TWS order is Inactive: find the actual reason

Quick answer

First check whether the order has been sent. IBKR’s status guide describes Inactive as an order being created but not yet activated or sent. Read the full message and any linked order details before taking action. The label is not a fill receipt.

Educational software guidance. Trading involves risk. Read the financial and information disclaimers.

Step by step

1 Open the order’s detailed status in Activity and check whether it is a staged, unsent order.
2 Read the full status message. Check whether the app ever sent this order and received a broker response.
3 If it is a child order, check its parent’s status and filled size.
4 If it is conditional, review the exact activation condition and session.
5 Correct the found issue and check the complete order group before resuming automation.

A practical example

You type an order into TWS but leave it staged while you check the price. There is no reason to expect a fill yet: you have not sent it. Read its state and compare it with the app log if an app created it. A row on the screen is not proof of broker acceptance. Do not click Send merely to clear a label; first confirm that this is still the order you mean to place.

Illustrative scenario, not a record of a trade placed during this review.

Screen reference

Empty TWS Activity Orders panel and Trades tab — Use Orders to inspect order state and Trades to inspect executions. This empty paper view shows the location; it does not reproduce a rejection or prove a fill. Captured in TWS paper mode on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

How to confirm the result Every intended working or waiting order should have an understood state and relationship.

Mistake to avoid

Do not assume an inactive protective order now protects the position.

Common questions

Can a child wait for its parent?

Yes. Inspect the linked parent rather than treating the child in isolation.

Does removing a warning always activate it?

No. Resolve the specific cause shown by the broker.

TWS says Submitted but the order has not filled TWS order stuck on PendingSubmit TWS partial fill: check the remaining quantity TWS position differs from the automation app

Financial and information disclaimers

Financial disclaimer

These guides explain software. They are for education, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. No example is a suggestion to buy or sell a product or use a trading strategy. Trading can lose money, including all funds you put at risk. With margin, futures, short sales, or some options, losses can exceed your starting funds. Automation can fail, send duplicate orders, or act late. Stops do not guarantee a fill or a price. Review your orders and positions, and seek advice from a qualified professional for your own needs. Paper trades, examples, and past results do not predict live results or promise a profit.

Information disclaimer

This is general help based on the sources and check date shown on the page. Screens, settings, fees, data access, and product support can change or differ by app version, account, country, and broker. The content may contain errors or become out of date; accuracy, completeness, and continuous service are not guaranteed. Check current broker and app instructions before acting. Screenshots show where controls are; they do not prove that an order test passed. This guide does not replace broker terms or risk notices. References to IBKR and TradingView identify their products and do not imply their endorsement of this guide.