What Is a Reset in a Prop Firm Evaluation?

The short answer: A reset restarts a prop firm evaluation from the beginning: your balance goes back to the starting amount and your progress is wiped. Firms that offer resets usually price them below a new evaluation. A reset can rescue an account you've damaged or failed, but buying reset after reset without changing how you trade just makes failing more expensive.

Key takeaways

• A reset puts your evaluation back to day one.
• It's usually cheaper than buying a new evaluation, but not always.
• Resets are generally for evaluations, not funded accounts.
• Some traders reset after a deep drawdown, not just after failing.
• If you need multiple resets, fix the risk first.

How does a prop firm reset work?

You buy the reset from the firm's dashboard, and the account returns to the starting balance with the same rules. Some firms reset automatically at your next billing date on monthly plans. Others require you to buy it.

When does a reset make sense?

• You broke a rule and the account failed, but you still like the firm.
• You're deep in the drawdown with little room left, and climbing out would mean trading too big.
• You understand why it happened and have changed something: size, daily stop or trade count.

When is a reset a bad idea?

When it's an emotional purchase. Buying a reset five minutes after blowing an account is often revenge trading with a credit card. Take a day off, review what went wrong, and only reset once you've fixed it. If you're on your third reset, the problem is almost certainly risk, not luck. Start with why traders fail evaluations.

Can you reset a funded account?

Generally no. Resets are an evaluation feature at most firms. If a funded account breaks a rule, you usually have to pass a new evaluation. Check your firm's terms.

From the desk Indy trades futures in prop firm accounts and records results in points on Day Trader Income. A reset fixes the balance, not the trader. The rule that broke the account is still there tomorrow.

The bottom line

A reset gives you a clean evaluation for less than a new one. Use it after you've fixed what went wrong, not in the heat of a bad day. Count resets in your total cost to get funded, and if you keep needing them, go back to how much to risk per trade.

FAQ

What is a reset in a prop firm?

A reset restarts your evaluation from the beginning, returning the balance to the starting amount and wiping your progress.

Is a reset cheaper than a new evaluation?

Often, yes, though not always. Compare the reset price with the cost of a new evaluation at the same firm.

Can you reset a funded account?

Generally no. Resets are usually an evaluation feature. A funded account that breaks a rule typically requires passing a new evaluation.

When should I buy a reset?

After you understand why the account failed and have changed your risk, size or daily limits, not immediately after a loss.

Do resets count toward the cost of getting funded?

Yes. Add any resets to your evaluation and activation fees to see the total cost.