NinjaTrader 8 Setup for Tradeify: Complete Installation and Configuration Guide

Written by Paul

Published on

January 14, 2026

I've been using NinjaTrader for 6 years across multiple prop firms, and the Tradeify setup is one of the cleanest I've encountered—IF you follow the right sequence. Skip one step (the Non-Professional Data Agreement on Tradovate's website) and you'll spend 2 hours troubleshooting "connection refused" errors. This guide walks through the exact setup process that works every time, including the critical prerequisite most traders miss.

This article covers NinjaTrader 8 installation and configuration for Tradeify accounts: prerequisites and data agreement requirements, downloading and installing NT8, connecting to your Tradeify Tradovate credentials, workspace configuration, chart and DOM setup, indicator configuration, common connection issues, and NinjaTrader vs Tradovate comparison.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Tradeify and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Tradeify´s website or their help center.

Why Use NinjaTrader with Tradeify?

NinjaTrader 8 is an advanced desktop trading platform designed specifically for futures and forex trading. While Tradovate is Tradeify's native platform, NinjaTrader offers additional capabilities that some traders prefer.

Advantages of NinjaTrader for Tradeify:

Superior charting with 100+ built-in indicators
Custom indicator development (C# programming)
Advanced order flow tools (Order Flow+ and Volume Profile)
Market Replay for backtesting strategies
Automated trading strategies (NinjaScript)
More robust DOM with better volume visualization
Extensive third-party indicator ecosystem

Disadvantages compared to Tradovate:

Requires desktop installation (no web-based trading)
Slightly more complex initial setup
Updates require manual installation
Windows-only native (Mac requires parallels or VPS)

My use case: I run NinjaTrader on my main desktop for charting and analysis, but keep Tradovate Web open on a second monitor for quick mobile access and account monitoring. Best of both worlds.

Critical Prerequisite: Tradovate Data Agreement

This is the #1 mistake traders make: They try to connect NinjaTrader before signing Tradovate's Non-Professional Data Agreement, which causes connection failures and delayed data feeds.

Why This Step is Required

Tradeify accounts operate on Tradovate's infrastructure. Even though you're using NinjaTrader for charting and execution, the account and data feed still run through Tradovate's servers. Tradovate requires ALL users (including those using NinjaTrader) to sign their data agreement before providing live market data.

Without signing the agreement:

NinjaTrader connection fails with "Login credentials invalid"
Or connection succeeds but shows 10-15 minute delayed data
Orders may be rejected
Account balance doesn't update

Signing the Data Agreement (Before Installing NT8)

Complete this BEFORE downloading NinjaTrader:

Go to https://trader.tradovate.com/welcome
Log in with your Tradeify-provided Tradovate credentials:
- Username: Found on your Tradeify dashboard
- Password: Found on your Tradeify dashboard
- Environment: Select "Demo" (this is crucial)
First login will prompt: "Sign Non-Professional Data Agreement"
Review agreement (standard market data subscriber terms)
Check box: "I confirm I am a non-professional subscriber"
Click "Sign Agreement"
Confirmation appears: "Agreement successfully signed"

Wait 15 minutes after signing before attempting NinjaTrader connection. Data feed activation is not instant—Tradovate systems need time to update your account permissions.

Verification:

Log back into Tradovate Web after 15 minutes
Open a chart for ES or NQ
Confirm price data is live (current time, not delayed)
If still delayed, wait another 10 minutes and check again

Step 1: Downloading NinjaTrader 8

Getting Your NT8 Installer

Important: You download NinjaTrader using your Tradeify Tradovate credentials, NOT from NinjaTrader.com directly.

Download process:

Go to https://account.ninjatrader.com/welcome
Log in using your Tradeify Tradovate credentials:
- Email/Username: Your Tradovate username from Tradeify dashboard
- Password: Your Tradovate password from Tradeify dashboard
After login, you'll see "NinjaTrader Download" page
Click "Download NinjaTrader" button
Installer downloads: NinjaTraderSetup.exe (Windows)

File size: ~600MB, download takes 2-10 minutes depending on connection speed.

