Help & FAQ
The essentials: see your time, find the work behind it, and export only when you choose.
How it works
Connect your IDE
Open Settings → Devices, create an IDE API key and connect the PhpStorm plugin. The key is shown only once.
Work normally
Activity is recorded as time estimates, grouped by day, project, Git branch and file. BranchHours does not collect code or keystrokes.
Review a day
Open Dashboard, select Day, Week or Month, then select a date in Overview or the calendar. Expand a project to inspect branches and files.
Use the hours
Export activity as CSV or prepare a weekly worklog. Add meetings and other manual work separately; your IDE time remains unchanged.
Common questions
Why is tracked time an estimate?
IDE activity is sampled and reconciled instead of measuring every second. Meetings, reviews and other non-IDE work belong in editable worklogs.
Can I import my earlier work?
Yes. The Import page supports WakaTime history, an Excel/CSV template, and a compatible hours-v1 HTTPS endpoint with a token. Imported worklog rows are separate from tracked IDE time.
Can I export to another application?
Yes. Export activity as CSV, download worklogs in Excel format, or explicitly send approved hours to a compatible HTTPS endpoint. The destination must support the hours-v1 format.
Can a desktop or API client see all projects?
No. Each client device is registered separately. You select allowed projects in Settings → Devices and can revoke access at any time.
How do I set up 2FA?
Open Settings → Profile & security → Two-factor authentication. Confirm your password, enable the authenticator, scan the QR code and enter the six-digit code. Save recovery codes securely.
Does BranchHours send hours to YouTrack automatically?
No. YouTrack read access is separate from worklog approval. Automatic work-item submission is not enabled.
Is source code collected?
No source contents, screenshots, keystrokes or productivity scores are collected. The tracker uses timing and project, branch and relative file metadata.