---
title: "Bulk assign tags or timelines"
url: "https://timeretain.com/help/bulk-assign-tags-or-timelines"
description: "Update many entries at once from Tags or Timelines without editing each one by hand."
---

# Bulk assign tags or timelines

Use **Bulk…** when many entries need the same tag added or removed, or when many entries should move onto one timeline — for example after an import, or when work belongs under a new client or course.

## Where to start

1.  Open **Tags** or **Timelines** from the workspace.
2.  Open the tag or timeline to edit. **Bulk…** is available on active items only — not on archived ones.
3.  Press **Bulk…**. The title shows **Bulk assign/unassign…**.

## Select entries

The list starts with every entry that already has that tag or timeline selected. The help line says which entries need this tag or timeline.

*   Filter the list the same way as elsewhere in TimeRetain.
*   Select an entry to add the tag or timeline. Clear a selection to remove it.
*   The change count shows how many adds and removes are pending. Press **Next** when there is at least one change.

## Review and apply

**Review changes** lists additions and removals, grouped by day. Check the list, then press **Save**.

A confirmation asks before the update runs. The changes cannot be undone from that dialog. After a successful save, TimeRetain returns to the workspace.

## Tags

Bulk tag edit adds or removes **one** tag across the selected entries. An entry can have up to five tags. Entries that already have five other tags stay locked until one tag is removed elsewhere — the row explains that five tags are already in use.

## Timelines

Each entry can have only one timeline. Selecting an entry that is on another timeline **moves** it to the timeline under edit. Clearing an entry that started on this timeline sets it to **No timeline** — it does not restore a previous timeline.

## What does not change

Bulk assign does not rewrite hourly rates on the entries. Rates stay as they already are on each stopwatch. (Hourly rates matter only when earnings tracking is on in [Preferences](/preferences).)

## Related

For when to use a timeline versus a tag, see [Timelines vs. tags](/help/timelines-vs-tags).