System Requirements

Component	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit)	Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor	Dual-core 2.0 GHz	Quad-core 3.0+ GHz
RAM	4 GB	8-16 GB
Storage	10 GB free space	SSD with 20+ GB free
Internet	5 Mbps	25+ Mbps
Display	1280x720	1920x1080 or higher, dual monitors

Mac users: NinjaTrader does not have a native Mac version. Options include:

Run Windows via Parallels Desktop or Boot Camp
Use VPS (Virtual Private Server) with Windows and remote desktop
Stick with Tradovate Web (no installation needed)

Step 2: Installing NinjaTrader 8

Running the Installer

Locate downloaded file: NinjaTraderSetup.exe
Right-click → "Run as Administrator"
Installation wizard opens

Installation wizard steps:

Welcome screen → Click "Next"
License Agreement → Check "I accept" → Click "Next"
Installation location → Leave default (C:\Program Files\NinjaTrader 8) → Click "Next"
Start Menu folder → Leave default → Click "Next"
Ready to Install → Click "Install"
Installation progress → Takes 3-5 minutes
Completion → Check "Launch NinjaTrader 8" → Click "Finish"

First launch:

NinjaTrader 8 opens with startup wizard
Don't close this yet—we'll use it for connection setup

Initial Configuration Wizard

Step 1: License Agreement

Read NinjaTrader's license terms
Click "I Agree"

Step 2: Account Type Selection

Choose: "Connect to a brokerage or trading vendor"
Do NOT select "Continuum" or "Interactive Brokers" (wrong for Tradeify)

Step 3: Provider Selection

Select: "NinjaTrader" from dropdown
(This connects to Tradovate infrastructure via NinjaTrader routing)

Step 4: Login Credentials

Username: Your Tradeify Tradovate username
Password: Your Tradeify Tradovate password
Account type: Select "Simulation" (critical!)
Click "Connect"

Step 5: Connection Verification

Green "Connected" indicator appears
Your Tradeify account(s) load in dropdown
Database download begins (historical data sync)

If connection fails: See troubleshooting section below—99% of failures are due to unsigned data agreement or 15-minute activation wait.

Step 3: Multi-Provider Configuration (If Needed)

Multi-Provider allows you to connect multiple brokerages/data feeds simultaneously in NinjaTrader. This is optional but useful if you have personal accounts alongside Tradeify.

When You Need Multi-Provider

Enable if:

You have a personal NinjaTrader brokerage account AND Tradeify accounts
You want to connect to multiple prop firms simultaneously
You're using separate data feeds (e.g., NinjaTrader Continuum data + Tradeify trading)

Skip if:

Tradeify is your only connection
You're only using NinjaTrader for Tradeify trading

Enabling Multi-Provider

Click Tools menu
Select Options
Navigate to General tab
Check box: "Enable multi provider support"
Click OK
Restart NinjaTrader

After restart, you'll see "Provider" column in Account selection dropdown, allowing you to choose which connection to use for each chart/DOM.

Step 4: Workspace and Window Setup

NinjaTrader uses a workspace system where you save custom layouts of charts, DOMs, and windows.

Understanding NinjaTrader Workspaces

Default workspace:

NinjaTrader loads with a basic pre-configured workspace
Typically 1 chart window and Control Center
Not optimized for actual trading

Creating custom workspaces:

Arrange windows how you want (charts, DOMs, news, etc.)
Click Workspaces menu (top bar)
Select Save Workspace As...
Name it (e.g., "ES Scalping," "NQ Day Trading")
Click Save

Loading saved workspaces:

Click Workspaces menu
Select your saved workspace name
All windows and settings load instantly

Basic Window Types

Available windows:

