> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.metacopier.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.metacopier.io/tutorials/prop-firms-guide.md).

# Prop firms guide

Proprietary trading firms (short prop firms) are expanding rapidly, and interest in trading with them is growing just as fast. To support your success and help you remain compliant, we've created this guide with key recommendations.

Before anything else, make sure you thoroughly read and understand the specific rules of your chosen prop firm. The guidelines provided here are meant to assist you in staying compliant. They **must not be used to bypass or circumvent** the firm’s official rules in any way.

We recommend starting with smaller accounts to test and refine your settings. Ultimately, **you are fully responsible** for ensuring your trading activities remain within the firm’s guidelines.

## Settings reccomendations

1. **Use** [**Risk Limits**](/features/basic-features/risk-limits.md)**,** [**Profit Targets**](/features/basic-features/profit-targets.md) **and** [**Overall Target**](https://docs.metacopier.io/features/basic-features/overall-target)**:** Set clear limits to manage your exposure and ensure disciplined trading.
2. **IP Address Considerations:**
   * If the prop firm monitors IP addresses, use either a [**dedicated IP**](/features/pro-features.md#dedicated-ip) or your [**home IP/VPS**](/tutorials/my-home-ip.md).
   * When using your home IP, configure it at the [**project level**.](/tutorials/my-home-ip.md#limitations)
   * When using a dedicated IP, make sure to **disable the** [**fallback option**](/features/basic-features/fallback-setting.md).
   * When adding a new account to MetaCopier, select either the dedicated IP or your home IP to ensure that the first connection is also made using your own IP address.
3. [**Fallback**](/features/basic-features/fallback-setting.md)**:** Fallback is what happens when a technical problem occurs on the infrastructure hosting your account (network disruption, hardware or datacenter failure). To restore the service quickly, MetaCopier automatically moves the account to another infrastructure, which means the account reconnects from a **different IP address**. For prop firms that enforce strict IP checks, that IP change can be seen as a rule violation, so we recommend turning fallback off and combining it with a [dedicated IP](/features/pro-features.md#dedicated-ip) or [My Home IP](/tutorials/my-home-ip.md).
   * **Enable "No Fallback"** so the account stays disconnected until the original infrastructure is back online, instead of being moved elsewhere.
   * The setting is available at **two levels**:
     * **Project level:** enable it once in the project settings and every account of that project inherits the behaviour.
     * **Account level:** enable it on a single account when only that account needs the stricter behaviour.
   * "No Fallback" is only taken into account when the account uses a **dedicated IP** (or your home IP). It is disabled by default.
   * If you prefer to keep fallback enabled, you can still restrict where the account may be moved through the **Allowed Regions** list.
4. **Lot Size Limitations:** Some prop firms impose limits on lot sizes per trade. If necessary, define [**custom lot size limits per symbol**](/features/basic-features/copiers.md).
5. [**Margin Cap**](/features/pro-features/margin-cap.md)**:** Set a maximum margin usage percentage to ensure copied trades stay within your prop firm's margin limits. MetaCopier automatically adjusts the lot size or skips the trade if necessary, helping prevent excessive leverage.
6. [**Disable Trade Comments**](/features/basic-features/copiers.md)**:** Turn off the comment feature in the copier to avoid any potential flagging.
7. **Limit Open Positions:** Use the copier’s [**max open positions**](/features/basic-features/max-open-positions.md) feature to control the number of simultaneous trades.
8. **Avoid Identical Trades:** To prevent trades from being too similar, consider
   1. enabling the [**TP/SL (Take Profit / Stop Loss) management**](/features/pro-features.md#tp-sl-management) feature on the copier and setting a value for the "*Additional TP points*" and "*Additional SL points*" to introduce variation in the position parameters
   2. enabling also the "*Adjust with master distance*" option in the TP/SL Management feature to to further randomize TP/SL values based on the slippage and spread of the slave account
   3. enabling the [Delayed execution](/features/pro-features.md#delayed-execution) feature to apply a random delay for opening and closing positions
9. [**Minimum holding time**](/features/basic-features/minimum-holding-time.md) **a position must stay open:** Sometimes, closing trades too quickly may violate certain rules or restrictions.
10. [**Block Hedge Positions**](/features/basic-features/block-hedging.md): Prevents opening a trade if an opposite position (BUY vs SELL) on the same symbol already exists, helping you stay compliant with prop firm no-hedging rules.
11. [**Trade cooldown**](/features/basic-features/trade-cooldown.md): Blocks copying a new open on a symbol for a set time after a previous trade on the same (or a correlated) symbol closes or opens. Use it to respect prop-firm "trade idea" rules, for example FTMO's rule that a new position within 1 hour of a previous trade on the same or a correlated symbol counts as the same trade idea.