How it works
One install on the Mac. One dashboard for the parent.
TempoMinder watches foreground app time on the child's Mac, enforces the limits you set from your dashboard, and reports real usage back so you don't need to look over a shoulder.
- 1
Enroll the Mac once
Generate an enrollment code in the parent dashboard, run the TempoMinder installer on the child's Mac, and enter the code. The Mac links to your account and starts syncing policy and activity automatically.
- 2
Set per-app daily limits
From any browser, pick the apps you want to limit and set a daily allowance and a warning threshold. Policies are signed by the server so the child's Mac will only accept genuine updates from you.
- 3
The agent runs quietly on the Mac
A small background service tracks the foreground app, counts time toward each app's daily budget, and keeps a local copy of the signed policy. A separate watchdog process keeps it running and survives crashes or restarts.
- 4
Real-time warnings before time runs out
As an app nears its limit, TempoMinder shows a system notification and an on-screen warning panel with the time remaining. After the grace period you've set, the app is asked to quit; if it doesn't, TempoMinder force-closes it.
- 5
Activity flows back to your dashboard
Every minute the Mac uploads foreground usage and enforcement events (warnings, terminations). You see today's app activity, remaining time, and history from the parent dashboard.
- 6
Grant extra time on demand
Need to bend the rules for tonight? Add an override from the dashboard with a number of extra minutes and a time window. The Mac picks it up on the next tick and resets the warning so a fresh notification fires as the new limit approaches.
What TempoMinder records — and what it doesn't
Limits only work if they're based on real activity, so the agent captures the minimum needed to enforce the policy you set and to show useful charts in your dashboard.
What it captures
- Foreground app bundle ID and seconds used, per child account
- Enforcement events: warnings shown, apps closed, and why
- Web-host activity aggregated into 10-minute buckets (host + visit count)
What it never captures
- No screenshots and no screen recording
- No keystrokes, clipboard contents, or window titles
- No full URLs, page content, or browsing history
Ready to try it?
We're onboarding families in small batches so we can help with Mac setup and learn what parents need most.