NinjaTrader Data Feed Setup

How to connect NinjaTrader to Continuum, Rithmic, CQG, SIM data, and prop firm evaluation feeds.

Where Data Connections Are Located

All feeds are managed from:

  1. Open Control Center.
  2. Click Connections.
  3. Click Configure....

You’ll add your broker or prop firm feed here.

NinjaTrader Continuum (Most Common)

Continuum is NinjaTrader’s standard data feed for futures.

How to connect:

  1. Connections → Configure
  2. Find NinjaTrader Continuum in the left list.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Enter your username and password (from NinjaTrader brokerage).
  5. Click OK.

Rithmic (Used by Prop Firms)

Apex, Topstep, Bulenox, Leeloo, etc. use Rithmic.

To connect:

  1. Connections → Configure
  2. Add Rithmic for NinjaTrader Brokerage or Rithmic for Futures
  3. Enter:
    • Rithmic username
    • Rithmic password
    • Gateway: Rithmic 01 (most common)
  4. Enable Use Rithmic Market Data if required by your prop firm.

Works perfectly with your prop firm concepts from How Prop Firm Evaluations Work.

CQG (Some Brokers)

  • Some smaller futures brokers use CQG.
  • Setup is similar: add CQG → enter username/password → connect.

SIM Mode (Free)

NinjaTrader has free built-in SIM data.

  1. Connections → Disconnect from any live feed.
  2. Click Connections → Simulated Data Feed.

How to Tell If You’re Actually Connected

  • Control Center → bottom-left connection status icon
  • Green = connected
  • Yellow = connecting
  • Red = disconnected

Price Not Moving?

Common causes:

  • Wrong login for feed
  • Subscribed to SIM instead of live
  • Instrument not enabled for your data plan
  • Your prop firm paused market data

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