Chart: Price charts with indicators
SuperDOM: Order entry ladder with depth-of-market
FX Pro: Advanced order entry (overkill for most futures traders)
Market Analyzer: Screener for multiple instruments
Strategy Analyzer: Backtesting strategies
Control Center: Account overview and order management
News: Real-time news feed (optional)

Opening Your First Windows

Adding a chart:

Click New menu → Chart
Search for instrument (e.g., type "ES 03-25" for March 2025 E-mini S&P)
Chart opens with default candlestick view

Adding SuperDOM:

Click New menu → SuperDOM
Select same instrument as chart
DOM window opens showing order book

My standard workspace layout:

Left side: SuperDOM (30% width)
Center: Primary chart (50% width)
Right side: Secondary chart with different timeframe (20% width)
Bottom: Control Center docked (shows all accounts and orders)

Step 5: Chart Configuration

Changing Timeframes

Default: 1-minute candlestick chart

Changing interval:

Right-click chart
Select Interval → Choose new interval
Or click interval dropdown directly (top of chart)

Available intervals:

Time-based: 1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 60m, Daily, etc.
Tick-based: 500-tick, 1000-tick, etc.
Volume-based: 1000-vol, 5000-vol, etc.
Renko: Fixed-range bars
Range bars, Kagi, Point & Figure, etc.

Adding Indicators

How to add:

Right-click chart
Select Indicators...
Search or browse indicator list
Double-click indicator name to add
Configure parameters
Click Apply → OK

Popular indicators for futures:

EMA (Exponential Moving Average)
Volume
VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price)
RSI
ATR (Average True Range)
Bollinger Bands

Saving indicator templates:

Right-click chart → Indicators
Configure all your indicators
Click Save As Template
Name template (e.g., "My Scalping Setup")
Apply this template to new charts instantly

Chart Trader (Order Entry on Chart)

Chart Trader enables one-click order placement directly from the chart.

Enabling Chart Trader:

Right-click chart
Check Chart Trader
Order entry panel appears on right side of chart

Using Chart Trader:

Ctrl + Left Click on chart = place buy limit order at that price
Ctrl + Right Click = place sell limit order
Drag orders to modify price
Right-click order → Cancel to remove

Benefits:

Visual order placement (see exactly where your limit is relative to price action)
Fast modifications (drag and drop)
Combines charting and execution in single window

Step 6: SuperDOM Configuration

NinjaTrader's SuperDOM (Depth-of-Market) is one of the best futures order entry interfaces available.

SuperDOM Layout

Default columns:

Volume: Total cumulative volume at each price level
Bid: Number of contracts on bid
Price Ladder: Vertical price display
Ask: Number of contracts on ask
Last: Most recent trade price

Order Entry in SuperDOM

Market orders:

Buy Market button (top): Instant long at best ask
Sell Market button (top): Instant short at best bid

Limit orders:

Left-click price level: Place buy limit
Right-click price level: Place sell limit
Middle-click: Place stop order

Order management:

Drag order up/down to modify price
Right-click order → Cancel to remove
Flatten button: Close all positions instantly

SuperDOM Properties

Customizing DOM:

Right-click SuperDOM
Select Properties

Key settings:

Setting	Recommendation
Default Quantity	Set to your typical position size (I use 2 for MES, 1 for ES)
Ladder Rows	30-50 rows (more rows = see more of the order book)
Auto-center	Enable (keeps current price centered in view)
Show Positions	Enable (displays your open position price on ladder)
Color Scheme	Choose based on preference (I use dark mode)

Step 7: ATM Strategy Configuration

ATM (Automated Trade Management) Strategies are NinjaTrader's bracket order system, automatically placing stops and targets when your entry fills.

