How to change my margin mode from cross to isolated on OKX Futures?

Margin Mode Configuration Overview

1. Margin mode determines how margin is allocated across positions. Cross margin applies the entire account balance to all open positions, while isolated margin allocates a fixed amount per position.

2. Switching from cross to isolated requires explicit API invocation or manual interface action. The system does not auto-convert existing positions unless explicitly instructed.

3. Isolated margin settings must be applied before opening a new position. Existing cross-margin positions remain unaffected until manually closed or adjusted.

4. OKX enforces position-level risk monitoring under isolated mode. Each position carries its own liquidation price, independent of other holdings.

5. Users must confirm margin mode change via two-factor authentication. This step prevents accidental configuration shifts during volatile market conditions.

API-Based Mode Switching Procedure

1. Initialize the AccountAPI with valid credentials including API Key, Secret Key, and Passphrase.

2. Construct the request payload specifying instId, mgnMode='isolated', and posSide for directional alignment.

3. Submit the request to the endpoint /api/v5/account/set-leverage with correct headers: OK-ACCESS-KEY, OK-ACCESS-SIGN, and OK-ACCESS-PASSPHRASE.

4. Verify response status code 200 and check the data array for successful confirmation entries.

5. Re-query position details using /api/v5/account/positions to confirm updated mgnMode value.

Interface Navigation Steps

1. Log into OKX web interface and navigate to the Futures trading section.

2. Locate the “Position Mode” toggle near the top-right corner of the trading panel.

3. Click the current mode label displaying “Cross” to activate the dropdown menu.

4. Select “Isolated” and confirm the prompt warning about position-specific margin allocation.

5. Observe the real-time update in the position table where each row displays individual margin values.

Leverage Parameter Alignment

1. Leverage setting must accompany margin mode change. Default leverage remains unchanged unless explicitly reconfigured.

2. Use lever='10' or another integer value in the same API call that sets mgnMode='isolated'.

3. Leverage adjustments apply only to newly opened positions after the mode switch completes.

4. Existing positions retain their original leverage ratio until manually modified through separate API calls.

5. Invalid leverage values trigger error code 50113; acceptable range depends on instrument type and user tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does switching to isolated margin affect unrealized PnL calculation?Yes. Unrealized PnL is computed against the allocated isolated margin rather than total equity. This results in different margin ratio outputs compared to cross mode.

Q2: Can I set different leverage values for long and short positions under isolated mode?Yes. When using posSide='net', separate leverage parameters are returned for long and short directions in the API response.

Q3: What happens if my isolated margin falls below maintenance level?The system initiates partial liquidation starting from the lowest-margin position until the overall margin ratio meets requirements.

Q4: Is it possible to revert an isolated position back to cross without closing it?No. Position-level margin mode is immutable once established. Reversion requires full closure followed by reopening under cross mode.