Easy Tech TutsHow to Short in TradingView Paper Trading Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Practicing a short trade without putting real money on the line is exactly what TradingView's Paper Trading feature is built for. This guide covers enabling paper trading, placing a short order, and managing stop loss and take profit levels on a simulated position.
01Understand short selling
Short selling means opening a position that profits when the price falls, betting against the asset rather than on it rising.
02Enable Paper Trading
Turn on TradingView's Paper Trading panel to get a simulated account balance you can trade with risk-free.
03Place a short order
From the paper trading panel, select sell/short instead of buy, choose your position size, and submit the order on your chosen symbol.
04Set stop loss and take profit
Add a stop loss above your entry to limit downside if the price rises, and a take profit below your entry to lock in gains if the price falls as expected.
05Close or modify the position
Monitor the simulated trade and close it manually or let your stop loss/take profit orders execute automatically once conditions are met.
Frequently asked questions
Is TradingView Paper Trading free?
Yes, Paper Trading is included as a free simulated trading feature on TradingView.
Can I practice short selling on crypto and stocks in paper trading?
Yes, Paper Trading supports short positions across the asset classes available on TradingView's connected paper trading brokers.
Does paper trading use real market prices?
Yes, paper trading uses live or delayed real market data, so your simulated trades reflect actual price movement.
What happens if I don't set a stop loss on a short trade?
Without a stop loss, a simulated short position can accumulate unlimited paper losses if the price keeps rising, so it's good practice to always set one.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
