Screencasts Expected Behavior

 

How the Screencast Feature Works by Default

When the Screencasts feature is enabled and the Time Doctor desktop app is tracking time, screen captures begin automatically. There is no button to press and no user-initiated trigger — captures occur at randomized intervals throughout the tracked session.

 

What Gets Captured

Screenshots

Screenshots are static images of the active screen taken at random intervals. They capture whatever is visible on the primary monitor at the moment of capture.

• • Only the primary monitor is captured.
  • Secondary monitors are not included.
  • If no window is open, the desktop wallpaper appears in the screenshot.
  • Some apps (e.g., DRM-protected media players) may produce a blank or black image.

 

Screencasts or Video Continuous (Video Clips)

Screencasts are short video clips of screen activity. They are not continuous recordings — they capture a defined window of activity within a time segment.

• • Clips are short in duration (typically a few minutes per segment).
  • Clips are recorded from the primary monitor only.
  • Audio is not captured.
  • Clips are linked to the user's tracked time entry for that segment.

 

Capture Frequency:

What to Expect

Capture intervals are randomized by design to provide a natural sample of activity rather than a predictable schedule.

• • Screenshots and screencasts do not occur every minute.
  • The frequency depends on account settings configured by the Owner or Admin.
  • Gaps between captures are expected and normal.

This means that the absence of a capture during a specific five-minute window does not indicate the user was not working — it may simply fall between capture intervals.

 

When Captures Are Not Generated

Captures are tied to the active timer. No captures occur when:

• • The user has not started the timer in the desktop app.
  • The timer has been paused or stopped.
  • The user is idle and the timer has been automatically paused by the Time Out After setting.
  • The desktop app is closed or offline.

Where Screencasts Are Stored and How to Access Them

All screencasts and screenshots are stored securely in the Time Doctor cloud. They are not saved locally on the user's computer.

 

For Owners and Admins

• • Navigate to the Screencasts page from the main navigation.
  • Use the User Filter to select a specific user or view all users.
  • Use the date controls to select the period to review.
  • Click on a thumbnail to view the full screenshot or play the screencast clip.

 

For Managers

• • Managers can view screencasts only for users assigned to their teams.
  • The User Filter will display only the manager's assigned users.

 

For Regular Users

• • Regular users can view their own screencasts from the Screencasts page.
  • They cannot view other users' screencasts.

 

How Long Screencasts Are Retained

Screencasts are retained according to the account's data retention policy. Retention duration varies by subscription plan. For specific retention periods, refer to the article How Long Does Time Doctor Keep My Account Data For? in the knowledge base.

 

Screenshot Blur: Protecting Sensitive Information

Owners and Admins can enable Screenshot Blur in Settings / Company Settings. When enabled, screenshots are blurred by default, preserving the capture record while obscuring sensitive on-screen content. Individual screenshots can be unblurred by Owners and Admins when review is needed.

 

Identical Screenshot Detection

Time Doctor can detect when consecutive screenshots are identical — typically indicating the user's screen has not changed (e.g., a static document or idle screen). This feature is available on Standard and Premium plans. Identical screenshots may be flagged in the Unusual Activity Report.

 

What the Screencasts Feature Does Not Do

To set accurate expectations, it is important to understand what is outside the scope of the Screencasts feature:

• Screencasts do not record audio.
• Screencasts do not track eye movement or webcam activity.
• Screencasts do not capture activity on a second or external monitor.
• Screencasts are not a continuous, uninterrupted video stream.
• Screencasts do not capture activity when the timer is not running.

 

Relevant Articles: 

• How to Use the Video Recording Feature in Time Doctor
• Why can't I see screenshots of some users?
• How Does Keyboard and Mouse Activity Tracking Work in Time Doctor?
  
  

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Are users notified that screencasts are being captured?

Yes—on macOS, users receive system notifications when screen capture is taking place. If Screenshots are enabled, macOS notifies the user when the application captures the screen, and if continuous video recording is enabled, macOS displays a notification that the screen is being recorded.

Time Doctor also recommends confirming lawful use under applicable privacy laws and informing monitored users when required by company policy or local regulation.

 

Can a user pause or disable screencasts?

Users cannot disable screencasts independently. The feature is controlled by the Owner and Admin at the company level. Users can pause or stop the timer, which also stops all capture activity.

 

Why do some time segments have no screencasts?

Segments with no captures may fall between randomized capture intervals, or the timer may have been paused during that period due to idle detection. This is expected behavior and does not indicate a problem.

 

Can the screencasts be used in performance reviews?

Screencasts provide visual context about work activity and can complement — but should not replace — performance review processes. They are best used to understand workflows and identify support needs rather than as a primary

 

 

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Should there be any inconsistencies or concerns regarding the article, contact support@timedoctor.com for prompt assistance.