How to Use HT SysAdmin – A Quick Start Guide

Learn how to overcome distractions and time-wasters in just a few minutes

Getting Started

  1. Download HT System Administrator and install it on your computer(s), laptop(s), or terminal server with Windows OS.
  2. For remote management on one network after the installation, download HT Remote Manager and install it on your admin computer or use your browser.
If you do not use a terminal server, you need to install HT System Administrator on each computer you want to manage. Remote access is available only after it.

The app begins monitoring activities automatically immediately upon installation. It starts every time the computer is turned on; working in the background, recording activities, and blocking them according to your settings. The program does not block any activity by default; therefore, you need to configure the filters according to your preferences.

Download
Install HT SysAdmin

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Rules

Keep your team focused by limiting access to distracting websites like social media, video platforms, and news sites. Block harmful or inappropriate content, including adult sites, gambling, and other unwanted categories.

  1. Go to Rules → Website Limits.
  2. Choose actions for categories:
    Block: Fully restrict access.
    Limit: Limit access time per day.
    Allow: No restrictions.
    (e.g., set limit for pre-defined categories like Social Media, Video, and more – this applies to thousands of sites at once.)
  3. Set daily time limits and/or schedules for sites marked as Limited.
  4. Use the Custom List to block, limit, or allow access to individual websites and keywords.
Manage Access to Time-Wasting and Inappropriate Websites

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Allow: No restrictions – the site or app is always accessible.
Block: Access is completely denied at all times.
Limit: Access time is capped per day. The daily quota is shared across all items marked as Limit.
Key Features:
Works across Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Brave, and Internet Explorer.
Blocks even in Incognito/Private mode and against most VPNs.
Tracks all visited websites in reports, allowing quick blocking from history.

The Website Blocking tab allows you to block specific websites or keywords, as well as create exceptions using an allowlist. This helps reduce distractions while ensuring important sites remain accessible.

How to Use It:

  1. Click Rules → Website Blocking.
  2. Blocklist:
    Add websites or keywords to the Blocklist to block them entirely.
    Example: Adding *_streaming_* will block any site with "streaming" in its URL or title.
    Tip: To avoid over-blocking, enclose keywords in underscores. For example, _bra_ blocks only the stand-alone word “bra.” Without underscores, the keyword “bra” would also block pages whose URLs or titles contain words like “BRAve,” “celeBRAte,” or “liBRArian”.
  3. Allowlist:
    Use the Allowlist to prevent overblocking. If a website you don’t intend to block gets blocked, simply add it here to restore access.
    Example: If you block *chat*, it might also block chatgpt.com. To allow it, add chatgpt.com to the Allowlist.
  4. For information on using Allowlist Mode, see the next section.
Block Keywords HSA

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HT System Administrator allows you to block all websites except those you explicitly approve.

  1. Go to Rules → Website Blocking.
  2. Add allowed websites or keywords to the Allowlist.
  3. Enable Allow access only to listed websites to block everything else.
Important! URLs must match exactly.
– Don’t include slashes, “www,” or unnecessary symbols.
– Best practice: copy the full address from your browser’s address bar and paste it into HT System Administrator.
Allow Only Whitelisted Websites HSA

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HT System Administrator helps you block or limit apps to improve productivity. You can restrict access to installed apps or even portable apps that aren’t yet installed. Block games, messengers, browsers, media players, and more.

  1. Go to Rules → App Blocking.
  2. Choose Block or Limit for predefined app categories.
  3. Add specific apps by name and set them Block or Limit.
  4. Set daily time limits or create custom schedules for limited apps.
Block or Limit Time-Wasting Apps

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Allow: No restrictions – the site or app is always accessible.
Block: Access is completely denied at all times.
Limit: Access time is capped per day. The daily quota is shared across all items marked as Limit.
Note! You can block apps by their window title. This lets you restrict access to portable or not-yet-installed programs. Make sure the title matches exactly as shown in the Task Manager.
Alternatively, you can block or limit activities directly from the Reports section. This method saves time and helps avoid mistakes — no need to search for exact paths or URLs. See next

HT System Administrator lets you block or limit distracting activities directly from the Reports view. This makes it easy to identify problematic apps or websites and restrict access without switching tabs. This method gives you an easy way to manage access based on real-time usage data.

  1. Open the Reports tab and go to Applications or Websites.
  2. If you notice a distracting app or website in the report, you can block or limit it directly from here.
  3. Click the app or website to select it, then choose Block or Limit at the bottom.
This method saves time and avoids mistakes — no need to find the exact path or URL.
Block Websites Directly from Reports

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Reports

Get live, visual reports showing how time is spent on your computer — both productive and wasted. Use these reports to understand how much of the day is dedicated to work and to verify the accuracy of your timesheets.

