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Requesting a Paper Trading Account

Lesson 6 of 7

Duration 3:16
Level Beginner
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What is a paper trading account?

All IBKR clients have the ability to open a paper trading account. A paper trading account allows traders to use the full range of IBKR’s trading features in a simulated environment using real market conditions. 

The trading permissions, base currency, and account type in the paper trading account will match the regular, live account. Trades entered in this paper trading account will not actually execute on any exchange or settle at a clearing house. However, the price of the “executions” will be determined by real market prices and sizes.

What are the benefits of using a paper trading account?

Using a paper trading account is a great way to learn how the trading platforms work and get acclimated to the trading tools before using them in a live account with real money. 

Traders can also use the paper trading account to try out new features or order types. Or they can even use the paper trading account to test out a trading strategy in a simulated environment.

How to request a paper trading account?

Paper trading accounts are requested from the Account Portal of the live account. Click the Head & Shoulders icon in the upper right corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. 

Under the Account Configuration section, click Paper Trading Account. The paper trading account will have separate login credentials from the live account, so enter a username and password for the paper trading account. When ready, click Continue to reach a confirmation screen.

If the request is submitted prior to 4pm Eastern Time on a normal business day, the paper trading account will be ready for use by the following day.

Can the paper trading account have live market data?

The market data subscriptions for the live account can be shared with the paper trading account so that the trader does not need to pay for the same market data subscriptions in both a live and simulated environment. 

The trader can select which username on the live account they would like to share the market data with for the paper account. On the Account Settings page, select Paper Trading Account and select Yes to share real-time market data subscriptions with the paper trading account. A drop-down menu will appear to select the username whose market data is to be shared.

Note that if the market data is shared, the user cannot access the data for both the live account and the paper trading account at the same time.

In the bottom right-hand corner, the investor can also reset the paper trading account password if needed. Once the desired changes have been made, click Save.

How to login to the paper trading account?

Once the paper trading account is activated, traders begin simulated trading in either the Trader Workstation (TWS) or the IBKR Mobile app. On the login screen for either platform, make sure to click the Paper Trading button before entering the username and password for the paper trading account.

Resources

User Guide: Paper Trading Account

About Paper Trading Accounts

Additional Video Courses

Intro to IBKR Tools

Advanced IBKR Tools

TWS for Advisors, Introducing Brokers, & Fund Managers

Join The Conversation

If you have a general question, it may already be covered in our FAQs. If you have an account-specific question or concern, please reach out to Client Services.

27 thoughts on “Requesting a Paper Trading Account”

  • Sherry B

    Can I have a free trail simulated account for longer than 30 days, if not, how much do I need to deposit to keep it open longer?

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hello, thank you for asking. While there is no set time limit for use of the free trial account, its purpose is to offer prospective clients the ability to operate the trading system in a simulated environment before making any commitment to open and fund a live account. IBKR, however, will periodically review and close trial accounts that have not been logged into over an extended period of time. In the event this occurs, prospective clients are invited to apply for a new trial account. https://www.ibkr.com/faq?id=50658541

      If you are interested in opening an account: http://spr.ly/OpenAccountfromIBKRCampus

      Please reach back out with any additional questions. We are here to help!

      • Anonymous

        Hi,
        I have been doing paper trading (simulation) on IBKR desktop but since yesterday I have not been able to login to IBKR desktop after raising that I needed advanced option permission.
        I have reset my password but that did not help me login. How do I login to the desktop application?

  • Ofek

    Does it work with real market prices or delayed?

  • Anonymous

    Hello
    I want to activate real time options in paper trading can you help me?

  • Anonymous

    Can the paper trading account be used after market hours and on weekends? I work full time Mon – Fri. during regular market hours.

    • Interactive Brokers

      Yes, paper trading accounts can be used after market hours and on weekends. We hope this helps!

  • sunila valecha

    I am not able to use paper trading using client portal or IBKR app. I login in paper trading but I cannot trade anything. When I click on trade icon it says
    You are logged in without Trading/Market Data permissions
    You are not connected to the brokerage system (You may be logged in on another platform). The displayed portfolio and market data are delayed.

    You can still manage your account but can’t trade.

    How do I fix this??????

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hello, thank you for reaching out. Please click the blue button that appears with the error message you receive (“You are logged in without trading/market data permissions”). That should effectively log you out of all other sessions. Please note that there can only be one active session at a given time.

      We hope this helps!

      • Chris

        I have just created a paper trading account and tried the Blue login button and also the blue Trade but nothing happens so what should I do next?

        • Interactive Brokers

          Hello, thank you for reaching out. Can you please clarify your question? 

