Log In to TWS

You can run TWS from your Internet browser, or download the software to your PC and launch it directly from your desktop. The browser-based version allows you to access your account and execute trades from any Java™-enabled internet browser, and is always running the latest release. The installed version uses less memory and may run faster, but requires you to download each release to take advantage of new features. To download to your PC, see the Installation Instructions on the website.

To log in from your browser

In the Login box in the upper right corner of the homepage, select Trader Workstation from the drop-down list.

NOTE: If you are a first-time user, select Account Management, enter your username and password, and click Login.

In the Login box, enter your user name and password.

Options:

The color palette allows you to choose a new color skin for TWS. If you select a palette and want to change it once you have logged in, use the Style page in Global Configuration.
Settings Directory - By default, TWS files are saved in C:\Jts. If you would like to change the location of your TWS settings files, use the Browse button to specify a new directory.
Store Settings on Server - This option allows you to save your TWS settings, including market data, pages etc., on our server instead of on your local machine. If checked, your workstation will have the same data and look regardless of your login location. If unchecked, settings are only saved on the computer you are currently using. See details below.
Use SSL - Your identity and trading information are always protected. Checking the Use SSL option gives added privacy and integrity to your order information as it travels over the internet. Minor performance impacts may be experienced depending on the capabilities of your PC.

To log in from your desktop

Double-click the application icon on your desktop.
Enter your username and password.
If you are prompted to install the free Java™ Runtime plug-in, see the Java™ Plug-In installation document. TWS must have Java 5.0 (plugin 1.5) or higher to run.

Global Settings

Once you have logged in, you can set the Store settings on server feature from the TWS File menu. This setting serves two purposes: it GETS the saved settings from the IB server when you log in, and it SAVES any session changes to the IB server when you log out.

If you log into or out of TWS without having checked this feature, any changes or additions to your workstation environment will not be saved globally.

To save your settings on the IB server

After you've logged in, go to the File menu and check Store settings on server. Please note that this feature must be activated manually, it is not checked by default.

To use global settings that have been saved on the IB server

In the TWS Login box, check the Store settings on server box. This instructs TWS to go to the global server and use any settings you saved previously.