TradingBoss Frequently Asked Questions (Beginner-Friendly, Detailed)
Welcome to the TradingBoss FAQ.
This document is designed to be the place you come back to when you think:
“Am I doing this right?”
“Why didn’t it trade today?”
“What does UNLICENSED mean?”
“Do I need to restart anything every morning?”
If you’re completely new to futures, NinjaTrader, or prop firms, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed at first. Nothing about this is “obvious” the first time you see it. The good news is: once your setup is correct, TradingBoss is mostly hands-off.
✅ Important update (read this carefully)
TradingBoss strategies now auto-refresh daily.
You do NOT need to disconnect/reconnect each morning or restart strategies daily.
Once enabled correctly on your VPS, they can run continuously.
You only intervene if there’s an error or a connection issue.
What You’ll Learn
This FAQ is organized into categories so you can find answers quickly:
Getting Started
Licensing
Strategy Questions
Risk & Settings
Prop Firm Questions
Technical Questions
At the end, you’ll also find “what to do next” so you always know the next best step.
Getting Started (10+)
1) Do I need a VPS?
In most cases, yes—especially if you want reliable 24/7 operation.
A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a remote Windows computer that stays on all the time in a data center. Your bots run there even if your laptop is off, your Wi-Fi drops, or you’re asleep.
Why this matters:
Futures markets and prop firm connections can be sensitive to disconnects.
Strategies need stable uptime to run normally.
A VPS reduces “random problems” caused by home internet and power outages.
If you’re serious about automation, a VPS is not optional—it’s the correct foundation.
Next step: See vps-setup.md.
2) Can I run TradingBoss on my home computer instead?
Technically you can, but it’s not recommended for most people.
Home PC risks include:
Internet drops
Windows updates forcing restarts
Laptop sleeping or shutting down
Power outages
Accidental closing of NinjaTrader
If you do run at home:
You must keep the computer on
Disable sleep mode
Disable auto-restarts
Ensure stable internet
Be okay with more hands-on monitoring
💡 Beginner guidance
If you’re new and want the smoothest experience, start with a VPS.
Most beginner frustrations disappear when uptime is stable.
3) How long does setup take?
Most beginners can complete setup in about 30 minutes if:
VPS is ready
NinjaTrader is installed
You have your prop firm credentials
You have your license key
If it takes longer, that’s normal too. The first time you do this, you’re learning:
where menus are,
what connections mean,
and how to confirm success.
Next step: Follow quick-start.md and strategy-setup.md step by step.
4) Do I need trading experience to use TradingBoss?
No. You do not need to be an experienced discretionary trader.
But you do need to understand a few basics:
contract sizing (mini vs micro)
tick value (how price movement becomes dollars)
prop firm rules (especially trailing drawdown)
That’s why we provide:
risk-management.mdprop-firm-guide.mdglossary.md
If you’re willing to learn the basics, you’ll be fine.
5) What futures markets do the strategies trade?
TradingBoss strategies trade only these instruments:
NQ / MNQ (NASDAQ futures)
ES / MES (S&P 500 futures)
These were chosen because:
they are liquid (easy to enter/exit),
widely supported by prop firms,
and compatible with automation infrastructure.
6) What do I need before I start?
Here’s the “must-have” checklist:
A VPS (recommended: ChartVPS) or a dedicated always-on Windows machine
NinjaTrader installed and working on that machine
Prop firm / broker connection credentials (Tradovate or Rithmic depending on your account)
Your TradingBoss license key
A plan for which strategy you’re running (start simple)
✅ Success indicator
If you can connect your broker in NinjaTrader and see a chart moving, you’re 80% of the way there.
7) What does “set and forget” actually mean?
It means:
You configure strategy once correctly.
You enable it.
The strategy handles daily resets automatically.
It does not mean:
“You never look at it again forever.”
Healthy expectations:
You should do a quick daily check (30 seconds) to confirm:
NinjaTrader is open
you’re connected
strategy status looks normal
Next step: See daily-operations.md.
8) Do I need to restart strategies every morning?
No. This is the most common beginner misconception.
✅ Current system behavior
Strategies auto-refresh daily.
You do not manually disconnect/reconnect or restart strategies each morning.
