# 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'):

![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5ac788033900833c27f66f9e871abdac51007f61%2FContests%20-%20All%20ongoing%2C%20with%20Full%20-%20Join%20s.jpg?alt=media)

{% 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:

![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-71da5df14d31448ad2687ab682570aeda8c05ead%2FContests%20-%20Join%20Popup%20-%20Nickname%2C%20condensed.jpg?alt=media)

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:

<figure><img src="https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5a3d5bf352136d291e6aab536e6da3238486bee9%2FScreenshot%202023-07-10%20at%2013.41.48.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
On the '[All Contests](https://primexbt.com/my/contests/all)' page, some contests may have a 'lock' ![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-201257c46e28bddd14696e8b9d8effb34aa8aa0b%2FPrivate%20contest%20\(lock%20image\).png?alt=media) 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.

![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48443b3582391608fca8b19a916daa80274c7c3b%2F2022-03-23%2022.11.01.jpg?alt=media)

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**:

![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-173ddc489c31c4bc4192e84aa0b02f969a314421%2FJoin%20private%20contest.jpeg?alt=media)

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](https://primexbt.gitbook.io/help-center/contests/how-to-launch-a-contest)' 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):

![](https://1941544518-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LfK-HdU-XXoT_wVnrCz%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6d19d886d35b3371a596daf471075bec7560a44d%2FContests%20-%20My%20-%20Start1.jpg?alt=media)

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](https://primexbt.gitbook.io/help-center/margin-trading/understanding-trade-interface)' guide.
