Language
Default: EnglishLanguageThe language of the panel, its messages and its alerts: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese or Italian.
Available values: English / Espanol / Francais / Portugues / Italiano
Configuration guide · realbacktesting Tools
Configure the Risk Guardian.
Understand each parameter.
Four steps to start. Then what its plate says, how it works with the Risk Manager, the usual questions, and a plain answer for every parameter.
Guide checked against code v2.0 · On the cTrader Store
Start here
- Daily loss
- 5 %
- Maximum loss
- 10 %
- When a limit is hit
- close all and block
- Day resets at
- 00:00 UTC
Add it to one chart
Get it from the cTrader Store, then in cTrader add the Risk Guardian to any chart of the account. One instance watches the whole account, every symbol.
Set your limits in its parameters
Your daily and maximum loss, how the day is measured, the reset hour and what happens when a limit is hit. Every parameter is explained below.
Start it and leave it running
It enforces your limits while it runs. For 24/7, run it in cTrader on a VPS; your own computer can then be off.
Read its plate
A status plate on the chart says how much you can still lose today, and turns amber near a limit and red when one is hit.
What the plate says
The texts follow the Language parameter. The figures below are examples.
Risk Guardian · You can still lose today: 4,688 EURGreen, all good: watching your account. Below, the floor of your maximum loss (“floor 90,000 EUR”).
Risk Guardian · You can still lose today: 812 EURAmber, close to a limit: past the warning % of a limit. You also get an alert.
Risk Guardian · Daily loss limit reachedRed, limit reached: depending on your setting, everything was closed or only new trades are blocked, until the reset. Below, how long is left (“No new trades for 6 h 12 min”).
With the Risk Manager
Each one works on its own. Together, on the same computer they share the account state and only one acts:
- Panel open on the same computer
- The panel enforces and manages. The Guardian waits and shows the same state.
- You close the panel, cTrader stays open
- The Guardian takes over, with the same day already counted.
- The Guardian runs on a VPS
- It applies the limits of its own parameters (set the same ones in both) and runs the break-even, partials and trailing written into each order by the panel (PRO).
A partial close already done by one is not repeated by the other. Risk Manager guide ↗
Questions
It closed a trade I had just opened
You were blocked (a limit, a trade count, a pause or outside your hours). A cBot cannot stop an order before it opens, so it closes it right after it opens; that costs spread and commission. If the same label keeps reopening, you get an alert to stop that cBot.
I restarted it and it is still blocked
On purpose: the state is saved, and restarting the cBot, or removing it and adding it again, does not unblock the day. The block ends at the next reset (daily) or the next week (weekly).
I raised a limit but it does not apply yet
Looser limits wait for the next reset by default. Set “Looser limits apply” to immediately if you want changes to apply at once.
Does it need full access rights?
No. It runs with cTrader’s normal permissions. Its state is saved in cTrader’s local storage on that computer or VPS.
Every parameter, explained
The name under each title is the parameter as cTrader shows it. Defaults and ranges belong to this version of the code. PRO marks a parameter that only the PRO edition has; the Free edition shows only its own. Telegram alerts: bot token and chat id ↗
No matching setting. Try its name in the panel or clear the search.
1 · AccountLanguage, template and the starting balance.3
Account template PRO
Default: CustomAccount template (Custom = the settings below)PRO. A starting point for your limits: Custom = the parameters below; two personal templates (2% daily / 10% maximum, and 4% / 20%) and two funded ones (5% daily from the balance at the reset with a 10% static maximum, and 3% daily with a 6% trailing maximum), both acting at 90% of the limit. Check them against your own firm’s rules.
Available values: Custom / Personal · cautious / Personal · active / Funded · static / Funded · trailing
Starting balance
Default: 0Starting balance (0 = balance when first started)The balance your maximum loss and percentages are measured from. 0 = the balance when the Guardian first starts on this account. Changing it later starts the account from zero, but an active daily or weekly block is kept.
Available values: 0 → ∞
2 · Daily and maximum lossYour two main limits, the reset hour and what happens when one is hit.16
Daily loss limit %
Default: 5Daily loss limit %The most you allow yourself to lose in a day, as a %. It counts open trades: the loss is your equity against the day’s reference. 0 = no daily limit.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Daily loss limit amount
Default: 0Daily loss limit amount (overrides %)The same limit as an amount of money. If it is above 0 it overrides the %.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Daily loss measured from
Default: balance at resetDaily loss measured fromThe reference the day’s loss is measured from: the balance at the reset, the equity at the reset, the higher of both, or the day’s highest equity (so giving back today’s open profit also counts). Match your prop firm’s rule.
Available values: balance at reset / equity at reset / the higher of both / intraday equity peak
Daily % is a % of
Default: starting balanceDaily % is a % ofWhat the daily % is calculated on: the starting balance (fixed, the usual prop firm rule) or the day’s reference (it moves with your account).
Available values: starting balance / daily reference
Maximum loss %
Default: 10Maximum loss %The most you allow the account to lose in total, as a % of the starting balance. It counts open trades. 0 = no maximum loss.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Maximum loss amount
Default: 0Maximum loss amount (overrides %)The same limit as an amount of money. If it is above 0 it overrides the %.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Maximum loss type PRO
Default: staticMaximum loss typeStatic: the floor is the starting balance minus the maximum loss and never moves. Trailing end of day (PRO): the floor rises with the highest balance at the start of a day. Trailing intraday (PRO): it rises with the highest equity, even within the day.
