connected to data or Wi-Fi.