Only intervene if:
you see a connection error,
NinjaTrader crashed,
the strategy shows UNLICENSED,
charts are frozen,
or status is clearly abnormal.
9) Which strategy should I start with as a complete beginner?
A safe starting approach is usually:
Start with micros (MNQ or MES)
Use a one-trade-per-day strategy first (less chaos):
MONEYBAGS or Blitz
Or use 60M if you prefer a slower structure on ES/MES
Avoid starting with:
FastPass if you don’t understand drawdown risk
Pulse if you don’t want higher frequency / more activity
Next step: See strategy-reference.md.
10) What’s the difference between NQ and MNQ (and ES vs MES)?
This is one of the most important beginner concepts:
MNQ is 1/10th the size of NQ
MES is 1/10th the size of ES
That means:
NQ moves $5 per tick per contract
MNQ moves $0.50 per tick per contract
So “1 contract” is not a universal unit. It depends on the instrument.
Next step: See risk-management.md.
Licensing (10+)
1) Where do I find my license key?
Your license key is usually delivered after purchase via email and/or member portal.
It typically looks like: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
If you can’t find it:
Search your inbox for “TradingBoss” or “license”
Check spam/junk folders
If still missing, contact support with the email used at purchase
2) Where do I enter the license key in NinjaTrader?
You enter it inside the strategy settings.
General process:
Open the chart that has the strategy applied
Right-click the chart → Strategies
Select the TradingBoss strategy
Find the License Key field (often in a section like “License” or “Group 0. License”)
Paste the full key
Click OK or Apply
✅ Success indicator
You should see “LICENSE VALID” in the Output window and/or the chart status shows normal operation (ACTIVE/SCANNING).
Next step: See licensing.md.
3) Why does my strategy say UNLICENSED?
UNLICENSED means the strategy could not validate licensing.
Common causes:
License key missing or pasted incorrectly
Extra spaces before/after the key
Subscription expired or payment failed
Machine binding issue (new VPS)
Account limit reached
Temporary network error reaching the license server
What to do:
Open strategy settings and re-paste the key carefully
Confirm there are no spaces
Check Output window for an error message
If it persists, contact support with a screenshot of:
strategy settings license field
Output window message
4) My key is correct—why does it still fail?
If the key is correct, the most likely issues are:
Machine binding: you changed VPS or reinstalled Windows
Account limit: you’re using the license on too many trading accounts
Network issue: VPS can’t reach license server temporarily
If you suspect machine binding:
You may need a reset from support.
5) Can I use one license on multiple computers or VPS machines?
Usually no, because licensing includes machine binding.
Machine binding exists to prevent sharing and protect the system.
If you switch VPS providers or replace your VPS:
Expect to request a reset.
Next step: See licensing.md (Machine Binding section).
6) What happens if I change my VPS?
When you move to a new VPS:
the machine ID changes,
the license server sees a new machine,
the strategy may fail validation until reset.
If you’re planning a move:
do it on a weekend or outside trading hours
expect a brief licensing reactivation step
7) How many accounts can I trade with my license?
This depends on your product/license tier.
Common pattern:
default account cap (example: 2)
bundle tiers may allow more
If you hit the limit:
remove strategy from unused accounts
or request an upgrade
8) What does “LICENSE VALID” look like?
You’ll typically see:
Output window message like:
LICENSE VALIDStrategy status transitions into normal operation:
ACTIVE (or SCANNING)
then IN TRADE when applicable
If you do not see license messages:
open the Output window in NinjaTrader and review recent logs.
9) What if licensing fails due to internet/server hiccup?
TradingBoss strategies are designed to retry and be resilient.
If you see a temporary connection error:
wait a minute and check again
confirm your VPS has internet
avoid constant restarting unless instructed
💡 Tip
Repeatedly toggling strategies on/off during a transient licensing issue can create extra confusion.
First confirm internet and wait for retry.
10) I bought FastPass only—will I see other strategies?
If your product is FastPass standalone, you should only have access to FastPass.
If you purchased the Full Bundle, you should have:
FastPass
MONEYBAGS
Blitz
Pulse
60M (TradingBoss60MES)
If something doesn’t match what you purchased:
contact support so your license/product mapping can be checked.
