Trades are filling instantly and the balance never changes in NinjaTrader 8

What is causing it

The order is being routed to the built-in simulation account rather than your live brokerage account.

Why this happens

NinjaTrader ships with a local simulation account so the platform is usable without a broker. Orders sent to it are matched internally against the data feed, which is why fills look unrealistically clean.

Because the selection lives on each order entry window rather than globally, it is easy to have one chart live and another simulated at the same time.

The fix, step by step

1. Look at the account selector on whatever you are trading from, whether that is Chart Trader, a SuperDOM or the order entry window, and read the account name shown.
2. If it shows a simulation account name rather than your brokerage account number, change the selection to your live account.
3. Check every order entry window separately, as the account is chosen per window and one can be left on simulation.
4. Confirm you are connected to your live broker connection and not a demo or simulation connection.
5. Place one small order and confirm it appears in your broker's own statement or web portal before trading normally.

How to confirm it is fixed

A test order appears in your broker's own portal or statement, not just in NinjaTrader. That is the only proof it went to the market.

Stopping it happening again

Before a session, check the account selector on every window you intend to trade from. Consider using visibly different workspaces for simulation and live trading.