Forward Test (Paper Trading)
A Forward Test runs your strategy on live market data without real capital — trades are simulated, not sent to a broker. It's the essential step between a good backtest and live deployment: it shows how your strategy behaves on data it has never seen.
No margin or broker connection is required.
Deploy a forward test
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Go to Signal → Signal Dashboard → Indicator → Saved Signals.
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Find your strategy and click Forward Test.
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The instance count changes to 1 Deployed, and the strategy starts running under Indicator → Forward Test in the Listening state.
The strategy is actively monitoring live prices for your entry conditions. It stays listening until you pause or delete it — no daily re-activation needed. More in How Signals Work.
Managing a running forward test
Click the strategy to see its controls and executed (simulated) orders.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pause Listening | Temporarily stops monitoring — no new signals fire |
| Start Listening | Resumes monitoring |
| Debug (under More) | Copies the strategy's debug details for troubleshooting |
| Logs (under More) | Shows all activity and signal-related logs |
| Delete (under More) | Stops and removes this forward test instance |
How long should I forward test?
Long enough to see multiple signals in varied market conditions — for most intraday strategies, at least 1–2 weeks. Compare the forward test results against your backtest; if they diverge wildly, investigate before going live (why results can differ).
When you're confident, deploy with Algo Trade.