FAQ - Technical

Visit the thinkorswim® overview and log in to a Schwab account to download the thinkorswim® installer. Based on the operating system you are using, the correct installer version will be automatically downloaded. 

Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the prompts. 

To run thinkorswim® efficiently, your operating system should meet the following requirements:

• Windows. Windows 10 or above. Recommended: Windows 11.
• MacOS. MacOS 13 (Ventura) or above.
• Linux. You can install and run the thinkorswim® platform on Linux, but manual configuration is required; for details, see How do I install thinkorswim® on Linux? The following Linux versions are supported: Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 28+, Open SuSE 15.5+, RHEL 8.9+. Requires Zulu OpenJDK 21. 

If you want to install the thinkorswim® platform on Linux, you’ll first need to install the Zulu OpenJDK: 

1. Log in as the root user so you’re able to use sudo in your terminal window.

2. Import Azul's public key using the following command:

sudo apt install gnupg ca-certificates curl

curl -s https://repos.azul.com/azul-repo.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/azul.gpg

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/azul.gpg] https://repos.azul.com/zulu/deb stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zulu.list

3. Update your current packages:

sudo apt-get update

4. Install the appropriate Zulu JDK:

sudo apt-get install zulu21-jdk

5. Use the sudo command to update your Java configuration to correspond to Zulu 21: 

sudo update-alternatives --config java

Once you’ve installed the Zulu OpenJDK and configured Java, download the thinkorswim® installer before moving forward.

To install thinkorswim®: 

1. Right-click the thinkorswim_installer.sh file.

2. Select Properties.

3. Click the Permissions tab and ensure "Allow executing file as program" is selected.

4. Close the Properties window. 

5. Double click thinkorswim_installer.sh to open the installer and move through the installation process. 

If only a text editor opens:

1. Close the text editor.

2. Open system preferences and search for Text Files.

3. Within your preferences ensure "Ask each time" or “Ask what to do” is enabled for Executable Text Files.

4. Close your preferences window and relaunch thinkorswim_installer.sh.

5. Select Run from the corresponding prompts.

Assuming thinkorswim® has not been completely uninstalled and reinstalled, you can restore saved workspaces. 

To restore a workspace: 

1. Open the login menu.

2. Click the  gear icon in the lower left of the login screen.

3. Click the  clock icon in the lower left of the account screen. 

4. Select a date to restore from.

5. Click Save. 

6. Log back in to your restored workspace. 

You can also use Choose folder… to access your thinkorswim® backup folder that contains saved workspace builds.  

If your settings are restored but your original workspace isn’t, save the settings to a new workspace by clicking Save Workspace As… in the Setup menu.

If you’ve recently customized your columns but don’t see them listed under your saved column sets, it may be due to how the changes were saved.
When updating columns:

• Clicking OK will apply changes only locally for that session. You’ll see the updated columns in your current layout, but they won’t be saved as a reusable column set. If you later try to find them in the saved list, they won’t appear. 
• To permanently save a column set for future use, you need to click Save as…, then give the column set a name. This adds your custom setup to the list, so you can reapply it throughout the platform. 

If you only clicked OK, try customizing your columns again, then select Save as… to ensure they are saved and accessible later. 
 

As thinkorswim® opens, it will automatically install available updates. If the application seems stuck, left-click the words “Installing Updates” to open a progress bar and view any errors that occurred. 

If your update stops progressing or if there’s an error, check your internet connection before restarting your application.

The reconnecting status can indicate there are problems with your Internet connection.

If you’re using a wireless connection, shut down your computer and power cycle your router. To power cycle a router, unplug it for at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Then, restart your computer. 

If you’re using a wired connection, ensure your Ethernet cable is securely connected at both ends before reaching out to your internet service provider for more support.

Updating your video or graphics drivers can solve many common video issues.

On macOS, check for and install any overall software updates. Graphics driver updates are automatically included in macOS updates. 

On Windows, use Device Manager to locate your device driver. Graphics cards are located under Display Adapters. Right-click the device name and select Update Driver.

If Windows is unable to update your device driver, try uninstalling and reinstalling the device. Contact the device manufacturer for more support. 

Here at thinkorswim®, our technology, people, and protocols are always working to make sure your personal and financial information is safe and secure. As part of our SchwabSafe® commitment, we’ll continue working to protect both you and your financial information. 

If you suspect fraud or have concerns related to suspicious activity in your thinkorswim® account, contact us immediately. 

Call: 877-862-6352.

If you are abroad, call: +1-602-355-7300.