Hard Lock is a feature on Tradecopia's cloud plans that prevents any new trades from being placed on your account for a period you set — from one hour up to 48 hours. Once the lock is active, it cannot be removed early. It expires automatically when the timer runs out.
You might need this article if:
You want to lock an account so no trades can be placed for a set period
You're a prop firm trader looking to enforce a cooling-off period after a drawdown
You want to understand what Hard Lock does and what changes on your account while it is active
What Hard Lock does
When Hard Lock is active on your account, no new trade entries can be placed until the lock expires. Any trade attempt — whether made through Tradecopia or directly on your broker platform — is either flattened or cancelled immediately. Each attempt also increments your violation count.
This is a hard stop, not a soft warning. The lock is enforced across all platforms for the duration you set.
How to set Hard Lock
Hard Lock is configured from the Risk Management tab in the Tradecopia web app. It is not accessible from the desktop application.
Open the Risk Management tab
Locate the account you want to lock and expand it under its parent broker connection
Click the ⋮ (three dots) menu on the account row
Select Lock Account
Set the duration — minimum one hour, maximum 48 hours — and confirm
The lock starts immediately once confirmed.
Logging out does not stop the lock. If you log out of the Tradecopia web app while Hard Lock is active, the lock remains in effect. You cannot pause or stop trading activity during logout while a lock is running.
How enforcement works
Hard Lock is enforced across all platforms, not just within Tradecopia. If a trade is attempted on a locked account — including attempts made directly on your broker platform — it is either flattened or cancelled, and your violation count increases by one.
Your violations and the remaining lock timer are visible on the locked accounts page in the Tradecopia web app. This gives you a clear record of any bypass attempts during the lock period.
What changes on your account while Hard Lock is active
When an account is locked, several restrictions apply across the app:
Visual: Locked accounts are clearly marked with a visual indicator wherever they appear — on the dashboard, in copy trade, and in the connections view.
Groups: A locked account cannot be added to a copy group. You can still remove a locked account from a group — adding it back is only possible once the lock expires.
Connections: The broker connection that contains a locked account cannot be deleted or disconnected while the lock is active. This prevents the lock from being bypassed by removing the connection.
Re-locking: A locked account cannot be locked again while a lock is already running. You must wait for the current lock to expire before setting a new one.
Who Hard Lock is for
Hard Lock is designed for traders who want to enforce rules on their own trading — removing the option to enter the market during a period they have already decided to step away from.
Common use cases:
Cooling-off period after a drawdown — set a lock after hitting a loss threshold to prevent revenge trading before emotions settle
End-of-session discipline — lock the account after your planned session ends so you cannot re-enter the market
Prop firm risk management — prevent trading outside the hours or conditions your prop firm requires
Scheduled breaks during periods of global economic uncertainty — step away completely during extended periods of market uncertainty where you have decided not to trade for a day or more
Which plans include Hard Lock
Hard Lock is available on Pro+ Lite and Pro+ only. It is not available on the desktop Pro plan.
Plan | Hard Lock |
Pro (desktop) | Not available |
Pro+ Lite (cloud) | Available |
Pro+ (cloud) | Available |
Hard Lock is set from the web app only — it does not appear in the desktop application even for accounts that are also accessible on the desktop.
What Hard Lock does not do
Hard Lock prevents new trade entries and forces violations on any bypass attempt. It does not:
Close positions that are already open when the lock is activated
Affect the risk management parameters configured on your account
Replace risk management — Hard Lock and risk management are separate tools and can both be active simultaneously
If you want to close all open positions before activating a lock, use Group Flatten first, then set Hard Lock.
Related articles
What is Tradecopia Pro+ — full overview of the Pro+ plan, which includes Hard Lock
What is Tradecopia Pro+ Lite — full overview of the Pro+ Lite plan, which includes Hard Lock
What's the difference between Tradecopia Pro, Pro+ Lite, and Pro+? — all three plans side by side
Why can't I change my risk management settings? — if you can't edit risk parameters or a lock is preventing you from enabling your limits, that is the risk management configuration lock, not Hard Lock