Category: Data Feeds & Broker Connections | Last Updated: April 2026

There are two common scenarios where Vector clients need to switch data providers inside NinjaTrader:

1. Changing prop firms (e.g., moving from one firm to another that uses a different feed provider)
2. Moving from evaluation to funded account when your firm issues new credentials for the funded environment

This article covers the cutover steps. For the initial setup of Rithmic or Tradovate from scratch, refer to the dedicated setup articles in this KB.

Before You Switch

Have your new credentials ready first. Before disconnecting anything, make sure you have your new Rithmic or Tradovate username, password, and the login server your prop firm specifies.

Plan the switch for after the session closes. Never switch data providers mid-session or while you have open positions. Close everything out first and perform the change after market close — or at minimum, during a period when no strategy is running.

Make sure your maintenance fee is active if you're also going to update or re-download strategies as part of the transition (see the KB articles on Whop strategy files for details).

The Cutover

Everything below happens inside the NinjaTrader Control Center — you don't need to reinstall NinjaTrader or reconfigure your VPS.

Step 1: Disconnect from the current provider

1. Open NinjaTrader Control Center
2. Go to Connections → disconnect your active connection

Step 2: Open the Connections settings

1. Go to Tools → Options → Connections
2. You'll see the list of available broker connections, with the one you were using checked

Step 3: Disable the old, enable the new

• Uncheck the connection you were previously using (e.g., Rithmic)
• Check the connection you're switching to (e.g., Tradovate)

A new row will appear for the newly enabled connection.

Step 4: Enter your new credentials

Click the new connection row and fill in: - Username - Password - Login Server — use whatever your prop firm specifies. Rithmic and Tradovate both have distinct "Paper" vs "Live" server options depending on the account type your firm issued.

Click Apply → OK.

Step 5: Connect and verify

1. Back in Control Center → Connections → click your newly configured connection
2. Wait for the green indicator (usually 15–30 seconds)
3. Open a chart and verify prices are updating in real time
4. Open the Account window and confirm your account loads correctly

If data is flowing and the account is visible, the cutover is complete. Re-attach your strategies to the correct account following the standard chart setup flow.

Switching to Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

IBKR connects through its own software — Trader Workstation (TWS) or IB Gateway — which NinjaTrader talks to. If your new setup involves IBKR:

1. Install TWS or IB Gateway from ibkr.com and log in with your IBKR credentials
2. In the TWS/Gateway settings, enable API access
3. Keep the IBKR software running in the background whenever you want to trade through NinjaTrader — closing TWS/Gateway disconnects the link
4. Then follow the standard cutover (Steps 1–5 above), selecting IBKR in the NinjaTrader Connections list

For the full, step-by-step official configuration — including the exact API checkbox names, port numbers, and version-specific notes — refer to NinjaTrader's own documentation:

👉 Connecting to Your Interactive Brokers Account (NinjaTrader Support)

If you're unsure whether IBKR is the right connection for your Vector setup, open a support ticket and our team will confirm.

Common Issues

"Login Failed" - Username or password typed with extra spaces (very common after copy/paste) - Caps Lock is on - Wrong Login Server selected (Paper vs Live mismatch)

Green connection but charts not updating - The data feed is live but you may be attached to the wrong account in the Account window — switch accounts and retry - Instrument symbol mismatch — make sure the contract matches what the new feed expects

Random disconnects after the switch - As with any day, disconnects during a session are typically broker-side and not something you can prevent from your end. Reconnect when they happen and keep the daily refresh habit.

Best Practices

• Never switch mid-session or with open positions. Always do this cutover after hours.
• Re-attach strategies to the correct account after the switch. Account fields in strategy properties don't automatically update when you change data providers.
• Save your workspace once the new setup is verified — nothing in NinjaTrader saves automatically.
• Open a support ticket if the new connection won't come up cleanly, or if you want our team to walk you through the cutover remotely.

Bottom Line

Switching data providers in NinjaTrader is a settings change, not a reinstall. Disconnect the old, check the new connection in Tools → Options → Connections, enter your new credentials, and verify the feed is live before re-attaching your strategies. Do this after hours, never with open positions, and reach out to Vector support via ticket if you hit anything you're unsure about during the migration.

Video walkthrough

How to disconnect and reconnect your accounts