Connecting your exchange to 3Commas is essential for automated trading, but sometimes errors can occur during setup. This guide covers the most common connection issues and provides clear, step-by-step solutions.
Tip: Make sure you have access to your exchange account and API keys before starting.
If your exchange supports Fast Connect (such as Binance or OKX), your first troubleshooting step when encountering connection errors should be to reconnect using Fast Connect.
1. Delete the old API keys on your exchange.
2. Go back to 3Commas, click on "Update API Key".
3. Update the connection using Fast Connect (Reconnect) feature.
VERY IMPORTANT!
To avoid losing trade history, active trades, or bots, always update an existing connection rather than creating a new one.
Common Errors and Solutions
1. API keys are no longer valid or incorrect / Not Enough Permissions for API Keys
This error occurs when the API key or secret is entered incorrectly or has expired. If permissions are not set correctly on your API key, you may receive this error as well.
Solution:
Go to your exchange's API settings.
Double-check that you copied and pasted the API key and secret exactly as shown on the exchange, with no extra spaces.
Ensure Spot (and Futures if needed) permissions are enabled. Do NOT enable Withdrawals for security reasons. You can check the required permissions for each exchange here: Exchanges & API.
Save changes and try to Update connected exchange account.
If the error persists, delete the current API key on the exchange, create a new one, and update it in 3Commas.
2. Exchange Connection Failed: This Account is Already Connected
If you’re attempting to connect an exchange account that’s already connected to 3Commas, you’ll receive this error.
Fast Connect:
Manual API connection:
Solution:
Go to My Portfolio on 3Commas and verify if the account is already connected.
If account is already connected, then you can't connect it again as you can only connect an Exchange account once.
3. Trading Suspended / Exchange Account Banned / Your account has been disabled from using the API
Trading may be temporarily suspended by the exchange or restricted due to KYC requirements or suspicious activity or trading can be banned by the exchange for your country or region.
Solution:
Update the API connection and check if the issue is resolved.
If the issue persists, log in to your exchange and check for alerts or notifications regarding service restrictions.
Complete any required KYC verification and contact the exchange's support team if needed.
If necessary, cancel suspended trades and manually recreate them in 3Commas. You can use the cancel button to cancel suspended trades and recreate them manually.
Here is an article on How to recreate Failed or Canceled trades using SmartTrade tools?
4. Failed to Generate API Keys (Binance Specific)
This error is specific to Binance, which requires users to accept a new user agreement for API creation.
Solution:
Log in to your Binance account.
Go to the API Management page and accept the user agreement if prompted.
Reconnect the API key in 3Commas.
5. Other issues
If the conditions above are not applicable to your situation, please head to our status page to check if there is a general issue with API connection.
General Tips for API Connection
Check Exchange Availability: Verify that your exchange is supported by 3Commas. Available Exchanges and Supported Features
Disable Website Translation: Translation tools can interfere with API key input. Disable translation before entering API keys.
Copy Keys Carefully: Use the copy button provided by the exchange, and paste keys without extra spaces or characters.
Use IP binding, whitelist, or restricted access everywhere it's required:
Please make sure to input all the IP addresses that are shown on the exchange connecting window, which looks like this:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I connect multiple accounts from the same exchange?
A: Yes, you can connect multiple accounts from the same exchange on 3Commas. Each account must use a unique API key, and you can rename the exchange connection in 3Commas to avoid confusion.
Q: How do I know if my exchange supports Fast Connect?
A: Supported exchanges display a Fast Connect option when setting up or updating the connection in 3Commas. You can also check this collection for the list of exchanges:
How to connect an exchange using Fast Connect and API keys
Q: I’m still experiencing connection issues after following all steps. What can I do?
A: If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and the issue continues, you can reach out to 3Commas support at [email protected] or use the live chat on our website. Be prepared to provide details about your issue, including any screenshots of the error message you received.
Q: Why is it important to update an existing connection instead of creating a new one?
A: Updating an existing connection retains your trade history, active trades, and bots associated with the API connection. Creating a new connection instead of updating can lead to data loss and may disrupt active trading.
Q: Can I use my API keys for multiple trading services at once?
A: Using the same API key across multiple services can lead to security and connection issues. It’s recommended to create a unique API key for each service you use to ensure stable connections and to prevent security conflicts.
Q: How can I check if my account is banned or restricted on the exchange?
A: Log into your exchange account and check for any notifications or alerts about account restrictions. You may also receive instructions from the exchange for completing KYC verification or addressing other account issues. If restrictions are active, you’ll need to resolve them with your exchange before reconnecting to 3Commas.
Contacting 3Commas Support
If you’ve tried all steps and still experience issues, our support team is here to help. Contact us at [email protected] or use the live chat on our website.