Available values: static / trailing (end of day) / trailing (intraday)
Trailing loss stops at the starting balance PRO
Default: OnTrailing loss stops at starting balanceFor the trailing types: once the floor reaches the starting balance it stops rising, as most funded accounts do. Off: it keeps rising with your peak.
Available values: true / false
Day resets at
Default: 00:00 UTCDay resets atWhen a new trading day starts for the daily limit, the daily targets and the trade counts: midnight UTC, midnight Central European time, 17:00 New York, 17:00 Chicago, or an hour of your own. Daylight saving is handled.
Available values: 00:00 UTC / 00:00 Central Europe / 17:00 New York / 17:00 Chicago / custom UTC hour
Reset hour (UTC)
Default: 0Reset hour (UTC, for CustomUtcHour)The hour of the reset when Day resets at is your own hour, 0 to 23 UTC.
Available values: 0 → 23
When a limit is hit
Default: close all and blockWhen a limit is hitClose all and block: every trade of the account is closed, pending orders are cancelled, and any trade opened while blocked is closed right after it opens. Only block new trades: what is open stays open, and new ones are closed. A cBot cannot stop an order before it opens.
Available values: close all and block / only block new trades
Act at % of the limit
Default: 100Act at % of the limit (safety margin)A safety margin: act before the limit, for example at 90%, to leave room for slippage and gaps between the decision and the fill. 100 = act exactly at the limit.
Available values: 50 → 100
Warn at % of the limit
Default: 70Warn at % of the limitWhen the loss reaches this share of a limit, the status turns amber and you get an alert.
Available values: 10 → 100
Looser limits apply
Default: at the next resetLooser limits applyTighter limits always apply at once. Looser ones (a higher limit, more trades…) wait for the next reset by default, so editing the settings in a bad moment does not unblock the day. Immediately: they apply at once.
Available values: at the next reset / immediately
Protect PRO
Default: all trades of the accountProtectPRO. Which trades the limits act on: all trades of the account (default), manual trades only, the Risk Manager panel’s trades only, or trades whose label contains a text. The loss is always measured on the whole account.
Available values: all trades of the account / manual trades only / this panel's trades only / label contains...
Label contains PRO
Default: EmptyLabel contains (Protect = LabelContains)The text for Protect = label contains.
Available values: Text
3 · More rulesWeekly loss, profit targets, consistency, trade counts and hours (PRO).9
Weekly loss limit % PRO
Default: 0Weekly loss limit %The most you allow yourself to lose in a week, as a % of the starting balance, counting open trades. When hit, the week is blocked until the next week starts. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Daily profit target % PRO
Default: 0Daily profit target % (locks profits)Locks the day’s profit: when today’s result reaches this % of the starting balance, everything is closed and the day is blocked, so you do not give it back. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Weekly profit target % PRO
Default: 0Weekly profit target %The same for the week: at this % of the starting balance, everything is closed and the week is blocked. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Best day cap (consistency) PRO
Default: 0Best day max % of total profit (consistency)For consistency rules: no single day may make more than this % of your total profit. The panel shows how much you can still make today; when today reaches it, everything is closed and the day is blocked. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → 99
Max trades per day PRO
Default: 0Max trades per dayAfter this many trades in a day, new trades are closed right after they open, until the reset. 0 = no limit.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Max losses in a row PRO
Default: 0Max losses in a row (per day)After this many losing trades in a row in the same day, new trades are closed right after they open, until the reset. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Pause after a loss PRO
Default: 0Pause after a loss (minutes)After a losing trade, new trades opened during this many minutes are closed. 0 = off.
Available values: 0 → ∞
Trading hours (UTC) PRO
Default: EmptyTrading hours UTC (e.g. 07:00-16:00, empty = always)Outside these hours, new trades are closed right after they open, for example 07:00-16:00. Open trades are not touched. Empty = always.
Available values: Text
Close everything at PRO
Default: EmptyClose everything at (UTC HH:mm, empty = off)Every day at this time (UTC, HH:mm) every trade of the account is closed, and you get an alert. Empty = off.
Available values: Text
4 · WeekendWhat to do before the Friday close.2
Before the weekend close PRO
Default: warn meBefore the weekend closePRO. Off, warn me (the Free edition always warns), close everything or close half, a chosen number of minutes before the Friday close.
Available values: Off / warn me / close all / close half
Minutes before the close
Default: 30Minutes before the closeHow long before the weekend close the action above happens.
Available values: 1 → 600
5 · AlertsSound, Telegram and email.5
Sound alerts
Default: OnSound alertsA sound with each alert, besides the on-screen banner.
Available values: true / false
Telegram alerts PRO
Default: OffTelegram alertsPRO. Alerts to your own Telegram bot: close to a limit, a limit hit, and when the Guardian is stopped. You need a bot token and your chat id: see our Telegram guide.
Available values: true / false
Telegram bot token PRO
Default: EmptyTelegram bot tokenThe token BotFather gives you when you create your bot. It is stored on your computer and never shown again in full.
Available values: Text
Telegram chat id PRO
Default: EmptyTelegram chat idThe chat where the bot writes to you.
Available values: Text
Email alerts to PRO
Default: EmptyEmail alerts to (uses cTrader email settings)An address for the same alerts. It uses the email settings of your cTrader. Empty = no email.
Available values: Text