If your paper trading bots are not working, follow this step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and resolve the most common issues.
Step 1: Ensure You Have a Connected Live Account
Paper trading requires a live account connection to pull trading data. Even though you are not trading with real money, a live account is necessary for the system to function properly.
How to Check Your Broker Connection:
Click on your profile image in the top-right corner of the platform. This is usually represented by your initials.
Select Profile from the dropdown menu.
Scroll down to the Broker Connections section.
Review your connected accounts.
If you only see a paper trading account and no live account, this is likely the issue.
Click on your profile image again and select Connect Your Broker.
Choose your broker (e.g., TastyTrade, Charles Schwab, TradeStation) and follow the steps to connect your live account.
Once the live account is connected, your paper trading bots should start functioning.
Step 2: Check for Buying Power Issues
If your bots are still not working, it may be due to insufficient buying power.
How to Check Buying Power:
Open the bot that is not functioning.
Click on the bot's name to access its details.
Navigate to the Trade Transparency section:
Below the chart, you will see three tabs: Trade, Transparency, and Trade Log.
Click on Transparency to see detailed information about trade execution.
Look for failed trades and check the failure reason.
If it states a buying power issue, you need to increase the limit.
How to Increase Buying Power:
Go to Settings.
Select Account Safeguards.
Increase the Buying Power Limit.
Save your changes.
Since this is a paper account, adjusting the buying power limit will not impact real funds, but it will allow your bot to function correctly.
Step 3: Verify Entry Rules
If the issue is still unresolved, it could be due to incorrect entry rules.
How to Check Entry Rules:
Open the bot settings.
Navigate to the Entry Rules section.
Ensure all rules are correctly configured and align with your trading strategy.
Make any necessary adjustments and save your settings.
Step 4: Contact Support
If your paper bots are still not working after following these steps, reach out to our support team for assistance.
How to Contact Support:
Use the Chat Box located at the bottom-right corner of the platform.
Provide details about your issue, including any error messages or failure reasons found in the Trade Transparency section.
Troubleshooting paper trading bots can be simple if you follow the right steps. By ensuring you have a connected live account, checking for buying power issues, verifying entry rules, and utilizing trade transparency, you can keep your bots running smoothly. Additionally, following best practices such as monitoring trade transparency and optimizing entry conditions will improve your experience.
Tips for Efficiency
Regularly Review Trade Transparency: Checking trade transparency frequently helps identify and resolve issues proactively.
Optimize Entry Rules: Streamlining entry conditions reduces potential errors and enhances execution efficiency.
Use Account Safeguards Wisely: Setting appropriate limits ensures that your bots operate within realistic parameters.
TERMS OF SERVICE: Please be aware that continued use of the Options Auto Trader is subject to our Terms Of Service. If you have any questions or wish to review these terms, feel free to visit the website.