Settings
Configure the z8 Timer desktop app
Customize the z8 Timer to fit your workflow.
Accessing Settings
From the app window:
- Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner
From the system tray:
- Right-click the tray icon
- Select Settings
Settings Overview
┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Settings │
├───────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Webapp URL │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ https://time.yourcompany.com │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Theme │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ System ▼ │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──┐ Always on Top │
│ └──┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──┐ Start with System │
│ └──┘ │
│ │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ │
│ [Sign Out] │
│ │
│ Version: 1.0.0 │
│ │
│ [Cancel] [Save] │
└───────────────────────────────────────┘Webapp URL
The base URL of your organization's z8 server.
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Webapp URL | https://time.yourcompany.com |
Setting the URL
- Open Settings
- Enter your organization's z8 URL
- Click Save
First-Time Setup
You must configure the webapp URL before you can sign in. Ask your administrator for the correct URL.
URL Format
| Format | Valid? |
|---|---|
https://time.company.com | Yes |
https://z8.company.com | Yes |
http://localhost:3000 | Yes (development) |
time.company.com | No (needs https://) |
Appearance
The z8 Timer supports dark and light themes to match your preference.
Theme Options
| Theme | Behavior |
|---|---|
| System | Follows your operating system's theme (recommended) |
| Light | Always use light theme |
| Dark | Always use dark theme |
Setting the Theme
- Open Settings
- Find the Theme dropdown
- Select your preferred option
- Click Save
The theme applies immediately - no restart required.
System Theme
When set to "System", the app automatically switches:
| OS Setting | App Theme |
|---|---|
| Light mode | Light theme |
| Dark mode | Dark theme |
Changes to your OS theme are detected automatically.
Theme Colors
| Element | Light | Dark |
|---|---|---|
| Background | White/Gray | Dark gray/Black |
| Text | Dark gray | Light gray/White |
| Clock button (inactive) | Green gradient | Green gradient |
| Clock button (active) | Red gradient | Red gradient |
| Tray icon | Gray/Green | Gray/Green |
Tray Icon
The system tray icon colors (gray for not clocked in, green for clocked in) remain the same regardless of theme for visibility.
Always on Top
When enabled, the app window stays above other windows.
| Setting | Behavior |
|---|---|
| On | Window floats above all other windows |
| Off | Window behaves normally |
Use Cases
- Quick access while working in other apps
- Seeing elapsed time while coding
- Fast clock in/out without window hunting
Notes
- You can still minimize to tray with always-on-top enabled
- The setting persists across app restarts
- Applies immediately when toggled
Start with System
Automatically launch z8 Timer when you log in to your computer.
| Setting | Behavior |
|---|---|
| On | App starts automatically on login |
| Off | Must launch manually |
Platform Implementation
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Windows | Registry entry in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run |
| macOS | Login Items (System Preferences) |
| Linux | XDG autostart desktop file |
Recommended
Enable auto-start so you never forget to track time. The app uses minimal resources when idle.
Sign Out
Sign out of your z8 account.
Offline Queue
Signing out clears the offline queue. Ensure you're online and synced before signing out.
What Happens
- Session token is cleared
- Offline queue is purged
- Tray icon returns to gray
- Login screen is shown
When to Sign Out
- Switching to a different z8 account
- Changing organizations
- Troubleshooting authentication issues
- Before uninstalling the app
Version
Shows the current app version (e.g., 1.0.0).
Useful for:
- Checking for updates
- Reporting issues
- Confirming you have the latest features
Settings Storage
Settings are stored locally:
| Platform | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows | %APPDATA%\com.z8.timer\settings.json |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/com.z8.timer/settings.json |
| Linux | ~/.config/com.z8.timer/settings.json |
Settings File Format
{
"webapp_url": "https://time.yourcompany.com",
"theme": "system",
"always_on_top": true,
"auto_startup": true
}Theme values: "system", "light", or "dark"
Resetting Settings
To reset to defaults:
- Close the app completely
- Delete
settings.json - Restart the app
Troubleshooting
Settings not saving
- Check file permissions - App needs write access to config directory
- Restart the app - Try again after restart
- Check disk space - Ensure space for config file
Auto-start not working
Windows:
- Check Task Manager → Startup tab
- Ensure z8 Timer is enabled
macOS:
- Check System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items
- Re-add if missing
Linux:
- Check
~/.config/autostart/ - Ensure desktop file exists and is valid
URL not accepted
- Ensure URL includes
https:// - Verify the URL is correct with your admin
- Test the URL in a browser first