If the software is open but you are not logged in and a login window is not open, this will open a login window for you.
Once you are logged in, if you have multiple accounts associated with your login, you can switch between them via the account number drop-down in the title bar of the window. This area also indicates whether you are in Live or Demo mode.
Demo Mode
You can log in to Live Mode or choose Demo instead and take advantage of using the software with real time data without the risk of making mistakes in your live account.
- Get familiar with all aspects of the software: indicators, chart, confirmation messages, settings, etc.
- Practice entering orders quickly, including changing share size, price, and execution venue.
- Observe the Market Depth information, the movement of Market Makers and ECNs.
- Correlate price movements on a stock with market or sector movements.
- Learn what momentum may look like in the Market Depth screen.
- Observe the different types of stocks and different ways of trading based on spreads, volume, velocity, and momentum.
- Observe chart pattern formation.
NOTE: You should not determine the success rate of a trading strategy based on demo mode or simulator performance. Orders placed in Demo mode are filled randomly, with no regard to price, so the fill rates have no resemblance to those you might experience in Live mode. Only use demo mode for learning the mechanics of the software. Balance and transaction data is not available in Demo mode.
Once you set up your display and settings customized to your needs, you will want to save those changes. You have a choice of doing this manually by selecting Save all Layouts and Settings, or enabling the auto-save feature in the Settings menu below.
This menu item will be grayed out if you have auto-save enabled. If not, you will need to remember to manually save your layout changes by choosing this menu item before you log off.
See more on backing up and restoring your settings and layouts
Back up your layout(s) and settings to either the Schwab server or to a local file.
Schwab Server - Only the latest version of your layouts/settings will save to the server. The previous version will be overwritten, but you can change the description of the file when you save it.
Local File - To save multiple versions of your layouts and settings, save them locally. File names will default to include the date of the backup, or you can give them unique names of your choosing. If you use the same file name, it will overwrite the previously saved version of the same name.
See more on backing up and restoring your settings and layouts
Loads a saved backup either from the Schwab server or from a local file.
When you load a saved backup, your current layouts and settings will be temporarily backed up so that you can revert to your previous set-up if necessary.
See more on backing up and restoring your settings and layouts
Use to revert back to the settings you were using before you loaded a saved layout.
See more on backing up and restoring your settings and layouts
It is important that you do not use the Live Help window in the Schwab trading platforms to request, authorize or effect the purchase or sale of any security or commodity, to send fund transfer instructions, or to effect any other transactions. Any such requests, orders, or instructions that you send will not be accepted and will not be processed.