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Lesson 8 of 17
Hotkeys are key stroke or mouse click combinations that can help users simplify common actions in IBKR Desktop, such as creating a buy limit order or deleting a row. Hotkey constructs might look like “control plus B” or “double click” for example.
To see and create hotkeys, open Settings and select Hotkeys. IBKR Desktop provides two categories of Hotkeys: Platform Controls and Order Entry.
Platform Controls provide keyboard shortcuts for actions like copy, paste, delete, add a row above or below, minimize or maximize window and even Show Contract Description.
For example, the user might want to quickly display the Contract Description for a company. Using the keyboard command “Control + D” when clicked on that instrument row, the user generates the Contract Description.
Order Entry shortcuts currently allow users to create buy and sell limit and market orders.
For example, I can use “Control + B” to create a buy limit order. I’ll select an instrument and try this hotkey. Watch the order as it’s created in the right-side price panel. Additionally, users can create custom hotkeys to increase the number of order entry shortcuts.
In this example the user will create a mouse click hotkey to quickly create a Buy Midprice order with a default quantity of 300 shares.
Again, access hotkeys from Settings and select Hotkeys.
The user selects the Order Entry tab and clicks New Custom Hotkey to create this new mouse click hotkey.
The setup requires the user to enter basic information into the following series of fields. The user starts by assigning a unique name to the instruction. Once the hotkey is created, the user will see this name when hovering over the area set for the hotkey.
For the type user selects mouse click and then “double left click.” User sets the location to the ask price.
Leaving the action as buy, user sets the order type to MidPrice and selects the Bid/Ask midpoint as the default price.
Next, the user may define the share quantity and in this case selects 300, and determines the time in force to GTC. The hotkey is saved simply by closing the dialog box.
When the user hovers the mouse over the “ask” price, notice the available hotkey commands. And by double clicking the user creates the order over in the right-side price panel.
Users can always make order modifications should they be required before submitting the order.
Remember, hotkeys are there to make your trading experience faster. We hope you find using and creating hotkeys helpful.
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The analysis in this material is provided for information only and is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. To the extent that this material discusses general market activity, industry or sector trends or other broad-based economic or political conditions, it should not be construed as research or investment advice. To the extent that it includes references to specific securities, commodities, currencies, or other instruments, those references do not constitute a recommendation by IBKR to buy, sell or hold such investments. This material does not and is not intended to take into account the particular financial conditions, investment objectives or requirements of individual customers. Before acting on this material, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, as necessary, seek professional advice.
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Hello, is there a possibility for a hotkey which can automatically attached bracket orders with certain amount of defined preset? for example like the stop loss is 1% risk and the “take profit” is based on Risk/Reward ratio of maybe 2. Those are just for examples. Thank you.
Hello, thank you for your question. For now, we have only basic hotkeys available:
https://ibkrguides.com/releasenotes/ibkrdesktop/2023/preview/ntws-preview-v0.04.htm
Advanced keys are certainly in our development queue for future releases.
Are automated bracket orders available at this time? I am newer to IBKR and looking to use this function
Hello, thank you for reaching out. You can click on “Attach Orders” in the order ticket and click Profit Taker and Stop Loss. The software will automatically input a price, that you can change if desired. We hope this information is helpful.
In TWS we could set hotkeys for instant transmit. Now the rapid screen, then the confirmation screen needs to be clicked. Is there a way to instantly transmit the order using a hot key.
Hello, thank you for reaching out. This is currently not available. However, it is on our roadmap. In the future, if you have a specific suggestion(s) on how we can improve, we would like to hear it! Please review this FAQ on where you can leave your feedback: https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=32653353
We hope this helps!
Add in for buy/sell to do it by Percentages….
july 31st 2025 is the instant transmit order working now in the ibkr desktop app?
Hi, thank you for reaching out. You can click “Skip Order Confirmation in the future”, on the bottom left hand side of the Order Confirmation. We hope this helps!
Yes, please add this feature!
Hi order confirmation always pops up even after disabling in message and also place order instant under hotkeys. There is always one popup comes up asking to click transmit. I wanted order to be placed immediately and this extra step I am losing precious time during momentum trading
This has been added in the latest beta.
