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---
type: reference
disqus_identifier: 'https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/workflow/time_tracking.html'
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stage: Plan
group: Project Management
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#designated-technical-writers
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---
# Time Tracking
> Introduced in GitLab 8.14.
Time Tracking allows you to track estimates and time spent on issues and merge
requests within GitLab.
## Overview
Time Tracking allows you to:
- Record the time spent working on an issue or a merge request.
- Add an estimate of the amount of time needed to complete an issue or a merge
request.
You don't have to indicate an estimate to enter the time spent, and vice versa.
Data about time tracking is shown on the issue/merge request sidebar, as shown
below.
## How to enter data
Time Tracking uses two [quick actions ](quick_actions.md )
that GitLab introduced with this new feature: `/spend` and `/estimate` .
Quick actions can be used in the body of an issue or a merge request, but also
in a comment in both an issue or a merge request.
Below is an example of how you can use those new quick actions inside a comment.
Adding time entries (time spent or estimates) is limited to project members.
### Estimates
To enter an estimate, write `/estimate` , followed by the time. For example, if
you need to enter an estimate of 3 days, 5 hours and 10 minutes, you would write
`/estimate 3d 5h 10m` . Time units that we support are listed at the bottom of
this help page.
Every time you enter a new time estimate, any previous time estimates will be
overridden by this new value. There should only be one valid estimate in an
issue or a merge request.
To remove an estimation entirely, use `/remove_estimate` .
### Time spent
To enter a time spent, use `/spend 3d 5h 10m` .
Every new time spent entry will be added to the current total time spent for the
issue or the merge request.
You can remove time by entering a negative amount: `/spend -3d` will remove 3
days from the total time spent. You can't go below 0 minutes of time spent,
so GitLab will automatically reset the time spent if you remove a larger amount
of time compared to the time that was entered already.
To remove all the time spent at once, use `/remove_time_spent` .
## Configuration
The following time units are available:
- Months (mo)
- Weeks (w)
- Days (d)
- Hours (h)
- Minutes (m)
Default conversion rates are 1mo = 4w, 1w = 5d and 1d = 8h.
### Limit displayed units to hours **(CORE ONLY)**
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> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/29469/) in GitLab 12.1.
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In GitLab self-managed instances, the display of time units can be limited to
hours through the option in **Admin Area > Settings > Preferences** under **Localization** .
With this option enabled, `75h` is displayed instead of `1w 4d 3h` .
## Other interesting links
- [Time Tracking landing page in the GitLab handbook ](https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/time-tracking/ )
