Fortiris Desktop Guide
Fortiris Desktop is the local companion app for traders who want a standalone browser-session sync flow outside the browser extension.
What Fortiris Desktop Is For
Use Fortiris Desktop when you want one of these workflows:
- Local broker polling - Capture broker sessions for MatchTrader, DxTrade, TradeLocker, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader in a standalone desktop app that runs independently of your trading browser
- Standalone local sync - Keep a background sync process running outside your main browser window
If you only need browser-session sync inside Chrome or Edge, use the Fortiris Browser Extension Guide.
For MT4/MT5, use EA Bridge for automatic sync — it works with any broker and pushes trades in real time with zero delay. If you prefer to import manually, export your account history from MetaTrader and use the manual upload on the Imports page.
Before You Start
- Install Fortiris Desktop from the Downloads section in your Fortiris dashboard
- Have a Fortiris account and at least one trading account already created
- Generate a Desktop Access Key (
ext_...) from Settings → Desktop Access Panel
Fortiris Desktop is designed for both Windows and macOS. The dashboard download path resolves to the latest official Fortiris Desktop release published by Fortiris, and macOS packaging follows the same release path when the signed build is ready.
Local Broker Polling
Use Fortiris Desktop to maintain a live background session for MatchTrader, DxTrade, TradeLocker, Tradovate, and NinjaTrader.
- Choose the platform from the mode dropdown
- Paste your Fortiris Desktop Access Key (
ext_...) - Paste the exact broker login URL you normally visit to trade
- Save settings and start sync
- Fortiris Desktop opens an embedded browser, captures the authenticated session, and starts polling
You usually do not need:
- base API URL
- auth token
- raw cookies
- manual closed/open/account endpoint overrides
Those advanced fields are intended for troubleshooting only.
Starting Balance Guidance
Fortiris tries to detect the real broker balance automatically whenever the platform exposes it. Use the optional Starting balance field only when:
- the broker only exposes P&L spans
- the imported file starts mid-history
- older balance history has been archived away by the platform
If the equity curve starts in the middle, the safest fix is to enter the true account starting balance manually.
Extension vs Desktop
Choose Browser Extension when:
- you trade in Chrome or Edge
- you want per-tab session capture
- you are syncing MatchTrader, DxTrade, TradeLocker, Tradovate, or NinjaTrader Web from the same browser you trade in
Choose Fortiris Desktop when:
- you want a standalone local app
- you want a local sync process running independently of your trading browser
Many traders use both:
- Extension for browser terminals
- Desktop for standalone local broker polling
MT4/MT5 Connection Options
For MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 accounts, the supported paths are:
- EA Bridge (recommended) — Install the Fortiris Expert Advisor in MT4/MT5. Trades push to Fortiris the moment they close, with any broker and zero delay. Set up from Connect Your Broker → EA Bridge.
- Manual Upload (fallback) — Export your account history from MetaTrader (Account History tab → Save As Report) and upload it from the Imports page.
- MetaTrader Cloud Sync — Planned for a future release.
Troubleshooting
Local broker polling does not detect the session
- Use the exact login or trading URL you normally use
- Start the embedded browser flow and log in fully
- Keep the session alive long enough for Fortiris Desktop to capture the live requests
- If the broker blocks the embedded-browser route, fall back to the browser extension or manual import
Starting balance still looks wrong
- Enter the real starting balance manually
- Recalculate the account snapshot after saving the fallback
- If the broker only exposes recent history, Fortiris cannot infer the original deposit without that manual anchor