Find answers to common questions and learn how to use App Ranger.
Users & Activity: The "Users" tab allows you to monitor activity for each user on the computer. You can view detailed reports of application and website usage over the last 30 days, toggle tracking for specific users, and easily create limits based on observed activity.
Creating Limits: Go to the "Limits" tab and click "Add New Limit". Give it a name, select users, and choose applications and/or websites to track and limit. If you only want to track usage, you do not have to configure a time limit or blackout periods. If you want to track and limit the use of multiple apps and websites under the same set of rules, use a general name like "Games" or "Social Media".
Selecting Apps: You can select from installed apps on the system or manually enter an app name and executable (e.g., "My Game", "game.exe"). Some apps installed from the Microsoft Store are progressive web apps (PWA) and run using pwahelper.exe. In these cases, use sites to limit them (e.g., facebook.com, instagram.com, etc).
Background Apps: By default, usage is tracked for an app if its window is active or visible on the screen (not minimized). If you mark an app as "Background", its usage will be tracked whenever it is running, even if it's minimized or has no window at all (unless the computer is locked or asleep).
Blocking Sites: Enter website domains (e.g., "example.com") in the "Sites" section to limit website usage in browsers. The following browsers are supported: Brave, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.
Time Limits: Set a duration (e.g., 1 hour 30 minutes). The "Reset" option determines when the usage counter resets (Daily at midnight or Weekly on Monday). If you would like to completely block all specified apps and sites, set the time limit to 0 hours 0 minutes.
Blackout Periods: Define specific times when the selected apps cannot run at all (e.g., "12:00 AM - 08:00 AM"). To create a 24-hour total blackout, set the start and end times to be the same (e.g., "12:00 AM - 12:00 AM").
Day Overrides: You can set different rules for specific days of the week (e.g., allow more time on weekends).
Usage History: Click the "[History]" link next to a user's name on a limit card to view past usage data and a graphical visualization.
Security Questions: Go to the "Admin" tab to set up security questions. These allow you to reset your password if you forget it.
Uninstalling: Go to the "Admin" tab to uninstall App Ranger. If you have forgotten your password and security questions, you will need to contact support for recovery instructions.
App not closing? Ensure the executable name matches exactly. Some apps use different process names than their shortcut names. Check the "Log" tab for errors.
Usage not tracking? Usage for an app is tracked if its window is active or visible on the screen. For sites, usage is tracked if the site is open in an active or visible browser window. If "Background" is selected for an app, it will be tracked whenever it is running in the active user's session, even if minimized.
Service not starting? Check the Windows Event Viewer or run the executable with the debug command in an administrator terminal to see startup errors.
Forgot Password? Use the "Forgot Password?" link on the login screen to reset your password using your security questions.
Where should I install App Ranger?
While it's not required, we recommend you install App Ranger in a separate administrator account on the same machine as your child's standard user account. This is the most secure way to manage users on the system.
How do I create limits from user activity?
Navigate to the "Users" tab and expand the user's card. Adjust the date slider to view recent activity and click "Refresh". In the results list, click the "Create Limit" button next to any application or website to quickly set up a restriction for it.
What happens when my 14-day trial expires?
The application's monitoring and blocking features will stop working. You can still access the web interface to view your configuration, but no rules will be enforced. To continue using the service, you will need to purchase and enter a license key.
Is App Ranger safe? Does it send my data to the cloud?
App Ranger is designed with privacy as a top priority. All your data, including limits, usage history, and logs, is stored locally on your computer. The software does not send any of your data to external servers. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.
Can my child bypass App Ranger?
The software is designed to be tamper-resistant. It runs as a background Windows Service, which cannot be easily stopped without administrative rights. The configuration interface is also protected by a password that you set, preventing unauthorized changes to the rules.
What happens when an app or site violates a time limit or blackout period?
App Ranger will display an early warning if a restricted app or site has focus within 5 minutes of a time limit or a blackout period. When a violation is detected, App Ranger displays a final "Closing" message, and the application is terminated or the browser tab is closed automatically.
What is the difference between a "background" app and a regular (foreground-aware) one?
Usage for a regular app is counted when its window is active (in the foreground) or visible on the screen (not minimized). This helps track usage even if another smaller window is focused. If you mark an app as "background," its usage time is counted whenever the application is running, even if it is minimized or has no visible window. This is useful for limiting things like gaming platforms (e.g., Steam) that run alongside the games they launch.