# FAQs: Common Mistakes

Use this page when a bot won’t start, balances look wrong, or you hit an API error.

### ✅ Quick checklist

* Confirm funds are in **USDT-M Futures** (not Spot/Funding/Earn).
* Confirm you’re holding **USDT** (not USDC or other assets).
* Refresh your dashboard. Wait **\~5 minutes** between transfers and refreshes.
* Check API key **permissions** (trading ON, withdrawals OFF).
* Check your **plan limits** and whether the bot has available copy slots.
* Avoid **more than one bot per pair**.

### 💰 Balance & wallet issues

<details>

<summary><strong>Balance not showing (BloFin / Bitget)</strong></summary>

**Most common cause**

* Funds are not in the **Futures** wallet.

**Fix**

1. Open your exchange wallet view.
2. Use **Transfer**.
3. Move funds from **Funding / Spot / Earn** to **Futures**.
4. For PrimeAutomation, use **USDT-M Futures**.
5. Refresh your PrimeAutomation dashboard.
6. Wait **\~5 minutes** before refreshing again.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Bots only run on USDT (stablecoin mismatch)</strong></summary>

PrimeAutomation bots run on **USDT-margined** futures.

**Fix**

* Swap your stablecoin (example: **USDC → USDT**).
* Transfer **USDT** into **USDT-M Futures**.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>TradeStation: balance is wrong (multiple futures accounts)</strong></summary>

TradeStation can have more than one futures sub-account.

**Fix**

* Transfer funds between your TradeStation futures accounts.
* Refresh the PrimeAutomation dashboard.
* Wait **\~5 minutes** between transfers and refreshes.

</details>

### 🔑 API issues (bots can’t trade / API error)

<details>

<summary><strong>API key expired (or stopped working)</strong></summary>

Some brokers issue API keys with an expiration date.

**Fix**

1. Create a new API key on the broker.
2. Update the API key + secret in PrimeAutomation.
3. If the bot still errors, delete and re-add the bot so it picks up the new key.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you remove a bot while trades are open, those positions remain on the exchange. Re-add the bot quickly or manage open positions manually.
{% endhint %}

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>API permissions are wrong (BloFin / Bitget / TradeStation)</strong></summary>

**Fix**

* Enable **Trading** permission.
* Disable **Withdrawals** permission.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>API key vs “password” confusion</strong></summary>

PrimeAutomation asks for the **API Key** and **API Secret**. These are created on your broker. They are not passwords you invent.

**Fix**

* Copy/paste the exact values from the broker’s API creation screen.

</details>

### 🤖 Bot access & availability

<details>

<summary><strong>Can’t add a bot (plan restriction)</strong></summary>

Different plans have different limits. Some plans exclude AI bots. Some plans cap the number of active bots.

**Fix**

* Open the **Pricing** tab.
* Compare your plan limits to the bot you’re trying to copy.
* Upgrade if needed.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Can’t add a bot (no copy slots available)</strong></summary>

Some bots have limited capacity. Once full, you can’t copy it until capacity frees up.

**Fix**

* Check again later.
* Consider a similar bot on the same pair.
* Consider a stronger performer on a different pair.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Can’t find a bot you copied before</strong></summary>

Bots are auto-sorted by new arrivals and current performance. Older bots can move out of view during normal market cycles.

**Fix**

* Use the **search bar** to find the bot by name/pair.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Bot disappeared (maintenance)</strong></summary>

Bots may be paused for testing and improvements.

**Fix**

* Contact support if a bot disappears from your dashboard.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Same pair, different results</strong></summary>

Same pair does not mean same logic. Example: `BTC-USDT-SNIPER` vs `BTC-USDT-ROCKET`.

**Fix**

* Check the bot’s code name and metrics.
* Pick the version that fits your risk and style.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>More than one bot on the same pair</strong></summary>

Avoid running multiple bots on the same pair. Some brokers can mis-attribute entries and exits.

**Fix**

* Keep **one bot per pair**.
* If you delete a bot with open positions, close those positions on the broker.

</details>

### 🧯 Funds, sizing, and risk settings

<details>

<summary><strong>“Insufficient funds”</strong></summary>

Common causes:

* Funds are in the wrong wallet.
* Wallet is too small for the bot’s minimum order size.
* Too many bots are drawing from the same wallet.

**Fix**

* Verify funds are in **USDT-M Futures**.
* Verify the PrimeAutomation dashboard shows the correct balance.
* Reduce the number of bots or reduce each bot’s position size.
* Add more equity if needed.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Too many bots using a high % at the same time</strong></summary>

Bots can lock margin while trades are open. This can starve other bots.

**Fix**

* Reduce the % used per trade.
* Add more funds.
* Reduce the number of concurrently running bots.

{% hint style="danger" %}
If you delete a bot while it has an open trade, PrimeAutomation won’t manage that position anymore. Close open positions on your broker if needed.
{% endhint %}

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Using fixed dollar sizing (instead of %)</strong></summary>

Fixed sizing locks a specific dollar amount per bot. With many bots, you can run out of that amount.

**Fix**

* Prefer **% of balance**.
* If you must use dollars, keep it around **5–10%** of your account per bot.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Risk is set too high ("100% risk")</strong></summary>

Risk mainly comes from:

* Leverage
* % of wallet per trade

Even with safeguards, fast moves and slippage can liquidate accounts.

**Suggested baseline**

* **Leverage:** max **3x**
* **Allocation:** **5–10%** of your wallet per bot per trade

</details>