Strategy Questions (10+)
1) Why didn’t my strategy take any trades today?
This is one of the most common questions, and most of the time it’s not an error.
Common reasons:
Strategy trading window wasn’t active yet (time filter)
Strategy is set to max 1 trade per day and already traded
Signal conditions weren’t met (filters/thresholds)
You selected the wrong instrument or timeframe
Connection/data feed issue (chart not updating)
Strategy not enabled (gray instead of green)
License issue
What to do:
Confirm chart is moving (data flowing)
Confirm strategy is enabled (green)
Confirm correct instrument + timeframe
Check status text (SCANNING vs DONE FOR DAY vs UNLICENSED)
Check Output window for errors
Next step: See troubleshooting.md (“No trades taken today”).
2) What does ACTIVE mean?
ACTIVE generally means:
licensing is valid,
strategy is running,
and it’s able to trade when conditions are met.
It does not mean it’s currently in a trade.
3) What does SCANNING mean?
SCANNING means:
strategy is enabled,
but it’s waiting for a valid setup.
This is normal.
If you’re scanning and you expect trading:
confirm time window is correct
confirm your chart/timeframe/instrument match the strategy requirements
4) What does IN TRADE mean?
IN TRADE means:
strategy currently has an open position,
and should also have attached orders (stop/target) depending on strategy design.
If you’re nervous seeing an open position:
don’t panic
check Chart Trader / Orders tab to confirm protective orders exist
only flatten manually if something is clearly wrong
5) What does DONE FOR DAY / SESSION COMPLETE mean?
This usually means:
the strategy hit its daily limit (trade count, profit cap, or loss cap)
or the session window ended
This is normal behavior and often a safety feature.
6) What does WARMUP mean (Pulse)?
Pulse has a warmup phase (commonly ~15 minutes) after enabling.
Why:
ensures indicators initialize correctly
reduces “stale startup” signals
What to do:
nothing
let it complete warmup
ensure chart has data moving
7) Can I run multiple strategies at the same time?
On prop firm accounts, it’s strongly discouraged.
Two big risks:
Hedging violations (one strategy long, another short)
Contract stacking (total size becomes larger than you think)
Best practice:
one strategy per account
If you want to test multiple strategies:
put them on different accounts
or rotate by day/week
Next step: See prop-firm-guide.md.
8) Can I change the strategy’s stop loss or target?
For most TradingBoss strategies, you should not change stop/target unless you’re explicitly instructed.
Why:
the strategy logic and performance assumptions are built around those structures
changing them can break the intended behavior and risk profile
If you want less risk:
reduce contracts (or use micros)
adjust risk-per-trade settings where supported (60M)
adjust daily loss limits (Pulse)
9) Why do some strategies trade once per day and others trade more?
They are designed for different behaviors:
FastPass: aggressive evaluation attempt (one trade)
MONEYBAGS: one trade per day (target 20 ticks)
Blitz: one trade per day with quality filters (power hour)
Pulse: higher frequency intraday scalping
60M: trend following logic (can take multiple trades, but filtered)
Choosing the right one depends on:
your risk tolerance
account type (eval vs funded)
how hands-off you want to be
10) What should “a normal day” look like?
Normal includes all of these:
no trade taken (because filters didn’t trigger)
one trade win
one trade loss
strategy stops after hitting daily rules
waiting/scanning most of the day
If you expected nonstop trades, that expectation should be adjusted. These are probability-based systems with filters, not constant signal generators.
Risk & Settings (10+)
1) Should I trade NQ or MNQ?
If you are a beginner, MNQ is usually the better starting choice.
Why:
MNQ is 1/10th the size of NQ
smaller swings
less chance of drawdown violation
NQ can be appropriate when:
you understand tick value deeply
you have a larger drawdown buffer
you’re intentionally trading higher risk
Next step: See risk-management.md.
2) What’s a safe position size?
There is no universal answer because:
strategy stop sizes differ
prop firm drawdown rules differ
account size differs
your tolerance differs
But a safe beginner approach is:
micros (MNQ/MES)
1–3 contracts to start
confirm risk math before increasing
If you want a concrete method:
calculate your risk per trade in dollars using:
Stop (ticks) × Tick Value × Contracts
3) How do I calculate dollar risk on a trade?
