Quick start — prepare to access

Coinbase Pro provides traders and active investors with a powerful platform for managing digital asset transactions. This guide walks you through accessing your account, securing it, and navigating the core features so you can trade with confidence. We'll cover preparation steps, a step-by-step access flow, security best practices, common troubleshooting tips, and quick reminders to keep your funds safe.

Preparation

Before accessing your account, make sure you've completed identity verification and have set up two-factor authentication (2FA). Keep your recovery codes in a secure offline location and use a strong, unique passphrase. If you manage multiple accounts, maintain a clear naming convention for saved credentials and devices to avoid confusion.

Access flow

Open the platform and enter your registered email and passphrase on the authentication form. If you prefer, use a hardware security key or an authenticator app for enhanced protection. After submitting credentials, follow the secondary verification prompt — typically a short numeric code from your authenticator or a physical security token. Once verified, you will land on your dashboard where balances, recent orders, and market charts are presented.

Navigating the dashboard

The main dashboard displays your asset balances, order history, and active market feeds. Use the search function to quickly locate trading pairs. The order panel allows limit, market, and stop orders. Limit orders let you specify price thresholds; market orders execute immediately at current rates; stop orders help manage risk by triggering trades when specified conditions are met. Familiarize yourself with order book depth — it shows available buy and sell offers and helps estimate potential execution impact.

Placing a trade

Select the trading pair you want, enter the amount or the desired quote value, and choose the order type. Review the estimated fees and execution conditions before confirming. Many platforms provide a preview that summarizes potential outcomes; use this preview to double-check details before finalizing the trade.

Security best practices

Enable multi-factor protection and consider using a dedicated authenticator app or physical key. Regularly review connected devices and revoke access for any unfamiliar session. Use withdrawal whitelist features to restrict where funds can be moved. Avoid public Wi-Fi when performing sensitive actions; if unavoidable, use a reputable virtual private network. Keep device operating systems and software updated to guard against vulnerabilities.

Troubleshooting

If you're unable to access your account, first check for common issues like forgotten passphrase or expired verification codes. Use the account recovery options provided by the platform — typically involving identity verification steps you completed during setup. If multi-factor prompts fail, try resynchronizing your authenticator app or using backup codes. For persistent access problems, contact platform support and provide non-sensitive details such as timestamps and device types; they can guide you through secure recovery steps.

Keep your access credentials private and stored securely. Export transaction records for accounting, be cautious of phishing, and open the platform only from bookmarks you control. Stay informed about market updates and regulatory changes affecting digital assets. Regularly.