# Using Templates

> Start a strategy from a template in the desktop app or the web dashboard, then adjust it, connect a source, test it and go live.

*Source: https://tradelabs.org/docs/templates*

A template is a strategy with its settings already filled in. You pick one, change the settings that are yours, and save. You can change every setting after that.

## In the desktop app

1. Open **Strategies** from the left rail.

2. Click **Templates** in the toolbar. If you have no strategies yet, click **Browse templates**.

3. The **Start from a template** panel opens. Click a template card.

4. The app creates the strategy and opens it in the editor.

5. Change the settings that are yours: the channel or alert names, the broker, and the size.

6. Test the strategy before you turn it on. The strategy starts switched off.

![The Start from a template panel in the desktop app](/docs-assets/app-strategy-templates.png)
*The templates panel. Each card shows the source and the instrument it sets.*

The desktop app has these templates:

| Template | Source | Instrument | What it sets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Copy a Discord options channel | Discord | Options | Size 1, **Double-down protection** on, **Buy same-day on the matching weekday** on, **Slippage cap** 5% |
| Discord futures to Interactive Brokers | Discord | Futures | Broker IBKR, ticker NQ, direction Both, size 1, **Slippage cap** 1% |
| TradingView to Interactive Brokers | TradingView | Stocks | Broker IBKR, size 100, **Slippage cap** 1% |
| Reverse split arbitrage | Serverside | RSA | Fennel and 9 more RSA brokers, 1 share each |
| Telegram signal copier | Telegram | Options | **Match by keyword** with a default size of 1, a keyword whitelist of BUY, SELL, STC and BTO, **Double-down protection** on, **Slippage cap** 10% |
| Start from scratch | | | An empty strategy |

The Copy Trading app does not show the **Reverse split arbitrage** template.

## In the web dashboard

1. Open **Strategies** and click **New strategy**. The **Overview** page has the same button.

2. The **Start a new strategy** page shows the templates. Click a chip, for example **Options** or **Memes**, to see one instrument. You can also type in **Search templates**.

3. Click a template card. The builder opens with the template settings.

4. Pick your own Discord channel or Telegram chat. A template never brings a channel with it.

5. Change the size and the broker if you need to, then save. The strategy starts paused.

To start with an empty form, click **Start from scratch**, the first card.

A card shows the take profit and the stop loss when the template sets them. It also shows up to three features, for example **AI selling** or **Dupe protection**. Some templates come from a signal provider, and the card shows the provider's name and logo.

Already in the builder with a new strategy? Click **Use a template**. On a phone, the button is **Template**. The template replaces the settings in the form.

> **Note**
>
> TradeLabs publishes the web dashboard templates, so that list can change. The desktop app templates are part of the app. The two lists are not the same.

## Templates for each instrument

Each page below gives ready settings for one instrument, the differences between its brokers, and how to test it.

| Instrument | Template page | Brokers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Options | [Options](/docs/templates/options/) | IBKR, Tradier, Charles Schwab, Robinhood |
| Option spreads | [Option Spreads](/docs/templates/spreads/) | IBKR, Tradier, Robinhood |
| Futures | [Futures](/docs/templates/futures/) | IBKR |
| Stocks | [Stocks](/docs/templates/stocks/) | IBKR, Tradier, Charles Schwab, Robinhood, STG / DAS |
| Crypto | [Crypto](/docs/templates/crypto/) | Robinhood Crypto |
| Memecoins on Solana | [Solana Memecoins](/docs/templates/memecoins-solana/) | Solana |
| Memecoins on Robinhood Chain | [Robinhood Chain Memecoins](/docs/templates/memecoins-robinhood-chain/) | Robinhood Chain |
| Prediction markets | [Prediction Markets](/docs/templates/prediction-markets/) | Polymarket |

The template pages give values, not explanations. [The Strategy Editor](/docs/copy-trading/strategy-editor/) explains what each setting does.