I was wondering if there is hot key for selling portion of current position?? I don’t see this in chart trading options.
I was using reverse position hotkey and it worked for couple of days to execute the order immediete, however, now it doesn’t. Everytime I use it I get a notification that the instrument is not available for shorting!! Well am selling part of an open position so I really shouldn’t be getting this pop up!!!
Can you pls let me know how to execute scalling out instantly, without getting many popup msgs?!!
This has been added in the latest beta. Under order entry hotkeys, select CLOSE as the hotkey type, then choose from the percentages: currently it has 25, 50, 75, and 100%. I’d like a 10% option too.
podria indicarnos la secuencia en el procedimiento para la compra de opciones por intermedio de los calls o put. ( por donde se inicia y donde finaliza ).
Gracias por contactarnos. Ya sea que sea nuevo en opciones o quiera repasar algunos conceptos básicos sobre riesgos, o esté aprendiendo TWS y quiera saber cómo ubicar campos y datos de opciones, nuestro curso Introducción a las opciones es un excelente primer paso. No dude en consultar la clase. Podría ser un gran recurso para usted. https://ibkrcampus.com/trading-course/introduction-to-options/
¡Esperamos que esto le resulte útil!
Please add advanced hotkeys to IBKR desktop: buy using percentage of buying power, sell percentage of the position, instant execution without the rapid order and confirmation screen. It would make the application usable for momentum trading. Thank you.
Hello, thank you for reaching out. For now, we have only basic hotkeys available:
https://ibkrguides.com/releasenotes/ibkrdesktop/2023/preview/ntws-preview-v0.04.htm
Advanced keys are certainly in our development queue for future releases.
Can you share us the development roadmap pls? I have multiple accounts and I need to select always manually, which account I want to use for the actual order. There should be an option to check in the default account, then we could skip this manual step. It would be essential to use hotkeys IMMEDIATELY – without additional confirmation always.
Hi, thank you for asking. You can keep up to date on our new releases with the IBKR Desktop release notes: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/education/tradersu/documentation.php
We’re here for you and want to improve your experience! If you have a specific suggestion(s) on how we can improve, we would like to hear it! Please review this FAQ on where you can leave your feedback: https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=32653353
You can also post in the Feature Poll in Client Portal where other IBKR users can comment and vote: https://portal.interactivebrokers.com/portal/#/suggestions
We hope this helps!
What does Size option “available” means in case of an Order hot key? There is three options in that drop down: Default, Absolute and Available. I have spent an hour googling it but nothing on what Available means exactly. I am not sure if it is what it is suggests.
Hello, thank you for asking. In the Size field, select Available, then click OK. Now when you use the Buy or Sell hotkey, the order quantity will be determined by the number of available contracts as shown in the Ask Size or Bid Size field. Please view this User Guide for more information: https://www.ibkrguides.com/traderworkstation/hot-keys.htm
We hope this helps!
I’ve been using TWS for day trading (scalping) for the last 2 months and im really struggling, the response time for the hotkey Transmit pop up message to appear on my screen is literally 8-10 seconds. Also, the advanced charts alot of the times, candles started spiking and jumping up and down (unstable). I’ve used the beta, the latest and the stable version and alot of the times when u click on a ticker it takes 20 seconds to load. Note, that im not yet subscribed to your level 2 data; i wonder if that the case though the main order entry works just fine.
Hello, thank you for reaching out. Please review the minimum system requirements needed for TWS:
https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=1658&nhf=T
If you continue to experience issues, please create a detailed web ticket in Client Portal for troubleshooting: https://spr.ly/IBKR_ClientServicesCampus
is there a ways to switch stock in my list with a hotkey like down. I would like to navigate between my graph quickly like Trading view.
When are advanced hot keys being released, just like they were on the TWS platform? Automatic brackets for TP and SL, instant order transmission etc. Nice that we are on version 13 but still no advanced hot keys makes the app 50% useless.
I’m also missing advanced keys with immediate order transmission, close position (or % of position), etc. Also in MacOS when I configure a hotkey with the ctrl key it shows as if I’m using the meta key.