Use this formula:
Dollar Risk = Stop (ticks) × Tick Value × Contracts
Example (Pulse on MNQ):
stop 88 ticks
tick value $0.50
2 contracts
Risk = 88 × 0.50 × 2 = $88
4) What is the tick value of each instrument?
Reference:
NQ
$5.00
$20.00
MNQ
$0.50
$2.00
ES
$12.50
$50.00
MES
$1.25
$5.00
5) Why do prop accounts blow up so fast?
Because trailing drawdown is small relative to contract volatility.
A “50K account” might only have around:
~$2,500 drawdown room (varies)
If you risk $500–$1,000 per trade:
a few losses can end it
or even a big unrealized swing can tighten trailing thresholds
This is why micros are powerful for survival.
6) What is trailing drawdown in simple terms?
Trailing drawdown is a moving “fail line” that follows your account peak.
As you hit new highs:
the fail line moves up behind you
It usually does not move back down.
Some firms trail unrealized equity, which can surprise beginners.
Next step: See risk-management.md (Trailing Drawdown section).
7) Should I be more aggressive on evaluations than funded accounts?
Many traders choose higher risk on evaluations because:
evaluations are cheaper/replaceable
goal is to pass quickly
But once funded:
you should usually become more conservative
goal becomes longevity and payouts
8) What settings can I safely adjust?
General guidance:
MONEYBAGS: adjust entry quantity (contracts). Avoid changing stop/target.
Blitz: adjust entry quantity, time window (if allowed), day filters (if allowed).
Pulse: contracts, session times, daily profit cap, daily loss limit, max trades per 15 min.
60M: risk-per-trade (dollars), daily max loss, daily profit target, time window, probability thresholds (only if you understand impact).
FastPass: generally do not adjust core trade sizing/structure unless instructed; eval-only.
For the safest “risk control,” adjust:
contract size (micros)
daily loss limits (where supported)
9) I changed quantity and now performance looks different—why?
Because quantity changes more than “how much you make.”
It also changes:
how fast you hit daily limits
how close you get to trailing drawdown
how much slippage matters
emotional stress (which can cause manual interference)
If you increase size, do it gradually and track outcomes over weeks, not a single day.
10) What’s the difference between conservative, moderate, aggressive?
Conservative:
small size
micros
stable survival approach
Moderate:
larger size
still controlled
faster growth but more volatility
Aggressive:
large size, often minis
high chance of drawdown violations
sometimes “pass or fail quickly” behavior
If you’re unsure:
start conservative
earn the right to scale
Prop Firm Questions (10+)
1) Which prop firm should I use?
Many TradingBoss users start with firms that are compatible with automation and allow scalable account structures.
A common starting direction is:
Apex-style accounts with Tradovate or Rithmic connection (depending on what you purchased)
But the best choice can depend on:
whether the firm allows single-day passing
whether they enforce consistency rules
the broker connection you prefer
If you don’t know:
ask support for the current recommended setup.
2) Do all firms allow passing in one day?
No.
Some allow passing the moment you hit profit target.
Others require:
minimum trading days
consistency rules
daily profit caps
This directly affects whether FastPass style passing is viable.
3) What is an evaluation account?
An evaluation account is the “test stage” where you:
aim to hit a profit target
while respecting drawdown rules
Passing typically qualifies you for a funded/PA account.
4) What changes once I’m funded?
The goal changes.
Evaluation:
pass quickly (some choose higher risk)
Funded/PA:
protect the account
follow payout requirements
reduce risk for stability
This is where most people should shift to conservative settings.
5) What is a PA (Performance Account)?
A PA is a funded account stage (term used by some firms).
It’s the stage where payouts become possible if you meet payout rules.
6) What is hedging (and why is it dangerous with bots)?
Hedging is holding opposing positions that some prop firms flag as rule violations.
It can happen accidentally if you run multiple strategies on the same account:
one goes long
another goes short
Solution:
one strategy per account
7) What is contract stacking?
Contract stacking is when:
Strategy A trades 2 contracts
Strategy B trades 3 contracts
total exposure becomes 5 contracts
This can:
increase risk beyond what you intended
push you into drawdown thresholds faster
Solution:
one strategy per account
8) Can I run the same strategy on multiple accounts?
