# Clock In and Out (/how-to/team/clock-in-and-out)



The clock widget is always visible in the dashboard header, so you can clock in and out from any page without navigating away from your current task. Every clock-in creates a time entry linked to your account, the current location, and an optional employee role.

Clock in [#clock-in]

1. In the dashboard header bar, click the **Clock In** button (green play icon).
2. A dropdown appears showing available employee roles.
3. Select a role, or leave it on **Default** to use your [default employee role](/how-to/team/configure-roles-and-permissions#assign-a-default-role-to-a-user) (or no role if none is set).
4. Click the **Clock In** button in the dropdown.

Once clocked in, the widget changes to show:

* A green pulsing indicator confirming you are active.
* An elapsed time counter (e.g., "2h 15m") that updates every minute.
* The name of the selected role (if one was chosen).
* A red **Out** button to clock out.

Clock out [#clock-out]

1. In the dashboard header bar, click the red **Out** button next to the elapsed time display.
2. The clock-out is recorded immediately. The widget returns to the "Clock In" state.

How it works [#how-it-works]

* **One active session at a time.** You cannot clock in if you already have an open time entry. Clock out first, then clock in again.
* **Location is automatic.** The time entry is linked to your currently selected location in the dashboard. Make sure you are viewing the correct location before clocking in.
* **Role fallback.** If you do not select a role during clock-in, the system uses your default employee role (set on your user profile). If no default is configured, the entry is created without a role.
* **Role validation.** If the selected role has been deactivated since you last loaded the page, the clock-in will fail with a message: "Selected role not found or is inactive."
* **Elapsed time display.** The timer shows hours and minutes since clock-in. It updates every 60 seconds. If you have been clocked in for less than an hour, only minutes are shown (e.g., "15m").

What gets recorded [#what-gets-recorded]

Each clock-in creates a time entry with the following data:

| Field             | Value                                                                                                         |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **User**          | Your account.                                                                                                 |
| **Location**      | The location you were viewing when you clocked in.                                                            |
| **Employee Role** | The role you selected (or your default, or none).                                                             |
| **Clock In**      | The exact UTC timestamp when you clicked Clock In.                                                            |
| **Clock Out**     | Null until you clock out, then the exact UTC timestamp.                                                       |
| **Total Hours**   | Calculated automatically when you clock out.                                                                  |
| **Notes**         | Empty by default. Administrators can add notes later via [Edit Time Entries](/how-to/team/edit-time-entries). |

Viewing your clock history [#viewing-your-clock-history]

After clocking out, your entries appear on the [personal timesheet](/how-to/team/manage-employee-timesheets) page. Navigate to **Timesheet** in the sidebar to see your recent entries.

Tips [#tips]

* **Check your location before clocking in.** The time entry is permanently linked to whichever location you had selected. If you work at multiple locations in a day, clock out and back in when you switch.
* **Forgot to clock out?** Ask an administrator to [edit your time entry](/how-to/team/edit-time-entries) and set the correct clock-out time. Open entries without a clock-out show as "Active" indefinitely.
* **The widget persists across pages.** Navigating around the dashboard does not affect your active clock-in. The elapsed timer continues running.
* **Default roles save clicks.** If most of your shifts are under the same role, ask your administrator to [set a default role](/how-to/team/configure-roles-and-permissions#assign-a-default-role-to-a-user) on your account so you can clock in with one fewer step.