Browser Tracking: Supported Browsers and Setup for Unsupported Browsers

RescueTime tracks the websites you visit automatically when you're using a supported browser. This article covers which browsers are fully supported, what Firefox users on macOS need to do to track their time, and setup for unsupported browsers.

Supported browsers

RescueTime supports up-to-date versions of the following browsers:

Browser	Windows	macOS	Notes
Chrome	✓	✓
Firefox	✓	✓	macOS requires a browser extension, see below
Microsoft Edge	✓	✓
Safari	—	✓
Arc	—	✓
Brave	✓	✓

Firefox on macOS: browser extension required

On macOS, Firefox requires the RescueTime browser extension to track individual websites. Without it, RescueTime will only record time as "Firefox," and you won't see individual site breakdowns.

Install the extension

Download the RescueTime Firefox extension from the Mozilla Add-ons site.

Sign in to the extension

When setting up the extension, check the box that says "I'm already using the full RescueTime application on this computer" and click Sign in to RescueTime. Enter the email and password for your RescueTime account. You'll see a confirmation page when activation is complete.

Confirm you're connected

To verify the extension is connected to the desktop app:

1. Click Settings in the Firefox extension window
2. Look for a port number in the bottom right of the window. If you see one, you're connected and ready to go

Using an unsupported browser

If you use a browser that isn't on the supported list, such as Vivaldi, Opera, or Waterfox, RescueTime won't track individual websites by default. You may be able to enable website tracking using a browser extension and a few configuration steps.

Step 1: Install the matching extension

Install the RescueTime extension that matches your browser's codebase:

• Chromium-based browsers (Vivaldi, Opera, etc.) → install the Chrome extension
• Firefox-based browsers (Waterfox, etc.) → install the Firefox extension

Step 2: Sign in to the extension

Sign in using your RescueTime account. When prompted, leave the "I'm already using the full RescueTime application on this computer" box unchecked.

This is the opposite of the Firefox macOS setup. Leaving it unchecked tells the extension to track website activity for this browser independently.

Step 3: Prevent duplicate tracking

Without this step, your browser will be recorded twice, once as a general app by the desktop app, and once broken down by website by the extension. To fix this:

1. Go to your Apps & Websites report
2. Find your browser listed as a general activity (e.g., "Vivaldi" or "Opera")
3. Click the edit icon next to it
4. Select Ignore this activity forever

Now the extension tracks individual websites, and the desktop app ignores the browser as a whole to avoid double-counting.

macOS only: Enable automation permissions

On macOS, Chromium-based browsers also need automation permissions to work with RescueTime. You'll usually be prompted automatically the first time you use the browser while RescueTime is running, so click Allow. If the prompt doesn't appear:

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to Privacy & Security → Automation
3. Expand RescueTime
4. Enable your browser