Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn thinkorswim desktop, switch to paperMoney, then go to Monitor > Activity and Positions > Adjust account. Enter the cash amount you want for your simulated account and apply the change. The adjustment changes your practice balance—not your live brokerage account.
Change the paperMoney account amount
- Confirm you are in paperMoney. paperMoney is thinkorswim’s simulated-trading mode. Make sure it is active before changing the practice account; do not perform these steps in the live account.
- Open Monitor, then select Activity and Positions.
- Choose Adjust account.
- Enter the cash amount you want and apply the change. Schwab’s desktop stock tutorial illustrates setting the balance to $200,000, while its simulated-options tutorial illustrates $10,000. These are examples of custom amounts, not recommended or typical balances. See Schwab’s stock-trading simulator tutorial and Schwab’s simulated-options tutorial.
Choose the right adjustment
Use Adjust account when you want to change the account cash amount. If you only want to add cash while keeping the existing account setup, use the separate Adjust cash action shown in Schwab’s tutorial.
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A full reset is different from either adjustment. Reset All Balances and Positions returns the account to its initial state, resets balances and positions, and cancels working orders. Schwab says the reset may take overnight to complete; its stock tutorial and options tutorial describe the reset process.
What to expect from a simulated balance
Schwab International describes paperMoney as providing US$100,000 in virtual buying power, but that is a product description from a page with no publication date stated and may change. A custom balance lets you practice with a chosen cash amount; it does not make simulated trading equivalent to live trading. Schwab notes that simulated trading can differ from real trading and that simulated results do not ensure success in a live account. Read its paperMoney practice-trading overview and paper-trading explanation.
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Desktop interface scope
The menu path and control labels above come from Schwab’s desktop walkthroughs. Do not assume the same labels or steps apply to thinkorswim web or mobile; check the interface for the platform and version you use.
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