How to Use Chart Replay Mode in NinjaTrader

Replay any past trading day tick-for-tick to practice entries, exits, and execution without risking real money.

What Chart Replay Is

NinjaTrader’s Chart Replay (sometimes called Market Replay) lets you “rewind” the market and trade as if it's live. DOM updates, price moves, and everything behaves realistically.

This makes it perfect for practicing the execution concepts from Execution vs Idea.

Where Replay Mode Is Located

  1. Open the NinjaTrader Control Center.
  2. Go to New → Playback.
  3. This opens the playback controller (your replay controls).

Downloading Replay Data

You cannot replay a day unless the data is downloaded. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Playback window.
  2. Click Get Market Replay Data.
  3. Choose the instrument (ES, NQ, CL, whatever you trade).
  4. Select the date(s) you want to replay.
  5. Download.

Replay data is huge, so stick to a few days at a time.

Starting a Replay Session

  1. Open a chart and/or DOM like your normal layout.
  2. Switch the account dropdown to Playback.
  3. Use the Playback panel:
  • ▶ Play
  • ⏭ Fast Forward (1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, etc.)
  • ⏮ Jump Back
  • ⏵ Jump to Time

DOM flow during replay ties perfectly into DOM Trading Basics.

Placing Orders in Replay Mode

Orders behave exactly like a live market:

  • Market orders hit the current bid/ask.
  • Limit and stop orders work normally.
  • Your Chart Trader and hotkeys (if set) function the same way.

If you don’t know order types cold, read: How to Place Orders in NinjaTrader.

Best Ways to Use Chart Replay

  • Test your levels and plans from Market Structure Basics.
  • Practice bracket and stop locations from Bracket Orders.
  • Rewatch big moves to understand how the DOM behaved.
  • Simulate prop firm challenge conditions.

Common Mistakes

  • Replaying too fast and skipping real market behavior.
  • Not using the same size and rules as your real account.
  • Clicking random trades without a plan.

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