Guide 7 of 10

Using Indicators in MT4/MT5

Add MA, RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands and more — with recommended settings for each.

How to Add an Indicator

1

Open Navigator (Ctrl+N)

Expand the "Indicators" folder. You'll see categories: Trend, Oscillators, Volumes, Bill Williams, and Custom.

2

Drag the indicator onto your chart

Or double-click it. The indicator settings dialog opens where you configure period, method, price, and visual style (color, line width).

3

Configure settings and click OK

The indicator appears on the chart. Overlay indicators (like moving averages) display on the price chart. Oscillators (RSI, MACD) open in a separate sub-window below the chart.

Edit indicator settings:

To edit a placed indicator, double-click on its line on the chart, or right-click the chart → "Indicators List" → select the indicator → "Edit." To remove it: Indicators List → select → "Delete."

Recommended Indicator Settings

Moving Average (MA)
  • Short-term: EMA 20, Applied to: Close
  • Medium-term: SMA/EMA 50, Applied to: Close
  • Long-term: SMA 200, Applied to: Close
  • Line style: different color for each (e.g., blue/orange/red)
RSI (Relative Strength Index)
  • Period: 14
  • Overbought: 70 | Oversold: 30
  • Applied to: Close price
  • Add horizontal levels at 50, 70, 30
MACD
  • Fast EMA: 12 | Slow EMA: 26 | Signal: 9
  • Applied to: Close price
  • Standard settings work well for most timeframes
Bollinger Bands
  • Period: 20 | Deviations: 2.0
  • Applied to: Close price
  • Price touching outer band = potential reversal or continuation signal
Indicator overload:

Using too many indicators on one chart creates "analysis paralysis." Start with just 1-2 indicators that complement each other (e.g., a trend indicator like MA + a momentum oscillator like RSI). More indicators = more conflicting signals, not more clarity.

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