> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.detox.so/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# How does Screen Time tracking work?

You see your screen time on the Detox **Home** page, in the screen-time chart near the top. It shows the total time you have spent on your monitored apps, added together into one number rather than broken down app by app.

Screen-time tracking is **not** the same as a **block**. It only measures time on the apps you monitor. It does not stop you from opening them. Blocking is done by your **Auto Block**, your **Scheduled Blocks**, or **Block Now**. Tracking is also not the same as your **Progress** stats, which summarize your blocking streaks and history rather than your live daily usage.

> If you meant something else: your screen-time number looks wrong or too high → see [Why does my screen time look wrong on the home page?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/why-does-my-screen-time-look-wrong-on-the-home-page-hup7gs/). What your blocks watch and how they fire → see [What is Auto Block?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-auto-block-1t86axm/).

## What the chart shows

The chart reports your **aggregate** time across all the apps Detox monitors. It is one combined figure, not a per-app or per-group breakdown. Detox does not show how many seconds you spent on each individual app, and it does not split your time by App Group.

## With one group

If you have a single group, screen-time tracking stays bundled with your **Auto Block**, exactly as it worked before App Groups existed. The apps your Auto Block watches are the apps your screen time counts, and the number lives on the **Home** page.

## With two or more groups

Once you create a second App Group, a dedicated **Screen Time** card appears in your **Settings** tab. From that point, tracking is no longer pinned to your Auto Block's group. The dedicated card is how Detox keeps tracking sensible when more than one group exists.

Even with several groups, the chart on the **Home** page still reports one combined total. There is no per-group screen-time figure. For more on how groups work, see [What are App Groups?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-are-app-groups-1l6j9cu/).

## What screen-time tracking doesn't do

- It doesn't block anything. It measures time only. Your **Auto Block**, **Scheduled Blocks**, and **Block Now** do the blocking.
- It doesn't show per-app seconds. The number is the total across your monitored apps.
- It doesn't show per-group time. Even with several App Groups, the chart reports one combined figure.
- It doesn't sync between devices. Like the rest of your setup, tracking is per device.

## Related

- [What are App Groups?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-are-app-groups-1l6j9cu/)
- [What is Auto Block?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-is-auto-block-1t86axm/)
- [Why does my screen time look wrong on the home page?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/why-does-my-screen-time-look-wrong-on-the-home-page-hup7gs/)
- [What can I do on the Progress page?](https://help.detox.so/en/article/what-can-i-do-on-the-progress-page-vhuirb/)