I have been helping a lot of customer install, setup and use MetaTrader 4 recently and although its not our preferred platform it defiantly has a place in the trade world for beginners or someone who wishes to have a minimal cost setup. I would even go as far as to say that its a good platform for automated order execution.
I have written this list of my top 10 shortcut keys int MetaTrader 4 that I think are very handy and can defiantly speed up using the platform and make it less of a drag! Like anything if you learn to use your tools properly the rest will come easy…. In theory 😉
Left Arrow — chart scrolling to the left.
Right Arrow — chart scrolling to the right.
Page Up — fast chart scrolling to the left.
Page Down — fast chart scrolling to the right.
F12 — move the chart by one bar to the left.
Shift+F12 — move the chart by one bar to the right.
Ctrl+P — print the chart.
F11 — enable/disable the full screen mode. – This one is great for MetaTrader 4 as it can look a bit clunky sometimes
Ctrl+I — call the “Indicators List” window. – Dealing with indicators all day long this has become my favourite!
Ctrl+N — open/close the “Navigator” window. – Navigator is a handy little tool in MetaTrader 4 but can take up a lot of room so this shortcut can save time.
Above are my top 10 but I have included all the others i know exist in MetaTrader 4 below.
Numpad 5 — restoring of automatic chart vertical scale after its being changed. If the scale was defined, this hot key will return the chart into the visible range.
Home — move the chart to the start point.
End — move the chart to the end point.
“-“ — chart zoom out.
“+” — chart zoom in.
Delete — delete all selected graphical objects.
Backspace — delete the latest objects imposed into the chart window.
Enter — open/close fast navigation window.
Esc — close the dialog window.
F1 — open this “Userguide”.
F2 — open the “History Center” window.
F3 — open the “Global Variables” window.
F4 — download MetaEditor.
F5 — switch to the next profile.
F6 — call the “Tester” window for testing the expert attached to the chart window.
F7 — call the properties window of the expert attached to their chart window in order to change settings.
F8 — call the chart setup window.
F9 — call the “New Order” window.
F10 — open the “Popup prices” window.
Shift+F5 — switch to the previous profile.
Alt+1 — display the chart as a sequence of bars (transform into bar chart).
Alt+2 — display the chart as a sequence of candlesticks (transform into candlesticks).
Alt+3 — display the chart as a broken line (transform into line chart).
Alt+A — copy all test/optimization results into the clipboard.
Alt+W — call the chart managing window.
Alt+F4 — close the client terminal.
Ctrl+Z — undo object deletion.
Ctrl+A — arrange all indicator windows heights by default.
Ctrl+B — call the “Objects List” window.
Ctrl+C — copy to the clipboard.
Ctrl+E — enable/disable expert advisor.
Ctrl+F — enable “Crosshair”.
Ctrl+G — show/hide grid.
Ctrl+H — show/hide OHLC line.
Ctrl+L — show/hide volumes.
Ctrl+S — save the chart in a file having extensions: “CSV”, “PRN”, “HTM”.
Ctrl+W — close the chart window.
Ctrl+Y— show/hide period separators.
Ctrl+D — open/close the “Data Window”.
Ctrl+M — open/close the “Market Watch” window.
Ctrl+O — open the “Setup” window.
Ctrl+R — open/close the “Tester” window.
Ctrl+T — open/close the “Terminal” window.
Ctrl+F6 — activate the next chart window.
Ctrl+F9 — open the “Terminal — Trade” window and switch the focus into it. After this, the trading activities can be managed with keyboard.
I hope this helps you speed up in getting around MetaTrader 4.
Remember to check out our mt4 indicators
Hi Christopher,
is there any shortcut to temporarily remove all indicators from the chart?
Best regards
Yoseph
Please HELP!!
How do you move an indicator up on the screen. eg. RSI is first, and MACD is second. How do you make MACD first on the screen and RSI second without having to delete the RSI????
THANKS
Hi
You right click on the chart and click “indicator list” you can now drag the indicator to the subwindow you want.
Hi Chris,
I use an expert advisor which places orders on demo account. When it places orders, small circles are seen with red and blue arrows. However, when I close the MT4 Terminal and reopen, then these objects disappear. These objects continue to be there in objects list. However, they cannot be seen on the terminal / chart window. Can you please provide help regarding showing these arrows permanently till I close the chart window itself ?
Is it possible to move an indicator window to the top of the chart, i.e. above the actual price instead of below it?
Hi Christopher,
In MT4, would you know how to program a box as a “cursor” around the latest candle and price in its center? It should move with price. It would provide a visual help for setting pending order. Look forward to your response,
Anthony Drapers
HI,
Very helpful article! do you know if there is a shortcut to refresh the screen (chart)? the only method I have is right click and hit the “R” key. i’m hoping you have an easier option
thank you in advance
Hi, unfortunately the methods you have mentioned are the only way, though I have written a script so that you can assign any key to this. IF you would like a free copy please email me, christopher@dynamictradingsoftware.com
Hello Christopher,
With the MT4 platform can the prices on horizontal lines be moved to the other side of the chart?
John
Hi John
I am afraid there is no way to change where the price is on the horizontal line.
Regards
Chris