NinjaTrader broker disconnections: causes and how to fix them

Broker disconnections can occur for a variety of reasons, even when a stable internet connection is in place. Replikanto logs broker disconnections in NinjaTrader to notify you of disruptions between NinjaTrader and your broker. During a disconnection, follower accounts become unavailable and trade copying is paused. Replikanto cannot intervene in these situations, as it does not control the connection between NinjaTrader and the broker.

Why disconnections happen

• Internet Service Provider (ISP) issues can cause disconnections.
• Problems with the broker can lead to disconnections.
• Network instability between the NinjaTrader Desktop app and the broker's servers can cause connection loss errors.
• Wireless and satellite connections can drop packets or have poor latency. A hardwired (Ethernet) connection is recommended.
• Mobile hotspots and public Wi-Fi networks may not be reliable enough for trading applications like NinjaTrader Desktop.
• Missing Windows updates can cause unexpected behavior.
• Firewall, antivirus, or backup software can interfere with the connection to brokerage servers.
• VPN services can cause connection issues.
• A connection loss between your computer and the brokerage servers will generate an error message that reads "Close operation failed. Operation timed out. Manually close your position.".

Troubleshooting connection losses

The steps below come from NinjaTrader's own connection-loss guidance, with the most common solutions listed first. Test for continued connection losses after each step.

1. Restart NinjaTrader, your PC, and your modem/router. Also restart the NinjaTrader Desktop app daily to refresh its database and connections, much like refreshing a browser tab that is misbehaving.
2. Install all available Windows updates (Windows Settings > Update and Security). Missing updates are a major cause of unexpected behavior. Close NinjaTrader and restart your computer after any updates install.
3. Keep NinjaTrader exempt from firewall, antivirus, and backup software. Add the Documents\NinjaTrader 8 folder to the exception list of every such program.
4. Recreate your connections in Control Center > Connections > Configure. New connections often resolve odd behavior, such as a connection stuck in a yellow "Connecting" status, and general communication issues with the servers.
5. Flush your DNS cache. Press Windows Key + R, type cmd and click OK. In the Command Prompt, type ipconfig/flushdns and press Enter. Restart NinjaTrader afterwards.
6. Disable your VPN service (if applicable). Connections blocked by an ISP or VPN provider must be resolved with that provider directly.
7. Test your home network thoroughly. If you are on Wi-Fi, connect your computer directly to the router/modem with an Ethernet cable (or vice versa if you are already hard-wired). Mobile hotspots and public Wi-Fi are generally not reliable enough for any trading application.

Still unable to connect?

If you have tried all the steps above and still see connection losses, contact your Internet Service Provider to make sure your home network is stable and reliable. If possible, test on a different network to isolate whether the problem is the network or the computer.

Keep in mind that NinjaTrader's performance is not driven by internet download speed. Live chart data requires a constant connection to your data provider's servers, so connection losses are more noticeable here than in other programs, such as streaming services, which buffer to absorb interruptions. A reliable, uninterrupted connection is the single most important factor for NinjaTrader Desktop's connections to the brokerage, price feed, and historical data servers.

What happens when the connection is restored

Once the broker reconnects, the affected accounts automatically reappear in NinjaTrader and Replikanto, and trade copying resumes. However, any trades the leader entered or exited during the disconnection will not be retroactively copied, so follower accounts may be out of sync with the leader. Replikanto indicates this with a yellow circle next to the affected account. Check each follower's position against the leader and manually adjust any mismatches before continuing to trade.