Guides
When your brokerage connection breaks: what happened and what to do
When your brokerage connection breaks: what happened and what to do.
I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. Connections drop. It's the most common thing that goes wrong and it's almost always mundane. Here's why it happens, what happens to your account while it's down, and the order to check things in.
One thing first, because we're an SEC-registered investment adviser and I have to say it. Autopilot is the app. The actual investment advice comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC. If you want the full legal version of anything in here, it's on our disclaimer page.
What happens while you're disconnected
Trading pauses. Nothing runs while the connection is down, which is the behavior you'd want. Your positions stay where they are, in your own brokerage account, and nobody is trading them.
The Portfolio may change during the outage. When you reconnect, your account will move toward the Portfolio's targets, which can mean several orders at once. That's the catch-up, and it's normal.
Why it breaks
Four ordinary causes, and the help center names them.
You changed your brokerage password. A stored authorization tied to old credentials stops working.
The session expired. Brokerage connections have lifetimes and eventually need re-authorizing.
A two-factor prompt was never completed. The connection sits half-finished until it's answered.
Something changed at the brokerage. A new agreement, a new form, an account type change. In that case the fix is on their side first.
What to check, in order
Reconnect in the app first. That resolves most of these, and it's a login flow rather than a support ticket.
If it fails, check that your name and identity details match your brokerage profile exactly. The help center calls mismatched identity information a top reason connections fail, and it's the one people never suspect.
Then open your brokerage app and look for anything waiting: an unsigned authorization, an unanswered account question, a restriction on the account. Some brokerages block third-party trading until their own setup questions are answered.
If orders still aren't going through after the connection is live, the issue may not be the connection at all. Unsettled funds, insufficient buying power and market hours all hold orders, and those are covered in When Autopilot actually trades.
When to message support
After you've tried the reconnect and checked the brokerage side. Support can see things you can't, and the app's chat is the fastest route. Tell them what you already tried, because it saves a round trip.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my brokerage disconnect from Autopilot?
Usually a password change, an expired session, an unanswered two-factor prompt, or a change on the brokerage side such as a new agreement or a restriction.
How do I reconnect my brokerage to Autopilot?
Reconnect in the app and complete the brokerage login flow. Make sure your name and identity details match your brokerage profile, because mismatches are a leading cause of failure.
Does Autopilot keep trading if my brokerage disconnects?
No. Trading pauses while disconnected. When you reconnect, your account moves toward the Portfolio's targets, which can mean several orders at once.
Why is Autopilot not placing trades?
Check the connection first, then the brokerage side for unsigned authorizations or unanswered questions, then whether you have settled buying power and whether the market is open.
Since Autopilot Advisers is an SEC-registered investment adviser, we have to put disclaimers on stuff like this. They're below, and the full version is on our disclaimer page.
Disclosures
© Autopilot Holdings Corporation 2026 — All rights reserved. “Autopilot” refers to Autopilot Holdings Corporation and its wholly-owned, and separately managed subsidiaries, including Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. All investing is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View our Customer Relationship Summary and other important information at joinautopilot.com/disclaimer.
This information is provided by Autopilot for educational and illustrative purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any security. Autopilot relies on information from various sources believed to be reliable, including information from Clients, Pilots and other third parties, but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information. Autopilot does not provide tax or legal advice and you are encouraged to consult with professionals before making investment decisions.
Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by the companies listed, described, or featured on its site. Company logos or trademarks used do not imply endorsement and are the property of their respective owners.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You should carefully consider your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon before investing through Autopilot.
Autopilot Advisers, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Autopilot is available in our Form ADV Part 2A, available at adviserinfo.sec.gov or joinautopilot.com/adv.
Autopilot provides limited investment advisory services focused on Portfolio selection and suitability assessment. Our services are not intended to replace comprehensive financial planning. We recommend consulting with a qualified financial advisor regarding your complete financial situation.
This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. You should consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.
Autopilot does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals regarding your specific circumstances.
Autopilot does not hold client assets. All investments are held at the brokerage firm you select and connect to Autopilot. Your brokerage firm is responsible for trade execution, custody, and reporting. Autopilot is not responsible for your broker-dealer’s services, fees, or execution quality.
Autopilot’s services depend on technology systems, third-party APIs, and internet connectivity. System outages, API disruptions, or connectivity issues may temporarily affect service availability or trade execution timing.
Client account holdings are designed to track the Portfolio you’ve selected, but your actual holdings and performance may differ from the Portfolio due to execution timing, market conditions, brokerage capacity constraints, fractional share availability, and other factors outside Autopilot’s control.
For Portfolios inspired by publicly disclosed trading activity, there may be a delay between when a Pilot executes a trade and when that trade becomes publicly available and is incorporated into the Portfolio. This timing delay may affect the suitability or performance of trades when executed in client accounts.
Autopilot's service depends on brokerage connectivity and third-party systems; outages and disconnections may delay or prevent trades. Reconnection requirements are set by your brokerage. Autopilot does not hold client assets.