  • Joseph

    Hi Interactive,
    I am trying to login to ibkr desktop app but I am getting a box saying this – “Login failed, Passwords are case sensitive. Individual account access activates the day of approval.”

    I have been paper trading on my trial account since some months but this is the first time I am unable to login due to this issue. I can still login to client portal where I was getting “You are logged in without Trading/Market Data permissions”. I clicked Dismiss but I still cannot login to the application. I have also reset my password multiple times but still cannot login.

    Can you help me with login to ibkr desktop?

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hi Joseph, thank you for reaching out. For a login issue, please click the “Need help?” on the Client Portal log in page and follow the prompts to regain access.
      https://ndcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/sso/Login?RL

      If the above does not work, you will have to call our Client Services team for account security reasons. IBKR DOES NOT reset passwords, provide usernames, or unlock accounts via e-mail or chat. Thank you for understanding. You can find our available phone support here: http://spr.ly/IBKR_ClientServicesCampus

      Please note that there can only be one active session at a given time. Please click the blue button that appears with the error message you receive (“You are logged in without trading/market data permissions”). That should effectively log you out of all other sessions.

      We hope this helps!

  • Anonymous

    Hi there,
    I am trying to login to ibkr desktop app but I am getting a box saying this – “Login failed, Passwords are case sensitive. Individual account access activates the day of approval.”

    I have been paper trading on my trial account but these two days I couldnt able to log in. I recieved this message: Login failed, Passwords are case sensitive. Individual account access activates the day of approval.”

    • Interactive Brokers

      Thank you for reaching out. For a login issue, please click the “Need help?” on the Client Portal log in page and follow the prompts to regain access. https://ndcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/sso/Login?RL

      If the above does not work, you will have to call our Client Services team for account security reasons. IBKR DOES NOT reset passwords, provide usernames, or unlock accounts via e-mail or chat. Thank you for understanding.

      You can find our available phone support here: http://spr.ly/IBKR_ClientServicesCampus

  • Nitin Sharma

    i want to download paper trading software for windows i already have account fpr paper trading

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hi Nitin, thank you for reaching out. To access your paper trading account on the Trader Workstation (TWS) trading platform for Windows:
      Download and install the latest version of TWS.
      When logging in, toggle to Paper from the login window.
      Enter your paper trading account credentials.
      You can view our system requirements here: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/?f=%2Fen%2Ftrading%2Ftws-requirements.php
      We hope this helps!

  • Derrick

    hai there, I have had an account for about a week now, but i can still not use the paper account with which i want to test my strategies with before using real money. Does that have to be activated or something ? I can basically do nothing when i log in, in the paper account section. Please help or activate the use so i can start my journey.

    • Interactive Brokers

      Thank you for contacting us on IBKR Campus. To address your concern/inquiry, we need a few more details about the situation and your account; unfortunately, IBKR Campus is not a secure channel to share this information. We kindly ask that you contact our Client Services team for further assistance via web ticket, live chat, or phone call using the link below. We appreciate your understanding.
      http://spr.ly/IBKR_ClientServicesCampus

  • Tam

    Is there any way, when using a trial account that is unfunded, to be able to try the market data APIs on a paper trading account, using only delayed data (or even synthetic data)? I just want to familiarize myself with the APIs before deciding whether to fund an account and subscribe for L2 data in all the markets in which I wish to trade.

    • Interactive Brokers

      Hi Tam, thank you for reaching out. Trial accounts are not supported for any of our API offerings. Once an account is created, but not yet funded, you may use the supplied Paper Trading account to request delayed market data. Please keep in mind that the delayed market data is only available for Level 1 Top of Book data as well as historical data. Delayed data is not available for tick-by-tick requests nor level 2 market depth. If you have any additional questions, please create a web ticket for this inquiry; we have a category specifically for “API.” One of our API experts will be happy to guide you! http://spr.ly/IBKR_ClientServicesCampus

  • Anonymous

    Hi, I want to have my real account portfolio in paper trading to test margin issues. How can I import my portfolio?

    • Interactive Brokers

      Thank you for asking. It is not possible to transfer positions into a paper account, even for informational purposes. In order to establish a position in a paper account, you must place a trade from within the paper trading account. https://www.interactivebrokers.com/faq?id=32651282

  • Anonymous

    Hi. I’m currently paper trading and find the liquidity of 1 million dollars to be a bit much. I plan on starting daytrading with $2000 and thus would like to start with this number in paper trading as well. Is there any way to change the liquidity/balance from 1 million dollars to $2000?

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Disclosure: Interactive Brokers

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.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Interactive Brokers, its affiliates, or its employees.

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