Open Reports → Timesheets.
Track Computer Time

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The program shows you detailed reports, so you can see how much time you spent on each website and application. Learn where your users can waste time using the reports and limit or block these activities. See your achievements and discover where your team is wasting time.

  1. Open Reports → Apps or Websites.
  2. To block an unwanted activity from the reports, click it to select and then click the Block or Limit button.
Track Time Spent on Websites and Apps

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Control when monitoring and filtering are active. Apply time restrictions to ensure productivity during work hours and allow privacy during breaks or after work. For example, you can enable tracking and filtering during work hours and disable them during lunch breaks or after work for privacy.

  1. Go to Settings → General Settings.
  2. In the Schedule section, select the mode:
    • Monitoring & Filtering
    • Monitoring Only
    • Filtering Only
  3. Click Set Schedule.
  4. In the schedule window, select the days and hours when the rules should apply.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.
Set a Schedule for Monitoring and Filtering

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Advanced

If your computers are on the same network, you can configure the filters and see the reports remotely. HT System Administrator offers two convenient ways to do this:

  1. Using a web browser — access each computer’s dashboard directly via its local network address.
  2. Using HT Remote Manager — a dedicated desktop app that finds and connects to all online devices running HT Work Focus on your network.

Option 1: Access via Browser

  1. On the monitored computer, open HT System Administrator and go to Settings → Remote Access.
  2. Copy the URL address shown in the tab.
  3. On your admin computer (connected to the same network), open a browser and paste the copied URL. Log in using the default credentials:
    Default Login: admin
    Default Password: admin
Remote Management HTSA

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 Remote Management via Browser

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Option 2: Use HT Remote Manager App

  1. Install HT Remote Manager on your admin computer.
  2. Click Find Computer to automatically detect all online devices running HT System Administrator on the local network.
  3. If no device is found, click Add Computer and enter the URL from the monitored device’s Remote Access tab.
  4. Select the needed computer from the list and log in with:
    Default Login: admin
    Default Password: admin
Remote Management

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Note! Both options allow you to control and monitor monitored computers in real time, as long as they’re connected to the same local network as your admin device.
Need Remote Access Outside the Local Network?
To manage computers from any location over the Internet, we recommend using our cloud-based tool: HT Task Vector, which includes a secure web dashboard for remote access and time tracking.

HT System Administrator allows you to configure multiple computers easily with its import/export features.

  1. Open HT System Administrator on one of the computers and configure it according to your preference.
  2. Click Menu → Export Settings. Save the file with your setting on a flash drive or send it to your email. Then export it to the HT System Administrator on other computers — Menu → Import Settings.

If your computers are on one network, you can do it remotely:

  1. Open HT Remote Manager, select one of the computers and configure it according to your preference.
  2. Open its computer dashboard, then click Export settings to file and save the file.
  3. Select computers one by one and import your settings — Dashboard → Import settings from file.
Export Import Local Dashboard

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 Export Import Remote Dashboard

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As soon as it is installed, HT System Administrator keeps track of all users on the computer or terminal server. You can turn on or turn off any monitoring and filter functions for a separate user. This enables you to set clear guidelines for some users while allowing others to freely browse the Internet and use the computer.

Go to Settings → User Settings and turn on/turn off the program options for your users.
User Settings HSA

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Not all your users can be happy with the restrictions. Protect HT System Administrator with these built-in options:

  1. Set up an access password → click Menu → Set Password.
  2. Click Rules → Enhanced Security.
  3. Select Restrict access to Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del) to prevent HT System Administrator from stopping via task manager.
Protect Against Bypassing HSA

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If you’ve forgotten your password, you can log in using a fallback method and then set a new one:

  • Registered version: In the login window, enter your license key exactly as it was provided — with capital letters, dashes, and no space at the end.
  • Trial version: Enter the default password trial2013 in the login window.
  • Setting a new password: After logging in, go to Menu → Set Password.
Reset Password

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The software uninstallation is protected from unauthorized users. HT System Administrator cannot be uninstalled from Windows Control Panel or by removing its folder or executable file. To uninstall it, you need to log in to HT Work Focus.

  1. Log in to HT System Administrator.
  2. Click Menu → Uninstall.
HT System Administrator Uninstall

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Have a question about using HT SysAdmin? Need assistance with configuration? Please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

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