Yes, as long as:
your license tier supports the number of accounts
you are comfortable with correlated outcomes
you size appropriately
Be careful:
if you run the same strategy on 10 eval accounts at once, you can pass 10 or fail 10 the same day.
9) Why do prop firms have trailing drawdown?
It’s a risk control.
It forces traders to:
avoid extreme drawdowns
protect the firm’s capital model
trade with discipline
Even if it feels harsh, it’s the rule you must design around.
10) What is the fastest way to pass?
Fastest approaches typically involve:
choosing a firm that allows immediate passing upon profit target
using aggressive eval-specific strategies like FastPass
But “fastest” comes with higher failure rate.
A balanced approach for many people is:
one-trade-per-day strategies (MONEYBAGS, Blitz)
micros
stable progression
Technical Questions (10+)
1) What does a green connection indicator mean?
Green usually means:
you are connected
data should be flowing
accounts should appear
If charts are still frozen while connection is green:
it may be a chart/data refresh issue
check if the instrument is correct and current
verify time and sales or chart is updating
2) What does yellow connection indicator mean?
Yellow usually means:
NinjaTrader is attempting to connect
it is in progress
If yellow stays too long:
credentials might be wrong
service might be down
there may be network issues
Wait 10–30 seconds, then check logs.
3) What does red connection indicator mean?
Red usually means:
connection failed
you are not receiving data
strategy may not trade
Common causes:
wrong credentials
wrong connection type (Tradovate vs Rithmic)
prop firm maintenance window
temporary network problem on VPS
Action:
Open the Log tab
Read the error message
Confirm credentials
Retry connection once
If persistent, screenshot and contact support
4) What does gray strategy status mean?
Gray typically means:
strategy is not enabled
or not active on the chart
Check:
strategy checkbox enabled
correct chart loaded
license valid
5) NinjaTrader crashed—what should I do?
Don’t panic.
Steps:
Reopen NinjaTrader
Load your saved workspace
Confirm connection is green
Confirm strategies are still enabled and showing normal status
If it keeps crashing:
note what you were doing
check if VPS is low on resources
contact support with error details
6) What if I accidentally closed a chart?
This happens to everyone.
Fix:
Reopen the chart with the correct instrument/timeframe
Add the strategy again
Re-enter license if needed
Select the correct account
Enable the strategy
Save workspace again
Next step: See strategy-setup.md and troubleshooting.md (“Accidentally closed a chart”).
7) My chart is frozen/not updating—what does that mean?
Most often it means:
data feed is not flowing
connection dropped
chart is on an expired/old instrument
or the chart needs a refresh
Do this:
Confirm connection is green
Try switching timeframe and back
Verify you’re on the current contract (if applicable)
Check Log/Output for errors
If still frozen:
reconnect once
if unresolved, contact support with screenshot
8) Do I need to disconnect/reconnect every morning?
No.
✅ Current behavior
TradingBoss strategies auto-refresh daily.
Manual daily routine is not required.
You only reconnect if:
connection is red
charts are frozen
you see explicit connection errors
9) What should I send support if something is wrong?
Send:
a screenshot of the chart
a screenshot of the strategy settings (especially license/account/instrument)
the Output window message (if present)
your email used for purchase
which strategy you’re running
what you expected to happen vs what happened
The clearer your info, the faster support can solve it.
10) How do I know my bots are actually running if I disconnect Remote Desktop?
A common beginner fear is:
“If I close my laptop, does the VPS stop?”
No.
If you disconnect RDP:
the VPS keeps running
NinjaTrader keeps running
strategies keep running
You can safely disconnect and reconnect later.
Next step: See vps-setup.md and daily-operations.md.
Summary
You now have answers to the most common questions across:
setup and expectations,
licensing behavior,
strategy logic and statuses,
risk and sizing,
prop firm rules,
and technical issues.
If you’re ever stuck, the safest approach is:
slow down,
verify instrument/timeframe/account/license,
then check Output/Log,
then reach support with screenshots.
Next Steps
Read
glossary.mdnext This will make every other guide easier because you’ll understand the vocabulary.
Last updated