# Quick start: How to join contests
To join an ongoing or upcoming contest, navigate to the '[All Contests](https://primexbt.com/my/contests/all)' page.
1️⃣ Choose a contest that you wish to join and click '**Join**' (to view contest details and conditions, click 'View'):
{% hint style="info" %}
If the ‘Join’ button is greyed out and the Contest has a ‘Full’ label, it means the maximum allowed number of participants have already joined it.
{% endhint %}
2️⃣ A pop-up window will now appear where you will find the prize distribution conditions, the initial contest account balance, as well as [qualification](https://github.com/prmxbt/gitbook/blob/master/contests/broken-reference/README.md) details.
Here you will need to **choose your Nickname** for this contest. Your nickname will be used to show your current position in the leaderboards. Once you've chosen your nickname and reviewed the rules and conditions, click the '**Join**' button:
Once you've joined a contest, it will be added to your list of ongoing/upcoming contests, on the '[My Contests](https://primexbt.com/my/contests/my)' page:
{% hint style="warning" %}
On the '[All Contests](https://primexbt.com/my/contests/all)' page, some contests may have a 'lock'  indicator next to the contest name. Contests with such indicators are '**Private Contests**.'
{% endhint %}
To join a 'Private Contest' you must have a **secret** **key** that can be obtained from the contest organizers. Organizers can make announcements about such contests in their communities.
Once you have received a secret key, click '**Join.**' A pop-up window will now appear. Here you will need to **choose your Nickname** and **enter the secret key**:
Once you've chosen your nickname, entered the secret key, and reviewed the rules and conditions, click the '**Join**' button.
{% hint style="info" %}
If you wish to create your own fully-branded contest on the PrimeXBT platform, see our '[How to launch a contest](/help-center/contests/how-to-launch-a-contest.md)' guide.
{% endhint %}
3️⃣ To start trading in a contest that you have joined, click the '**Start**' button (or '**Trade'** button if you have already accessed that contest account previously):
If the 'Start' button for a contest is greyed out and unclickable (see screenshot above) – this indicates that the contest has not started yet. Click on the contest to check the time remaining until the contest begins.
{% hint style="info" %}
It is important to keep in mind that a contest can only be joined once. After joining a contest it is not possible to leave and rejoin the contest or reset contest trading account balance.
{% endhint %}
To learn more about the Trade interface, how to place orders and manage positions, see our '[Understanding the Trade Interface](/help-center/margin-trading/understanding-trade-interface.md)' guide.
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