Mobile browser and app behave differently in WebTrader platforms

What is causing it

Browser platforms are built for a desktop screen, and the mobile app is a separate client with different features and refresh behaviour.

Why this happens

A phone browser has to squeeze a desktop layout into a small screen, and mobile browsers are also the most aggressive at suspending background pages, so a browser platform on a phone is the least reliable combination available. The app avoids the layout problem but is built separately, so it will not match feature for feature.

The fix, step by step

1. Use the provider's mobile app on a phone where one exists, rather than the browser platform.
2. Refresh or reopen the app before comparing figures, since phones suspend background apps.
3. Confirm both are on the same account number, which is easy to get wrong with demo and live accounts.
4. Treat the desktop browser platform as the authority for anything that matters.
5. Expect some order types, chart tools and reports to be missing on mobile, which is normal rather than a fault.
6. Confirm with your provider that the app is supported for your account and that you have downloaded their app rather than a similarly named one.

How to confirm it is fixed

After refreshing both, the account number, balance and open positions agree between the app and the desktop platform.

Stopping it happening again

Use the desktop platform for decisions and the app for monitoring, and never manage the same position from two devices at once.