RescueTime for Android Overview
RescueTime for Android tracks your phone time automatically and blocks distracting apps during Focus Sessions.
It works alongside RescueTime on your computer, or on its own. One account lets you install the app on all your devices, so your reports show the full picture: computer, phone, and offline activity in one place.
Install RescueTime from Google Play
Search for RescueTime in the Play Store or find it here: RescueTime for Android
Create your account, or sign in
When you open the app for the first time, you can create an account right on your phone. Enter a name, email address, and password, then tap Create account. You can also continue with a Google or Apple account instead. If you already use RescueTime on your computer, tap Sign in at the bottom of the screen and use your existing login.
💡 Prefer a different language? Tap the language selector at the bottom of the sign-in screen to switch the app between English, Español, Français, Deutsch, 日本語, 中文, Português, or Русский.
Confirm your email
If you created your account on your phone, RescueTime sends a confirmation email. Until you click the link in it, the Settings tab shows an Email confirmation needed notice under your account name. Confirming makes sure you can recover a lost password and receive emails regarding your subscription.
Allow app usage tracking
For RescueTime to log your phone time, Android needs to grant it access to app usage data. In the app, go to Settings > Track Apps Permission. Android opens its App usage data screen. Find RescueTime in the list and set it to Allowed.
That is the only permission tracking needs. App blocking uses two additional permissions, covered below.
The navigation bar
Everything in the app is reachable from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.
Dashboard
Your day at a glance: a productivity breakdown and an hour-by-hour chart of logged time. Switch between days with the arrows at the top.
Offline
Log time spent away from screens: meetings, calls, lunch, exercise, or anything else you want to record.
The RescueTime button
Starts a Focus Session or the Timer. Use Focus Sessions to block distracting apps on your phone.
Timeline
A chronological record of your logged activity for project tracking in Timesheets, if you have chosen the Solo+ plan.
Settings
Your account, permissions, appearance, and work settings.
Start a Focus Session
Tap the RescueTime center button to set up your Focus Session. Make note of what you are focusing on, pick a duration (15, 25, 30, or 60 minutes, or tap the arrow for a custom length), then press play. While the session runs, apps you have marked as distractions are blocked.
If you open a blocked app during a session, RescueTime covers it with a block screen instead:
💡 Just need a timer? Tap the RescueTime button and look for the second tab, Timer, which counts time toward an activity without blocking anything.
Choose which apps are blocked
Go to Settings > Configure App Blocking and turn on Mobile App Blocking. Under Choose Distractions, toggle entire categories like Social or Video Players, or expand a category to pick individual apps. The category row shows how many of its apps are blocked.
App blocking needs two Android permissions, both listed at the top of this screen: Display Over Other Apps (to show the block screen) and App Monitoring (Accessibility) (to recognize when a blocked app opens). A warning icon next to either one means it still needs to be granted. Tap the row and follow Android's prompts.
About Android's "full control" warning: When you enable the accessibility permission, Android shows a strongly worded dialog about full device control. This is Android's standard wording for every accessibility service. RescueTime uses the permission for one thing: detecting app launches so it can block distracting apps during Focus Sessions. It does not read your screen content.
Add offline activity
Not all work happens on a screen. The Offline tab lets you log it in a few taps: pick the date, set a start and end time, choose an activity (Choose from default activities or tap Manage to add your own), optionally add a description, then tap Add Activity.
Settings
The Settings tab is where permissions, preferences, and account settings are found. These are the most important if you are new to RescueTime for Android:
Track App Activity
The master switch for logging phone app time. This must be enabled for RescueTime to record app usage.
WiFi Only Uploads
When on, your phone holds its logged data until you are on WiFi, then uploads. Useful on limited mobile data plans.
Theme and Language
Under Appearance, switch between light and dark modes, and change the app language.
Work Settings
Your work profile, work schedule, and focus settings. These match what you set on the RescueTime website, so your phone and computer agree on when you are working.
Viewing mobile and desktop time
Phone time uploads to your RescueTime account automatically and appears in the same dashboard and reports as your computer time. Open the app's Dashboard to view it, or sign in on your desktop for the full reports, where you'll see mobile activity alongside detailed desktop activity.
💡 Your data is yours. RescueTime logs which apps you use and for how long. It does not capture screenshots, message content, or what you type. You can review or delete your data any time under Settings > Data & Privacy.