Set Up IGNORE IDLE for apps and websites
Keep tracking time when work does not involve the keyboard or mouse.
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Feature area | Productivity Insights |
Plan | Standard plans and above |
Who can set it up | Admins |
Where to find it | Admin Settings › Work Policies › Productivity Setting › Apps and Websites |
A member is idle when there is no keyboard or mouse activity for the time the admin has set. For example, if the limit is 3 minutes and there is no activity for 3 minutes, the whole period is counted as idle. If there is no activity for only 2 minutes, the limit is never reached and the time is counted as active.
Some work needs no typing or clicking. Turn on Ignore Idle for those apps and websites so that time is not marked idle. It works going forward only.
When to use this setting
- Calls and meetings. People listen and talk without touching the keyboard.
- Training and webinars. People watch videos or sessions without typing.
- Your own scenarios. It is not limited to specific apps. Decide based on how your teams work.
Example setup
All apps, teams and members are examples. Set them to suit your company policy.
Scope | App or website | Ignore Idle |
|---|---|---|
Company Ratings | Google Meet, Microsoft Teams | On |
Development Team | Udemy, Google Meet | On |
Individual: one member | Coursera | On |
How to set it up
Steps:
- Check the scope. In Productivity Scope, confirm which scope each member follows. Apps appear only under scopes that have members mapped.
- Open Productivity Setting. Click your profile picture at the top right and select Admin Settings >> Work Policies >> Productivity Setting.
- Click the Apps and Websites tab. On the left, click Company Ratings or a team under Team Ratings. For one member, open Individual Ratings and click the member’s name.
- Choose Future Records Only. Open Apply changes to and select Future Records Only. The banner confirms that past records are left unchanged. (Note that ignore idle is not supported for historical records)
- Turn on Ignore Idle. Find the app (for example meet.google.com) with Search by name. In the Ignore Idle column, click the toggle so it turns green. Repeat for other apps, then for other scopes.
- Review and publish. The number on Publish shows pending changes. Click Reset to discard them, or click Publish. Ignore Idle starts from this moment.
Going forward only
Ignore Idle does not change past records. It starts from the moment you turn it on and publish.
How idle time is counted
The idle limit is set in Admin Settings › Default Settings >> Timesheet and Monitoring. It can also be set for one member under Permissions › Desktop.
Situation (limit: 3 minutes) | Ignore Idle off | Ignore Idle on |
|---|---|---|
2 minutes with no typing, in any app | Counted as active (limit not reached) | Counted as active |
10 minutes in a call, no typing | All 10 minutes counted as idle | All 10 minutes counted as active |
10 minutes in an app where Ignore Idle is off, no typing | All 10 minutes counted as idle | All 10 minutes counted as idle |
How to turn it off
Switch the toggle off and click Publish. It stops from that moment.
Common situations
Situation | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
App not visible | No member is mapped to that scope. | Map a member in Productivity Scope OR open the appropriate Company, Team or individual scope |
Past idle time unchanged | Ignore Idle is going forward only. | No action needed. |
Time still marked idle | Ignore Idle is not on for that app. | Check the toggle and Publish. |
Good to know
- Set it separately under each scope.
- Choose Future Records Only when you apply it.
- Turning it off also works from that moment.
FAQs
- Will past idle time change?
No. Ignore Idle never updates past data.
- Where do I set the idle limit?
In Admin Settings › Default Settings, or per member under Permissions › Desktop.
- Can I use it for any app?
Yes. Choose the apps and websites that fit your scenarios.
- Can I use Historic + Future?
No. It is not supported for Ignore Idle.
- Why can’t I see an app?
Apps appear only under scopes that have members mapped to them.
Related articles
Need more help? Reach out to support@flowace.ai and our team will be happy to assist.
© Flowace Technologies Pvt Ltd | flowace.ai
Updated on: 05/11/2026
Thank you!