Creating ATM Strategy

Open SuperDOM or Chart Trader
Click ATM Strategy dropdown (near order buttons)
Select <Custom>
Enter strategy name (e.g., "8-Tick Stop 16-Tick Target")
Configure stops and targets

Configuration fields:

Stop Loss: Ticks from entry (e.g., 8 ticks for MES = 2 points)
Profit Target: Ticks from entry (e.g., 16 ticks for MES = 4 points)
Auto-Breakeven: Move stop to breakeven after X ticks profit
Trail Stop: Enable trailing stop functionality

Example ATM for MES scalping:

Stop Loss: 8 ticks (2 points) = $10 risk per contract
Profit Target: 16 ticks (4 points) = $20 profit per contract
Auto-Breakeven: After 6 ticks profit (1.5 points)
Risk/Reward: 1:2 ratio

Using ATM Strategies

With ATM enabled:

Select your saved ATM from dropdown
Place entry order (market or limit)
When entry fills → stop and target orders placed automatically
Monitor position through ATM Strategy Control window

ATM Strategy Control:

Shows active ATM positions
Displays P&L in real-time
Quick buttons to modify or close positions
Trails stop automatically if enabled

Step 8: Connecting Multiple Tradeify Accounts

If you have multiple Tradeify accounts, you can access them all in NinjaTrader using the same login credentials.

Account Selection

Viewing all accounts:

Click Connections menu
All Tradeify accounts appear in dropdown
Each account shows account number and balance

Setting account per window:

Charts: Upper right corner → Account dropdown
SuperDOM: Upper right corner → Account dropdown
Each window can trade a different account

Simultaneous trading:

Open multiple SuperDOM windows
Set each DOM to different Tradeify account
Execute trades independently per account

Note: NinjaTrader doesn't have built-in trade copying between accounts. For simultaneous execution across accounts, use Tradovate's Group Trading feature instead.

Step 9: Market Replay for Practice

Market Replay allows you to replay historical market data as if you're trading live—perfect for strategy testing without risking your Tradeify account balance.

Enabling Market Replay

Click Tools → Historical Data Manager
Select instrument (e.g., ES 12-24)
Click Download to cache data
After download completes → Click Tools → Playback Connection
Market Replay mode activates (orange bar appears: "Playback Mode")

Using Market Replay

Controls:

Play: Data streams forward at selected speed
Pause: Freeze market
Speed: 1x, 5x, 10x, 50x, 100x playback speed
Jump: Skip to specific time

Benefits for Tradeify:

Practice your strategy without affecting account stats
Backtest entry/exit timing
Train execution speed and order management
No risk to evaluation or funded account

Exiting Market Replay:

Tools → Playback Connection → Disconnect
Reconnect to live account

Common Connection and Setup Issues

Issue #1: "Login Credentials Invalid"

Symptoms: Can't connect NinjaTrader, error message shows invalid credentials.

Most common causes:

Haven't signed Non-Professional Data Agreement on Tradovate.com
Using wrong environment (selected "Live" instead of "Simulation")
Typo in username or password

Fix:

Verify you've signed agreement at trader.tradovate.com
Wait full 15 minutes after signing
Double-check credentials match Tradeify dashboard exactly
Ensure "Simulation" is selected during connection
Try logging into Tradovate Web first to confirm credentials work

Issue #2: Connected but No Data / Delayed Data

Symptoms: Connection succeeds, but charts show "Connecting..." or data is 10+ minutes delayed.

Cause: Data agreement not signed or not activated yet.

Fix:

Sign agreement at trader.tradovate.com/welcome
Wait 15-30 minutes for activation
Disconnect and reconnect NinjaTrader
Check Tradovate Web to confirm data is live there first

Issue #3: "Multi-Provider Must Be Enabled"

Symptoms: Error message when trying to connect second account or data feed.

Fix:

Tools → Options → General tab
Check "Enable multi provider support"
Click OK
Restart NinjaTrader

Issue #4: Orders Rejected "Invalid Account"

Symptoms: Orders fail with "Invalid account" error despite successful connection.

