---
title: "How To Enter A Trade At A Specific Time"
description: "Automate trade entries to occur at a specific time"
url: https://help.optionsautotrader.com/en/articles/54-how-to-enter-a-trade-at-a-specific-time
collection: "Options Auto Trader 101"
updated: 2026-04-30
language: en
---

# How To Enter A Trade At A Specific Time

Automate trade entries to occur at a specific time

In **Options Auto Trader**, you can automate your trade entries to occur at a specific time, giving you precise control over when trades are executed. This feature allows you to select a specific hour and minute within a session to enter a trade, based on your preferred strategy. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to set up trade entries at a specific time.

## **Step 1: Choose Your Trading Session**

Before setting a specific time, you need to decide whether you want the trade to happen in the **Morning**, **Lunch**, or **Afternoon** session. The available session times are:

-   **Morning Session**: 8:30 AM CST – 11:00 AM CST
    
-   **Lunch Session**: 11:00 AM CST – 1:00 PM CST
    
-   **Afternoon Session**: 1:00 PM CST – 3:00 PM CST
    

To begin, log into your **Options Auto Trader** account and navigate to your bot’s settings.

1.  Click the **gear icon** in the top right corner of the Auto Trader page to open your bot’s settings.
    
2.  Scroll to the **Session Entry Times** section.
    
3.  From the drop-down, select the trading session in which you want the trade to occur (Morning, Lunch, or Afternoon).
    

## **Step 2: Set a Specific Time for Trade Entry**

Once you've selected the session, you can specify the exact time (hour and minute) for the trade entry within that session.

1.  After choosing the session, click the **Specific Time** option in the settings.
    
2.  A drop-down menu will appear where you can select the **hour** and **minute** for your trade to be placed.
    
    -   For example, if you choose the **Morning Session** and set the specific time to **9:15 AM**, your trade will be placed at exactly 9:15 AM within that session.
        

\*\* If you want to enter right when the market opens (9:30 AM EST), then you should use the morning session as your time to enter. Setting the specific entry time to 9:30 AM is not allowed because we like to avoid the massive volatility (leading to worse fills) right as the market opens.

### **Example:**

-   If you want your trade to occur precisely at 9:15 AM within the morning session, select **Morning Session** and set the **hour** to 9 and the **minute** to 15.
    
-   If you want the trade to enter at 12:30 PM during the lunch session, select **Lunch Session** and set the time to **12:30 PM**.
    

## **Step 3: Verify Your Time Zone**

The entry time you set will follow the time zone that is configured for your account. By default, the account time zone is set to **Eastern Standard Time (EST)** unless you've manually changed it. If your account is in a different time zone, the trade will still trigger at the specific time you've set, but according to your account’s local time.

### **How to Check or Change Your Time Zone:**

1.  Go to your **Account Settings**.
    
2.  Look for the **Time Zone** setting.
    
3.  If necessary, adjust the time zone to reflect your local time or your preferred trading time zone.
    
4.  Save your changes.
    

Ensure that your selected entry times correspond with the correct session hours based on your configured time zone.

## **Step 4: Save Your Settings**

Once you’ve selected the session and set the specific entry time, make sure to save your settings:

1.  Scroll to the bottom of the **Auto Trader Settings** page.
    
2.  Click **Save** to confirm your time-based entry setup.
    

Your bot will now automatically enter trades at the exact time you specified, within the session you selected.  

## **Step 5: Monitor Your Automated Trades**

After setting up your specific trade entry time, you can monitor your trades from the **Dashboard** to ensure that the bot is executing trades according to your schedule.

-   Check the execution times of your trades to confirm they match the specific time you set.
    
-   If needed, adjust the time or session for future trades by going back into the **Auto Trader Settings**.  
    

## **Conclusion**

With the ability to set a specific time for trade entries, **Options Auto Trader** provides enhanced precision and flexibility in automating your trading strategy. By following these steps, you can easily configure your bot to enter trades at your preferred time, helping you capitalize on specific market conditions.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our support team.

**TERMS OF SERVICE:** Please be aware that continued use of the Options Auto Trader is subject to our [Terms Of Service](https://www.optionsautotrader.com/terms-of-service). If you have any questions or wish to review these terms, feel free to visit the website.