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thinkManual
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Glossary
FAQ
Release Notes

thinkManual thinkScript Glossary FAQ Release Notes

How to thinkorswim

thinkManual

Welcome to thinkorswim! In this manual, you will find tutorials on numerous thinkorswim features, tabs, and interfaces.

Getting Started — updated
Left Sidebar — updated
Monitor — updated
Trade — updated
Analyze
Scan
MarketWatch
Charts — updated
Bookmap
Tools
Miscellaneous — updated

All Videos

Getting Started

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The securities, investment products and investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal, and for some products and strategies, loss of more than your initial investment.

Equity and Index options carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options through Schwab. Please read the options disclosure document titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options." before considering any option transaction. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request.

Multiple leg options strategies will involve multiple transaction costs.

Spread trading must be done in a margin account.

Hedging and protective strategies generally involve additional costs and do not assure a profit or guarantee against loss.

Uncovered options strategies are only appropriate for traders with the highest risk tolerance, may involve potential for unlimited risk, and are only allowed in margin accounts.

Short options can be assigned at any time up to expiration regardless of the In-The-Money (ITM) amount. An ITM option has a higher risk of being assigned early.
Schwab does not recommend the use of technical analysis as a sole means of investment research.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Access to real-time market data is conditioned on acceptance of the exchange agreements. Fees apply. Market volatility, volume, and system availability may delay account access and trade executions.

Certain futures products may be offered for trading 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. During extended hours, positions may experience higher volatility, changes in prices, and less liquidity, than during regular market hours.

Futures positions offered 24 hours per day, 7 days per week may be susceptible to higher risks of systems failure due to the limited downtime experienced by such systems. CSFF may also determine that liquidation of a customer’s assets is necessary during such extended hours.

These risks described, are not an exhaustive list and do not purport to disclose all of the risks and other significant aspects associated with 24/7 trading. You should carefully consider whether 24/7 trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition, objectives, and risk tolerance.

Futures, and Futures options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options: https://www.schwab.com/Futures_RiskDisclosure prior to trading futures products.

Forex trading involves leverage, carries a substantial level of risk, and is not suitable for all investors. Please read the Risk Disclosure for Forex: https://www.schwab.com/resource/forex-risk-disclosure-statement.

Futures and forex accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Forex accounts do not receive a preference in any bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Part 190 of the CFTC’s regulations.

Read additional CFTC and NFA futures and forex public disclosures for Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC: https://www.schwab.com/legal/futures-disclosures

Futures, futures options, and forex trading services provided by Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC. Trading privileges subject to review and approval. Not all clients will qualify. Forex accounts are not available to residents of Ohio or Arizona.

Futures margin, also known as a “performance bond,” is the amount of money you are required to deposit in your futures account to establish and maintain a futures position. Futures margin is not a loan. If at any given time the funds in your account drop below the minimum regulatory requirement, or "house" margin requirements, you may be required to immediately deposit additional funds to maintain your position, or your position may be liquidated at a loss. You will be liable for any resulting debits. Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC may increase its “house” margin requirements at any time and is not required to provide you with advance notice of such requirement changes or liquidations initiated by Schwab. You are not entitled to an extension of time on any type of margin call.

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC (“Schwab Futures and Forex”), Charles Schwab Bank, SSB and Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. Securities brokerage products are offered by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Member SIPC). Schwab Futures and Forex is a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and a NFA Forex Dealer Member is notice registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer solely for the purpose of effecting transactions in security futures products, and offers brokerage services for futures, commodities and forex interests. Deposit and non-mortgage lending products, including the Pledged Asset Line, are offered by Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender, and Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, Member FDIC.

Cryptocurrency products and the Schwab Crypto™ account are offered by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, Member FDIC.

Investing in cryptocurrencies involves risk, including the risk of total loss of principal invested.

Cryptocurrencies [such as bitcoin and ethereum] are highly volatile, are not backed or guaranteed by the bank, any central bank or government; are not deposits; are not FDIC insured; are not SIPC protected; and lack many of the regulations and consumer protections that legal-tender currencies and regulated securities have.

Due to the high level of risk, investors should view digital currencies as a purely speculative instrument. Additional risks apply. View our full risk disclosure here.

This site is designed for U.S. residents. Non-U.S. residents are subject to country-specific restrictions. Learn more about our services for non-U.S. residents.

© 2026 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Member SIPC.