Causes:

Account selected in chart/DOM doesn't match connected account
Account inactive or failed evaluation
Network connectivity interruption

Fix:

Verify correct account selected in window's account dropdown
Check Tradeify dashboard to confirm account is active
Reconnect NinjaTrader
Test with small market order to verify connection

Issue #5: NinjaTrader Freezes or Crashes

Symptoms: Platform becomes unresponsive, freezes, or crashes during use.

Common causes:

Too many indicators on charts
Insufficient RAM
Corrupt database files
Running outdated version

Fix:

Reduce number of active indicators
Increase available RAM (close other programs)
Tools → Options → Database Maintenance → Clean up old data
Check for NinjaTrader updates (Help → Check for Updates)
As last resort: uninstall and reinstall NinjaTrader

FAQ

Do I need a NinjaTrader license to use it with Tradeify?

No, NinjaTrader connection to Tradeify accounts operates under Tradeify's company license. You do not need to purchase a personal NinjaTrader license or pay any additional fees to NinjaTrader directly.

Can I use NinjaTrader and Tradovate simultaneously?

Yes, both platforms can be open and connected to your Tradeify accounts at the same time. Many traders use NinjaTrader for charting and Tradovate Web for mobile account monitoring or as a backup execution platform.

Does NinjaTrader work on Mac?

NinjaTrader is Windows-only. Mac users must run Windows via Parallels Desktop, Boot Camp, or use a Windows VPS to access NinjaTrader, or alternatively stick with Tradovate Web which is fully cross-platform.

How long does the data agreement activation take?

Typically 5-15 minutes after signing, though in some cases it can take up to 30 minutes. If your NinjaTrader connection still fails after 30 minutes, contact Tradovate support directly to verify your agreement was processed correctly.

Can I copy trades between my multiple Tradeify accounts in NinjaTrader?

NinjaTrader doesn't have built-in trade copying functionality. You would need third-party software or add-ons for trade copying, but Tradeify's rules state you may only copy trades between accounts you own and manage, not from external sources.

What happens to my NinjaTrader setup if I fail my evaluation?

Your Tradovate credentials for that specific evaluation become inactive, and you'll lose connection to that account in NinjaTrader. Your charts, workspaces, and indicator settings remain saved locally, so you can reuse them with a new evaluation account.

Is NinjaTrader's data feed faster than Tradovate?

Both platforms use the same underlying Tradovate data infrastructure, so data speed is identical. The perceived speed difference comes from platform performance and your computer hardware, not the data feed itself.

Can I use custom NinjaScript indicators from other traders?

Yes, NinjaTrader supports custom indicators and strategies coded in C# (NinjaScript). You can install third-party indicators, but be aware that some custom code may not work properly with simulated accounts or may violate Tradeify's trading rules if they automate strategies improperly.

Do I need Level 2 data for NinjaTrader with Tradeify?

No, Level 1 market data is included and sufficient for most futures trading. Level 2 (full depth-of-market beyond top of book) is optional and rarely necessary for retail futures trading strategies.

How often does NinjaTrader need to be updated?

NinjaTrader releases updates every few months. Updates are not automatic—you'll receive notification in the platform and need to download and install manually. Keeping NinjaTrader updated ensures compatibility with Tradovate's infrastructure and fixes bugs.

Conclusion

NinjaTrader 8 setup for Tradeify is straightforward once you complete the critical prerequisite: signing the Non-Professional Data Agreement on Tradovate's website and waiting 15 minutes for activation. Skip that step, and you'll waste hours troubleshooting phantom connection errors.

The platform itself is powerful—superior charting, better indicators, more customization than Tradovate Web. If you're a serious futures trader who values advanced tools and custom indicators, NinjaTrader is worth the installation effort.

That said, for new traders or those who primarily trade on mobile, Tradovate Web is simpler and requires zero setup. I recommend starting there, getting comfortable with your strategy, then migrating to NinjaTrader if you find yourself wanting more advanced features.

Both platforms execute trades identically well. Choose based on your workflow preferences, not which one is "better"—they're both excellent futures platforms.