Account reset in prop firms
An account reset restarts a prop firm challenge from the original starting balance, for a fee that is usually lower than buying a new challenge. Firms offer it after a breach and sometimes before one, when an account is in a deep drawdown.
A reset gives you a fresh account with the same rules and the same size, for a discounted fee. It is worth it only if you know what broke the last attempt and have changed it; otherwise it is the same experiment paid twice.
How resets work
- After a breach: the firm offers a reset at a discount, often within minutes.
- Before a breach: some firms let you reset an account that is down but not breached, to start from the full balance again.
- What resets: balance, drawdown floor and trading days. What does not: the rules, and often the time already spent.
Example: the real cost of resetting
A $100,000 challenge costs $500 and a reset $400. If your pass rate is one in four, the expected cost of a pass is about four attempts: $500 + 3 × $400 = $1,700. Raising your pass rate to one in two cuts that to $900. The cheapest reset is the one you do not need, which is why practicing the exact rules free before paying matters.
When a reset is worth it
| Worth it | Not worth it |
|---|---|
| You know the cause and fixed it (size, news, a rule you missed) | You want to win back the fee today |
| The breach was one outlier trade in a sound process | The last three attempts ended the same way |
| You practiced the fix on virtual funds first | The reset is bought minutes after the breach |
FAQ
What is an account reset in a prop firm?
A paid restart of your challenge from the starting balance with the same rules, usually cheaper than a new challenge.
Is a reset cheaper than a new challenge?
Usually, yes; firms discount it to keep you trading. Compare the reset price with the new-challenge price and any current promotions.
Should I reset right after a breach?
Wait until you know what caused it. Resets bought right after a breach repeat the same mistake most often.