Tracking issues

Most tracking problems are permission, pause, or classification-route issues. The capture pipeline itself is local.

The timeline is empty

1. Confirm drifty is running and tracking is not paused in the Mac menu bar or Windows system tray.
2. On Mac, confirm Accessibility is enabled for drifty.
3. Switch to another app for a few minutes. Blocks appear after capture, not instantly at launch.
4. If you just installed, give the first session a few minutes to become a visible block.

Window titles are missing

On Mac, app-level tracking can work without Accessibility, but window titles cannot. Re-enable Accessibility, then switch windows once so a fresh title can be captured. On Windows, restart drifty and switch windows once; there is no equivalent macOS Accessibility toggle.

Idle time looks wrong

Idle detection uses operating-system idle time. If the system idle reader cannot start, tracking continues and idle detection is marked unavailable. In that state, a long stretch away from the computer may still look active.

Classification is late or missing

• Cloud and OpenRouter need a network connection.
• Local AI needs a finished model download and enough free disk.
• A quota or key error shows in the AI connection status. Open AI settings from that status control and retry.
• Tracking does not stop because classification is delayed. Labels catch up later.

The companion card feels wrong

Use Not a drift when the surface was actually work. If alerts are too frequent, turn off Drift alerts in Settings → Companion & Alerts or choose a longer Drift alert timing. If they never appear, confirm Drift alerts is on and that Notifications are allowed.

Automatic close did not close a tab

Automatic close only acts on drift that stays on screen past your Drift alert timing. Work through these in order:

1. Confirm it is on. Open Settings → Companion & Alerts (or Settings → Desktop pet; it is the same setting) and check Automatic close. Turning Drift alerts off also turns it off.
2. Keep the tab in front. Stay on the tab for the whole timing, with no other window on top. Switching away, pausing tracking, or an active Quiet hours window holds the close back.
3. Check the label. Open the Classification tab and look at how the site is labeled. Automatic close only closes Drift; Focus, Neutral, and Not a drift pages stay open.
4. Check the AI route. If the site shows as Unclassified, the AI route is not labeling it. See Classification is late or missing and Choose your AI. You can also mark the site as Drift yourself, which works without AI.
5. Check the browser. Closing works in these browsers; another browser keeps the tab open.
6. Update drifty. Version 1.12.2 fixed Automatic close for one long YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, or TikTok session that earlier versions could leave open. Use Check for Updates under Settings → General → Updates.

Nudges lists everything Automatic close leaves alone.