Download the Tradovate Desktop App (Win/Mac)
The Tradovate desktop app gets its own window, stays out of your browser tabs, and won't vanish if you accidentally close Chrome mid-session. It's free and setup takes about five minutes. Here's exactly how to get it on Windows or Mac.
The web platform runs fine in a browser, but plenty of futures traders would rather have a dedicated app. The Tradovate desktop app gets its own window, stays out of your browser tabs, and won't vanish if you accidentally close Chrome mid-session. It's free, it's the same platform you already know, and setup takes about five minutes. Here's exactly how to get it on Windows or Mac.
What Is the Tradovate Desktop App?
It's a standalone version of the Tradovate platform you install on a Windows PC or a Mac. Same charts, same DOM, same order tickets as the browser-based Web Trader, just wrapped in its own application instead of a browser tab. You sign in with the same credentials, so you're not creating a new account or paying anything extra to use it.
Before You Download
- A Tradovate account. Trading your own money or through a prop firm both work. Don't have one yet? Here's how to open a Tradovate account.
- A Windows or Mac computer with permission to install software (you'll need admin rights on locked-down work machines).
- Your login details handy, personal account credentials, or the username your prop firm issued you.
Download the Tradovate Desktop App: Step-by-Step
Open the Official Download Page
Head to Tradovate's official devices page at tradovate.com/devices. That's the one page that carries every version, desktop, web, and mobile. Stick to it. Grabbing the app from a random "free download" site is a fast way to end up with something you don't want on a machine that touches your brokerage account.
Choose Windows or Mac
You'll see two clearly labeled buttons: Download Windows and Download Mac. Click the one that matches your machine. Windows pulls down an installer file; Mac pulls down a disk image. If the page auto-detects your system, the right button is usually front and center, just double-check it before you click.
Install on Windows
Open the downloaded installer from your Downloads folder and follow the prompts. Windows may flash a SmartScreen or User Account Control warning, that's normal for a freshly downloaded app. Choose to run it anyway and allow the install to continue. When it finishes, Tradovate shows up in your Start menu and (usually) on your desktop, ready to open.
Install on Mac
Double-click the downloaded disk image, then drag the Tradovate icon into your Applications folder. The first time you open it, macOS might say the app is from an unidentified developer. If it does, go to System Settings › Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway, or right-click the app and choose Open. After that one approval, it launches normally every time.
Open the App and Log In
Launch Tradovate and sign in. On a personal account, use your Tradovate email and password. On a prop-firm or evaluation account, log in with the username your firm gave you, the exact format and where you start the login vary by firm, so check your firm's welcome email or member area if you're unsure. Pick the account you want to trade, and you're in.
Prefer Not to Install? Use Web or Mobile
Not everyone wants another app on their machine, and that's fine. The browser version does everything the desktop app does, and there are iPhone and Android apps if you'd rather watch positions on the go. For a rundown of every option, see the full Tradovate platforms guide.
Troubleshooting a Failed Install or Login
- Stuck on a loading or login screen? Nine times out of ten it's your system clock. Set your computer's date, time, and timezone to update automatically and sync them, then try again.
- App acting broken after an update? The install can occasionally get corrupted. Uninstall it and reinstall from the official link, a clean copy usually clears it up.
- Credentials rejected? Make sure you're using the right login for the right account type. Our Tradovate login guide walks through the common mix-ups.
Automate Tradovate with PickMyTrade
Once the app is installed, you can go one step further and stop clicking altogether. PickMyTrade routes your TradingView alerts straight to your Tradovate account, so your strategy fires on its own, whether the desktop app is open or not.
Automate Your Tradovate Trades
Once the app is installed, stop clicking altogether. Let PickMyTrade route your TradingView alerts straight to your Tradovate account so your strategy fires on its own.
Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. The download and the app itself are free. Your commissions and any plan fees depend on your Tradovate account plan, not on which app you use, the desktop app costs nothing on top.
In most cases, yes, you log in with the credentials your prop firm issued. Login format and rules vary by firm and account size, so check your firm's current instructions if the account doesn't appear.
No. The browser-based Web Trader and the mobile apps cover the same functionality. The desktop app is just a convenience if you'd rather run Tradovate in its own window.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.