Prop Firms
FTMO Rules for MT4 and MT5 Traders
The FTMO Challenge limits, checked against FTMO's official pages on 6 November 2026, and the Arka Terminal tools that keep each limit in view on an FTMO MetaTrader account.
Available for Windows 10 and Windows 11
Daily loss
5%
2-Step, of initial capital
Maximum loss
10%
2-Step, static
Profit targets
10% / 5%
Challenge, Verification
Platforms
MT4 · MT5
Not available to US residents
The 2-Step Limits on One Chart
A $100,000 account over five trading days. The daily floor resets at 00:00 CE(S)T from that day's opening balance; the maximum loss floor does not move.
FTMO 2-Step · $100,000 · Illustrative
Daily reset 00:00 CE(S)T
- Profit target+10% · 110,000
- Starting balance100,000
- Daily loss floor5%
- Maximum loss floor10% · 90,000
- Equity (illustrative)
The equity path is illustrative. FTMO checks the daily limit against equity, including floating P&L, swaps and commissions.
Evaluation Rules by Model
FTMO offers 2-Step, 1-Step and Instant accounts. The two evaluation models compare as follows.
| Rule | 2-Step | 1-Step |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 10%, then 5% | 10% |
| Daily loss | 5% of initial capital | 3% |
| Maximum loss | 10%, static | 10%, trailing on end-of-day balance |
| Minimum trading days | 4 per phase | — |
| Time limit | None | — |
| Best-day rule | — | 50% of total profit |
| Daily reset | 00:00 CE(S)T | 00:00 CE(S)T |
A dash means the rule is not covered in this summary. The 1-Step best-day rule applies to orders from 12 October 2026. Source: FTMO trading objectives
Platform Availability
Arka Terminal signs in to MetaTrader accounts only. FTMO offers four platforms.
- MetaTrader 4Offered outside the USCompatible with Arka Terminal
- MetaTrader 5Offered outside the USCompatible with Arka Terminal
- cTraderOffered by FTMONot supported
- TradingViewOffered by FTMONot supported
FTMO does not offer MetaTrader to US residents, who are served through a separate affiliated entity. Arka Terminal is therefore not available on FTMO accounts held by US residents.
How Arka Terminal Supports FTMO's Rules
Four tools in the terminal map directly to FTMO's limits.
Daily loss
Each Trade Sized Against the 5% Limit
The full order window opens with 1% of the balance at risk. FTMO's 2-Step daily allowance equals five such losses.
- Risk-based sizing
- The stop is set at the recent average true range, the target at twice that distance, and the volume follows from 1% of the balance at risk.
- Pre-trade Check
- Before submission, the check states the loss at the stop in money and as a share of equity, and flags any trade above 1%.
- Equity basis
- FTMO measures the daily limit on equity, so floating losses on open positions count from the moment they occur.
Maximum loss
Aggregate Exposure in One View
The 10% floor applies to the whole account. Several positions on one symbol can be managed as one, with the total shown first.
- Group stop line
- One line sets the stop or target for every position on a symbol and shows what they add up to at that price.
- Close by kind
- Close buys, sells, winners, losers or all positions, with the floating P&L and share of the balance shown first.
- Net exposure
- The positions panel nets exposure by symbol across the account.
News rule
Releases Flagged Before the Window
On funded accounts FTMO restricts orders 2 minutes either side of selected releases. The terminal flags major releases 15 minutes ahead.
- Release alerts
- A notice 15 minutes before a release rated four stars or above on a symbol with open positions, and again once it is out.
- Releases on the chart
- Releases rated three stars and above sit on the time axis with previous, forecast and actual figures.
- AI previews
- Releases rated four stars and above carry an AI preview before and an AI reading after.
Best-day rule
Profit Distribution by Day and Week
FTMO's 1-Step caps the best day at 50% of total profit. Trading Profile and Daily Review show how profit is spread.
- Daily P&L
- Daily Review shows net P&L for each of the last seven days, with the day's best and worst trade.
- Weekly rhythm
- Trading Profile shows net P&L for each of the past eight weeks, by session and by symbol.
- Risk flags
- A single loss of three times the average loss, or four consecutive losses, is flagged.
Arka Terminal does not read FTMO's limits or close positions on the trader's behalf. These tools make risk visible before and during each trade; compliance with FTMO's rules remains the trader's responsibility.
Trading Conduct Rules
Restrictions beyond the loss limits, as FTMO states them.
News trading
On funded accounts, no orders from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after selected releases on the affected instruments. The Challenge, Verification and Swing accounts are exempt.
Weekend holding
Funded Standard accounts must close positions before market breaks longer than 2 hours, including weekends. Swing accounts are exempt.
Expert Advisors
Permitted. Third-party EAs are subject to a capital-allocation rule, and the servers limit open orders and daily positions.
Identical trading
Identical trading across accounts, including copied signals, may be capped or suspended.
Inactivity
No trade for 30 days can lead to termination of the account.
Rules checked on 6 November 2026 against FTMO's official pages. Prop firms revise their rules; confirm the current terms on FTMO's site before trading. ArkaTrading is independent and is not affiliated with FTMO or MetaQuotes.
Connect an FTMO Account
Arka Terminal signs in with the MetaTrader credentials from the FTMO dashboard.
- 01
Choose MT4 or MT5
Select a MetaTrader platform when purchasing the Challenge.
- 02
Find the server
In Arka Terminal, choose MT4 or MT5 and search for the server named in the FTMO dashboard.
- 03
Sign in
Enter the account number and password. The password is stored only on the trader's computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Arka Terminal be used with an FTMO account?
Yes, with an FTMO MT4 or MT5 account. cTrader and TradingView accounts cannot be connected.
Does Arka Terminal track the FTMO daily loss limit?
Not automatically, as it does not read FTMO's limits. Risk-based sizing, the Pre-trade Check and the positions panel show the loss at stake on each trade and across the account.
How is the FTMO daily loss calculated?
On the 2-Step, the floor is the balance at 00:00 CE(S)T minus 5% of initial capital, checked against equity including floating P&L, swaps and commissions. It resets at 00:00 CE(S)T.
Is news trading allowed at FTMO?
During the Challenge and Verification, yes. On funded accounts, orders are not permitted from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after selected releases on the affected instruments; Swing accounts are exempt.
Can US residents use Arka Terminal with FTMO?
No. FTMO does not offer MetaTrader to US residents, and Arka Terminal connects to MetaTrader accounts only.
The terminal built for a new generation of traders
Available for Windows 10 and Windows 11
