Trade Copier Troubleshooting Guide

1. Confirm You Have the Latest Software Versions

Before diving into specific troubleshooting, make sure both your Trade Copier and NinjaTrader installations are up to date. This alone can often fix common issues.

Verify you are on the latest Trade Copier version and NinjaTrader:
Check for Latest Version

To download the latest version of the Trade Copier, go to your Downloads Page in the Members Area.

After importing the updated NinjaScript and restarting NinjaTrader, changes take effect immediately—there’s no need to recreate your Accounts Dashboard.

2. Access the User Manual and Release Notes

For detailed setup guidance, download the User Manual from the “User Manual” tab in the Members Area:
Member’s Area – User Manuals 

3. Trades Not Copying from Master to Follower Accounts

Ensure the following:

• You are using NinjaTrader Desktop.

• The copier is turned ON in the top-left corner of the Accounts Dashboard.

• The correct Master and Follower accounts are selected.

• All accounts are connected (green status).

Other potential causes:

• The Master account must be highlighted brown.

• Copier might be turned off (button should be green and say [ON]).

• The copier may be set to a specific instrument (e.g., [ES 09-24]) that doesn’t match the current trade.

• The Accounts Dashboard might be in an inactive workspace—disable this restriction in the indicator settings under the “Safety” section.

4. Closing Trades Creates Reversals or Leaves Positions Open

• Please check out this article: Rithmic and NinjaTrader Connection Solutions

• Check if the Fade feature is enabled, this inverts follower trades.

• Check if your ATM Strategy has “Reverse at Target” enabled—disable it if necessary.

5. Receiving Apex Error Messages

Review Apex’s list of error messages:
Error Messages and Fixes – Apex

To review error logs, go to the “Log” tab in NinjaTrader’s Control Center.

6. Selecting or Changing Master and Follower Accounts

• To set a Master Account: Double-click the status dot to the left of the account name.

• To set a Follower Account: Single-click on the account name.

• To change Master Account: Turn off the copier and unlock the dashboard, then repeat the selection steps.

7. Trade Copier and Risk Manager in One Download

Yes, the Trade Copier and the Account Risk Manager ship in the same NinjaScript file, so you only download and import once. The risk features come with an Account Risk Manager or Accounts Dashboard Suite license.

8. Accounts Not Appearing in the Dashboard

• Accounts show only once connected for the first time.

• Red dot = disconnected.

• Blown accounts may still appear in the dashboard but not in the Control Center.

• To hide or bring back accounts, click the people icon in the lower right-hand corner and select from the options listed.

Dashboard says “This window has not loaded yet” and it never clears? Your connection is fine, the chart the dashboard sits on just has no data to load. The most common cause is that this chart is still set to last quarter’s futures contract (for example NQ 09-26 after the September roll). NinjaTrader never rolls a chart to the new contract on its own, and the dashboard can keep working for a few days after the roll and then go blank. To fix it, in the NinjaTrader Control Center open Tools → Database Management, make sure the instrument is checked in the rollover list, click Rollover, then save your workspace. The dashboard hides NinjaTrader’s chart toolbar, so there is no instrument selector in the top left of that window to change it from.

9. Opening the Accounts Dashboard (Trade Copier)

The Accounts Dashboard opens as its own window. It is not in a chart’s Indicators list, so you don’t add it to a chart.

1. In the NinjaTrader Control Center, choose New → Affordable Indicators → Accounts Dashboard.

2. The first time it runs on a computer, enter the email address on your Affordable Indicators account when it asks. You can change it later under License → Email Address in the dashboard’s settings (the gear button).

Don’t see Affordable Indicators in the New menu after importing? Restart NinjaTrader once. Unlimited Prop Firm Connections opens from Tools → Affordable Indicators → Unlimited Prop Firm Connections.

10. Missing Risk Manager Columns

• These columns are part of the Risk Manager product.

• Enable it under Main Features in the indicator settings.

• Learn more: Account Risk Manager

11. Connecting Multiple Prop Firms

Follow this guide:
Connect to Multiple Prop Firms

12. Connecting Tradovate to NinjaTrader

First turn on Multi-provider, because NinjaTrader hides Configure until it is on: Tools > Settings > General, tick Multi-provider, click OK, then close NinjaTrader and open it again. Then follow the steps to configure your Tradovate login through Connections > Configure in NinjaTrader.
If you’re still having trouble, reach out to NinjaTrader or your prop firm.

13. Connecting Rithmic to NinjaTrader

• Verify your license includes “Evaluation (Rithmic)”.

• If it doesn’t appear under Help > About, you won’t be able to connect.

• For live 3rd-party accounts, consider the Multi-Broker Add-On.

14. Daily Loss/Goal Not Matching PNL

This often results from slippage during trade exits. Market conditions, contract size, and execution speed can cause discrepancies between the target and actual results.

15. Apex Eval Accounts Showing Incorrect Values

Reset the following values manually:

• In the indicator settings, find Auto Liquidate Peak Balance.

• Set it to 50000 for each account after renewal.

16. Maximum Number of Follower Accounts

There’s no hard limit, but 20+ accounts can overload NinjaTrader, especially with large order sizes.

• Use ‘Executions’ mode if your system exceeds 200 pending orders at any time.

17. Refresh Positions Button Not Visible

It only appears when a position mismatch is detected. If all positions are in sync, the button won’t be shown.

18. Running NinjaTrader in a VPS

Check out these best practices and tips:
Running NinjaTrader on a VPS – Guide

19. Can I Copy Trades Between Two Computers?

No—currently, the Trade Copier does not support cross-computer communication.

20. Copying Mini and Micro Contracts

• When ‘Type’ column is disabled, Follower accounts copy the exact contract.

• When enabled, you can manually set each Follower account to Mini or Micro, regardless of the Master account’s position.

Affordable Indicators, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rithmic, NinjaTrader, or any prop firm or broker named here; your firm’s and broker’s own terms govern how you may use your account, so check with them first.