Why do I sometimes see two screenshots close together?

This occurs when one screenshot is taken near the end of one 10-minute segment (e.g., at :09) and another is taken near the start of the next segment (e.g., at :11). This is called the boundary effect and is normal behavior, not an increase in screenshot frequency.

Does this mean Upwork is taking screenshots more often?

No, there's still exactly one screenshot per 10-minute segment. The timing just happened to cluster near the segment boundary, making it appear as if screenshots are taken more frequently than they actually are.

How close together can two screenshots be?

Theoretically, two screenshots could be as close as about 1 minute apart if one occurs at :09 (end of one segment) and the next occurs at :11 (start of the next segment). However, this is still one screenshot per segment, just clustered near the boundary.

Will this happen often?

The boundary effect is relatively uncommon because screenshot timing is random within each segment. It's more likely to happen occasionally rather than frequently, but it's normal when it does occur.

How can I understand when this happens?

Tools like SneakTime send segment start alerts at :00, :10, :20, :30, :40, and :50, and post-screenshot notifications when screenshots occur. This awareness helps you understand that two screenshots close together are just a result of the boundary effect, not an increase in frequency.

Two Screenshots Close Together

Two screenshots close together occurs when Upwork Time Tracker takes one screenshot near the end of a 10-minute segment (e.g., at :09) and another near the start of the next segment (e.g., at :11), making it appear as if screenshots are taken more frequently than once per 10 minutes.

Why it matters

This boundary effect can be confusing because it makes it seem like Upwork is taking screenshots more often than once per 10 minutes. In reality, there's still exactly one screenshot per 10-minute segment—the timing just happened to cluster near the segment boundary. Understanding this helps you avoid unnecessary concern about screenshot frequency.

The segment boundaries are fixed at :00, :10, :20, :30, :40, and :50, but the screenshot timing within each segment is random. This randomness means you might occasionally see two screenshots within a short time window, but this is normal and doesn't indicate a change in Upwork's screenshot frequency.

Key details

Still one screenshot per 10-minute segment
Boundary effect occurs when screenshots cluster near segment boundaries
Segment boundaries are fixed (:00, :10, :20, :30, :40, :50)
Screenshot timing is random within each segment
This is normal behavior, not an error or increased frequency

How SneakTime relates

SneakTime helps you understand when two screenshots occur close together by sending post-screenshot notifications immediately after each screenshot event. It also sends segment start alerts at :00, :10, :20, :30, :40, and :50, so you know when each new 10-minute segment begins. This awareness helps you understand that two screenshots close together are just a result of the boundary effect, not an increase in screenshot frequency. SneakTime does not block screenshots or change the timing—it provides notifications and awareness only.

Understand Screenshot Timing

Get alerts when screenshots occur and segments start

Install SneakTime

Common Questions

← Back to Glossary