Hello, thank you for reaching out. For now, we have only basic hotkeys available:
https://ibkrguides.com/releasenotes/ibkrdesktop/2023/preview/ntws-preview-v0.04.htm
You can assign any keystroke, or a combination of the “Ctrl” and “Shift” keys with one of the 26 keyboard letters, to map specific order creation and order transmission commands, such as buy, sell, transmit and cancel.
Advanced keys are certainly in our development queue for future releases.
Pls release advanced hot keys: – automatic brackets for TP and SL, – instant order transmission – automatic account selection (default account) Make stock screeners “”detachable”, so I can open them (multiple ones!) in new windows – just like watchlists.
Hi Zoltan, advanced hotkeys are in our queue for future release. In the future, please view this FAQ for instructions to submit any specific suggestion(s) on how we can improve: https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=32653353
Also, you can also post in the Feature Poll in Client Portal where other IBKR users can comment and vote:
https://portal.interactivebrokers.com/portal/#/suggestions
Please reach back out with any additional questions. We are here to help!
Interactive Brokers, you have linked us to the “Interactive Brokers New Features Poll” twice in this set of comments. It is empty, blank, there is nothing to view or vote on?! Are there features coming? Anyway to see what they are? Roadmap of some kind? Upcoming releases? Useful information to respond with when we are asking for new features that a large portion of your userbase would use. Please and thank you!
Hello, thank you for reaching out. We cannot replicate this. Please click this link: https://portal.interactivebrokers.com/portal/#/suggestions
Also, you can review our Release notes at any time: https://ibkrguides.com/releasenotes/home.htm
Please add: 1) instantaneously hotkeys (1 click) to entry exit orders. 2) 10sec chart 3) screeners or scanners results should be as widget which u could attach to your template(side of charts). No u need to switch nonstop between templates and screeners.
Hello, thank you for asking. Please review this FAQ on where you can leave your feedback, and submit any specific suggestion(s) on how we can improve:
https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=32653353
You can also post in the Feature Poll in Client Portal where other IBKR users can comment and vote:
https://portal.interactivebrokers.com/portal/#/suggestions
03Oct2025-Any update on developing advanced hotkeys for below? Buy using percentage of buying power, sell percentage of the position, instant execution without the rapid order and confirmation screen, and hotkey to exit position.
Hi Ali, there is no ETA at this time.
Please add: 1) instantaneously hotkeys (1 click) to entry exit orders. 2) 10sec chart 3) screeners or scanners results should be as widget which u could attach to your template(side of charts). Execution of BUY/SELL orders is way too slow.
Hello, thank you for your question. For now, we have only basic hotkeys available:
https://ibkrguides.com/releasenotes/ibkrdesktop/2023/preview/ntws-preview-v0.04.htm
Advanced keys are certainly in our development queue for future releases. For any additional suggestions, please review this FAQ on where you can leave your feedback: https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=32653353
You can also post in the Feature Poll in Client Portal where other IBKR users can comment and vote: https://portal.interactivebrokers.com/portal/#/suggestions
We hope this helps!
Advanced Hot keys are in the future development, as you say? How distant this future, could you pls, specify?
Hello, i have several hotkeys set up for order entry in market depth trader. I have hot keys setup for limit and market orders. If i click in a general area of level 2, the hotkeys won’t work. If i click on “deep book buttons” then hit hot key, they work. Once I place an order entry, then i immediately want to enter a strop loss order with a hot key, it doesnt work. I again have to click on “deep book bottons” then it will work. How can i correct this? Does it seem like a window focus issue? Also, if i enter a hot key that has both a limit buy and a mkt stop loss, I can adjust the limit price with hot key i created, but if i down arrow and then use hot key to increase or reduce aux/stop price, it will not work. can you please tell me how to correct this? in both cases, i am trying to use mouse as little as possible.
* mean to say ” i have hot keys set up for limit and stop loss orders” in first portion of question
Hotkeys on Desktop are garbage. Where am I allowed to even use them? I try and nothing happens. I have the chart selected and nothing happens. Then I try again and they work and are severely delayed. Whats the point of hotkeys if they’re inconsistent and slow to execute