Imperial Trader Funding Connection Guide to NinjaTrader 8

Firm website: imperialtraderfunding.com

Yes, for Imperial futures accounts. Copy the Rithmic User ID and password from the Rithmic Credentials card in your Imperial dashboard, select Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago) for System, the server Imperial’s own Quantower setup video uses, and connect with PropFirmConnector.

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System: Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago) Last verified:

PropFirmConnector is an independent third-party add-on and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Imperial Trader Funding, NinjaTrader, or Rithmic.

Your Imperial Trader Funding Rithmic account and login

Imperial Trader Funding began as an equities and options prop firm and added CME futures on Rithmic in 2026, through its Futures plans (Foundation Futures and Elite Futures) and a futures add-on for its other accounts. Evaluations and sim-funded accounts are simulated; a Live Funded stage follows.

Imperial’s site says it supports platforms connected through Rithmic, such as Quantower, and its Quantower setup video connects with Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago Area). Your Rithmic User ID and password are on the Rithmic Credentials card of your dashboard. PropFirmConnector connects that login to NinjaTrader 8 and runs it alongside other firms’ Rithmic logins in one instance.

Where to find your Imperial Rithmic login

Sign in to your Imperial dashboard and find the Rithmic Credentials card (“Use these credentials to access your Rithmic futures trading account”). It lists your Rithmic User ID and Rithmic Password with copy buttons, separate from your Imperial website login. The card appears once your account includes futures.

Open Imperial dashboard (opens in a new tab)

How to connect Imperial Trader Funding to NinjaTrader 8 in 5 steps

  1. Sign the Rithmic agreements for your Imperial login

    Install R|Trader Pro and sign in with the Rithmic User ID and password from your Imperial dashboard, System Rithmic Paper Trading and Gateway Chicago Area, the server Imperial’s Quantower setup video selects. Accept the Rithmic market-data agreements, certifying as Non-Professional unless you are a professional trader. Then close R|Trader Pro; the direct PropFirmConnector setup below does not need it open.

  2. Install PropFirmConnector

    From your PropFirmConnector account, download PropFirmConnector.zip and close NinjaTrader completely. Extract the ZIP, then copy NinjaTrader.Custom-pfc.dll to My Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom. Start NinjaTrader again and, when your browser opens, click Activate this device.

    Open your account downloads

    No license yet? Start the free 7-day trial, then download PropFirmConnector from your account.

  3. Open NinjaTrader 8 and sign in

    Start NinjaTrader 8 and sign in with your NinjaTrader account credentials when prompted. These are your NinjaTrader credentials, not the Rithmic username and password issued by Imperial Trader Funding.

  4. Configure Rithmic for Imperial Trader Funding

    In the NinjaTrader Control Center, select Connections, then configure. Select Rithmic for NinjaTrader Brokerage from the Available list on the left, enter the Rithmic username and password issued by Imperial Trader Funding, give the connection a recognizable name, leave Connect on start up and Plug-in mode off, and select Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago) for System.

  5. Connect to Imperial Trader Funding

    Open Connections again and click the connection name you just created. A green status indicator and the account appearing in NinjaTrader confirm the connection.

    An interface illustration of the Imperial Trader Funding connection after it turns green.

Enlarged guide image

If your Imperial Trader Funding connection is not working

Should Plug-in mode be on or off?
Off. Plug-in mode shares a running R|Trader Pro session with NinjaTrader, which is a different setup from PropFirmConnector’s direct connection. In Connections > Configure, select your Rithmic connection, uncheck Plug-in mode, click OK and connect again. Some firm and Rithmic instructions turn it on for their R|Trader Pro workflow; leave it off for PropFirmConnector.
The connection is green, but the account isn’t in NinjaTrader’s Accounts tab.
Your NinjaTrader login is probably missing the general Rithmic entitlement, so the Accounts tab often shows only Sim101. In NinjaTrader, open Help > About. The Entitlements line should say Evaluation (Rithmic); if it doesn’t, the connection can turn green without showing your accounts. Older NinjaTrader accounts don’t have this entitlement by default, but newly registered accounts do. The fix is in your NinjaTrader account, not in Rithmic or your firm’s dashboard, and you only do it once.
About NinjaTrader window with Entitlements showing Evaluation (Rithmic).
Correct: Entitlements lists Evaluation (Rithmic). Machine ID and User are hidden.

If Evaluation (Rithmic) is missing:

  • Import this license key at account.ninjatrader.com: click your initials, then Settings > Plans > Import license key. Paste the key, click Import, then close and restart NinjaTrader.
    @APE-XTRA-DERF-UNDI-183T-PR45-LW27-63GE
  • No Import license key button, or still missing? Trading mainly with prop firms? Your NinjaTrader login doesn’t matter, so the fastest fix is to create a new NinjaTrader account with a different email and sign in with it.
  • Keeping your current login, for example because it has a live account on it? Email platformsupport@ninjatrader.com with your NinjaTrader username and ask them to enable the general Rithmic entitlement.
Play video: Rithmic Account Not Showing in NinjaTrader? Connected but Only Sim101

Rithmic account not showing in NinjaTrader: the full fix, step by step →

Rithmic rejects your Imperial login.
Copy the Rithmic User ID and password again from the Rithmic Credentials card, not your website login, select Rithmic Paper Trading rather than Rithmic 01, and confirm the login in R|Trader Pro, where any pending Rithmic agreements appear.
Your Imperial dashboard shows no Rithmic Credentials card.
Rithmic credentials come with futures: a Futures plan (Foundation Futures or Elite Futures) or the futures add-on at checkout. Equities and options trade in Imperial’s in-house platform without a Rithmic login.

Official Imperial Trader Funding resources

Imperial Trader Funding + NinjaTrader questions

Q Can I connect an Imperial Trader Funding account to NinjaTrader 8?

Yes, for Imperial futures accounts. Imperial supports platforms connected through Rithmic; use the Rithmic User ID and password from your dashboard with System Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago), and PropFirmConnector connects that login alongside other firms’ Rithmic logins.

Q Where do I find my Imperial Rithmic login?

On the Rithmic Credentials card in your Imperial dashboard, which lists the Rithmic User ID and Rithmic Password with copy buttons. It is separate from your website login.

Q Which System do I select for Imperial Trader Funding?

Rithmic Paper Trading (Chicago), the server Imperial’s Quantower setup video uses for its futures accounts. A separate live Rithmic login, if Imperial issues one, uses Rithmic 01 (Chicago).

Q Does Imperial allow trading platforms other than its own?

For futures, yes: Imperial’s site says it supports platforms connected through Rithmic, such as Quantower, and publishes a Quantower setup video. Its help-center note about trading only in its in-house platform predates its futures plans and describes equities and options.

Q Do I need a NinjaTrader license for Imperial?

No. With PropFirmConnector, a free NinjaTrader account works for your Imperial Rithmic login.

Q Is PropFirmConnector affiliated with Imperial Trader Funding?

No. PropFirmConnector is an independent NinjaTrader add-on and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Imperial Trader Funding, NinjaTrader, or Rithmic.

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