Lightwick

Rithmic on Mac.
Get connected.

Set up your Rithmic account in a Mac trading application. Get your login ready, sign your agreements, and choose the right system. If something gets in the way, find the fix below.

By Lightwick · Updated

Can you use Rithmic on a Mac?

Yes. Rithmic works through native Mac trading applications. Lightwick is built around Rithmic for macOS; other options include MotiveWave, whose version 7 made its native Rithmic connector the default on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Read the release notes (PDF) or our MotiveWave on Mac guide. Trading with Topstep? Topstep uses TopstepX rather than Rithmic; see TopstepX on Mac.

A Mac application

A native application brings charts, market depth, and order tools to your Mac desktop. Use your firm’s Rithmic credentials and assigned trading system.

A browser platform

Some firms include a browser trading platform with their accounts. Use the platform supplied by your firm. Rithmic demo accounts exclude web and mobile trading interfaces. See demo access limits.

A Windows application

A Windows-only platform needs a Windows environment on your Mac. Apex’s platform guide describes the virtual-machine route. Read Apex’s platform guide.

Lightwick brings charts, market depth, orders, and account tools together in a native Mac workspace. It is currently free during beta. Find your firm’s Rithmic setup guide to prepare your account.

Prepare a Rithmic account.

  1. 01

    Choose your Rithmic account

    Choose the Rithmic account option at your firm. Keep the onboarding details for your program and account stage handy. Tradovate, CQG, and Volumetrica use separate connections.

  2. 02

    Have your trading login ready

    You need the trading user ID, password, assigned Rithmic system, and gateway where the app requests one. Record the account ID separately so you can recognize it after connecting. Use the firm’s trading credentials; your website login may be different.

  3. 03

    Complete the required agreements.

    Follow the agreement link in your firm’s official instructions. Check the system before signing and supply the professional classification that applies to you. See the Mac web agreement examples below.

  4. 04

    Set up the connection

    Select Rithmic in your application and enter the trading credentials and assigned system. Follow the application’s setup instructions for its connection mode and use any account-specific settings supplied by your firm.

  5. 05

    Check the connected account and data.

    Select your account and confirm the account ID and trading environment. Open the contract and expiry you trade, then check that quotes are updating during an active market session.

  6. 06

    Recheck when the account changes.

    A new account stage may bring a different system, provider, or credential set. Save the new onboarding instructions and compare them with your application configuration before using the account.

Sign Rithmic agreements on Mac.

Lucid and BluSky let Mac users sign their Rithmic agreements in a browser. Follow the agreement link in your own firm’s setup instructions, sign in with your trading credentials, and complete the required forms.

After signing, return to your Mac application and connect with your assigned trading system. If you still cannot sign in, check the login troubleshooting steps below.

The system depends on the firm.

Select the system supplied by your firm. Here are the settings published by Lucid and BluSky; use the instructions for your account if they differ.

Lucid Trading
LucidTrading system · Chicago Area gateway. Source ↗
BluSky evaluation
Rithmic Paper Trading system · Chicago Area gateway. Source ↗
BluSky funded
Rithmic 01 system · Chicago Area gateway. Source ↗
Find setup requirements for all 23 prop firms

Troubleshoot the symptom you see.

Start with the symptom below. Most connection issues can be narrowed down to credentials, system selection, account access, or market-data settings.

Login rejected

Compare the trading user ID, password, assigned system, and agreement status with your firm’s onboarding instructions. A dashboard login may be different.

Next step: Ask the firm to confirm that the trading credentials are active for that system.

Assigned system is missing

Check the app version and its supported Rithmic systems. A firm-specific system may differ from the generic Paper Trading option.

Next step: Ask the application vendor about support for the exact system name.

Connected, but no account appears

Confirm the account ID and stage with the firm. Distinguish a data-only connection from an account authorized for trading.

Next step: Ask the firm to verify account assignment and third-party application permission.

Quotes are missing or stopped

Check the contract and expiry, market session, data entitlement, connection status, and any published maintenance notice.

Next step: Compare the same contract and time in another permitted platform. Report whether the issue affects one app or both.

The connection drops when another app opens

Check the account’s concurrent-session allowance and whether the app uses a direct connection or a supported plugin route.

Next step: Ask the vendor for the correct connection mode and the firm for its session limits.

Evaluation worked; the new account does not

Review the newly issued credentials, system, provider, and account ID. Funding-stage changes can require a different setup.

Next step: Use the instructions for the new account instead of copying the evaluation configuration.

Send a specific support request.

Include your macOS and app versions, Mac model, firm, account stage, selected system, exact error, and the time with its timezone. For data issues, add the contract and expiry. Redact passwords and private account details from screenshots.

Common Mac setup questions.

Do I need to leave R|Trader Pro running?

That depends on the connection mode. Lucid’s setup page says R|Trader Pro can be closed after agreements are signed. A platform configured to use a plugin connection can have different requirements; follow that platform’s instructions. Read Lucid’s setup page.

Can I use my Rithmic account in Tradovate?

Rithmic and Tradovate use separate connections. Apex, for example, requires separate accounts for Rithmic, Tradovate, and WealthCharts and does not convert between them. Read Apex’s account policy.

Does live market data mean I have a live trading account?

No. Rithmic’s exchange simulator uses live market data with simulated fills. Establish the account environment from the firm’s documentation and account details, not from moving prices. Read about the simulator.

Official resources

Use these firm and platform resources for account settings, agreement links, and connection details.