API connection errors

When you click Test Connection and AlphaSet can't connect, don't worry — your funds are never at risk. The Engine just can't place orders yet. Run through the checklist below.

1. Wrong API Key or Secret Key

Symptom: "invalid key" / "authentication failed" / nothing happens after pasting. Common causes:

• Extra whitespace pasted before/after the key.
• A missing character, or swapping the API Key with the Secret Key.
• The Secret Key is now hidden (exchanges show the Secret only once at creation) — if you didn't save it, this key won't work.

Fix: Delete the old key on the exchange → create a new key → save both API Key and Secret Key the moment they appear → paste again, no whitespace → Test Connection.

2. Missing trade permission

Symptom: it connects but reports "missing trade permission" / the Engine never opens trades. Cause: the key doesn't have Trade enabled (or Futures for Alpha Crypto). Fix: Go to API Management on the exchange → edit the key → enable trade permission (Trade/Futures/Spot) → save → Test Connection again.

🖼️ [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Image: exchange Edit API key page, red box around the "Trade/Futures" toggle, with an arrow pointing to the Save button.

3. IP not whitelisted

Symptom: flaky connection, or it works at first then drops; "IP not allowed" error. Cause: you enabled IP restriction on the exchange but didn't add AlphaSet's IPs (or added them wrong/incomplete). Fix: Open the AlphaSet app → copy AlphaSet's IP list at the connect step → go to API Management on the exchange → IP access restriction → paste them all, each IP separated by a single space → save.

🖼️ [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Image: exchange IP whitelist field with AlphaSet's full IP list pasted, each IP separated by a space.

4. Withdrawal permission detected

Symptom: AlphaSet rejects the key and asks you to recreate it. Why: this is a protection for you. We only need trade permission — never withdrawal. If the key has Withdraw enabled, AlphaSet won't accept it. Fix: Go to API Management → disable the Withdraw permission on the key (or create a new key with Trade only) → Test Connection again.

Your funds always stay on your exchange. AlphaSet never holds your assets — that's why we proactively block any key with withdrawal access.

Still stuck?

Screenshot the error message and send it to support. We'll provide an alternative way to connect.

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