If you’ve been trading Forex for a while, you’re probably pretty familiar with the standard Forex trading platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4). It was released by MetaQuotes in 2005 and is by far the most popular Forex trading platform.
In fact, MetaQuotes has since released its successor, MetaTrader 5, but it was not received as well by the Forex trading community. As a result, the majority of brokers still use MetaTrader 4.
Although there are some limitations to MT4, this free and simple trading platform is powerful and versatile enough for most Forex traders. This is due, in part, to its thriving community of coders for the many different indicators, scripts, and Expert Advisors, which add so much functionality to the platform.
Whether or not it will be enough for you really depends on what type of trading system you are using, and how far you are willing to go for a small advantage. For those of us that are sticking with MT4 for now, the useful hotkeys and shortcuts below are a must.
The Most Useful MetaTrader 4 Hotkeys & Shortcuts!
Below is a list of all of the hotkeys that I know about and have used. I plan to add to this list if MetaQuotes adds new hotkeys or shortcuts to the MT4 platform.
If you know of any that are not on this list, be sure to let me know in the comments below.
These Are The MT4 Hotkeys That I Use The Most
Ctrl+E – enable/disable attached Expert Advisor
Ctrl+I – open the “Indicators List” window
Ctrl+M – open/close the “Market Watch” window
Ctrl+N – open/close the “Navigator” window
Ctrl+T – open/close the “Terminal” window
Ctrl+Y – show/hide period separators
F7 – open the properties window of the Expert Advisor that you have attached to your chart
F9 – open the “New Order” window
F11 – enable/disable full-screen mode
F12 – move the chart ahead by one candlestick/bar
Shift+F12 – move the chart back by one candlestick/bar
– – zoom the chart out
+ – zoom the chart in (must use with the Shift key)
Numpad 5 – restore automatic chart scale after it’s been changed or return the chart into visible range (if the scale is defined)
F5 – switch to the next profile
Shift+F5 – switch to the previous profile
Delete – delete all selected graphical objects
Other Useful MT4 Hotkeys
← – scroll the chart to the left
→ – scroll the chart to the right
↑ – fast scroll to the left or scroll up (if the scale is defined)
↓ – fast scroll to the right or scroll down (if the scale is defined)
Page Up – fast scroll to the left
Page Down – fast scroll to the right
Home – move the chart to the start (earliest record you have downloaded)
End – move the chart to the end (current price)
Backspace – delete the last object added to the chart
Enter – open/close fast navigation window
F1 – open the user guide
F2 – open the “History Center” window
F3 – open the “Global Variables” window
F4 – open MetaEditor
F6 – open the “Tester” window (must have an Expert Advisor attached to the chart)
F8 – open the chart properties window
F10 – open the “Popup Prices” window
Alt+1 – display chart as bars
Alt+2 – display chart as candlesticks
Alt+3 – display chart as a broken line
Alt+W – open the chart management window
Alt+F4 – close MetaTrader 4
Alt+Backspace – undo last deleted object(s)
Ctrl+A – revert all indicator window heights to default
Ctrl+B – open the “Objects List” window
Ctrl+D – open/close the “Data Window”
Ctrl+F – enable crosshair
Ctrl+G – show/hide grid
Ctrl+H – show/hide OHLC line (top left)
Ctrl+L – show/hide volumes
Ctrl+O – open the “Setup” window
Ctrl+P – print the chart
Ctrl+R – open/close the “Tester” window
Ctrl+W – close the chart window
Ctrl+Shift+F6 – switch to next chart window
Ctrl+F6 – switch to previous chart window
Some Helpful MT4 Shortcuts That I Use
The new versions of MetaTrader 4 allow you to drag and drop your stop loss and take profit levels. Previously, you had to use an Expert Advisor to add this function.
In order to see your stop loss and take profit levels, use Ctrl+O or go to Tools –> Options. Select the Charts tab and check the box that says “Show trade levels”. Now you can see your levels, making it easier to drag them.
I also like to check the box directly underneath that says “Use ‘Alt’ key to drag trade levels”. With this box checked, you have to hit the “Alt” key to activate the drag and drop feature in MT4.
Note: I use the “Alt” key to drag and drop my levels so that I don’t accidentally move my trade levels while I’m clicking and dragging other objects on my charts.
This next shortcut is commonly used, but helpful if you don’t already know it. You can use “Ctrl” to duplicate any object on your chart. Simply double click the object to select it, then hold the “Ctrl” key and drag. This technique is especially useful if you use multiple colors when drawing objects (like trend lines and support/resistance levels).
You probably already know this next shortcut, but it is essential. You can click in the price grid (on the right of the chart) and drag down to shrink the scale of the chart. This can be helpful for placing stop losses, take profits, support/resistance levels, etc… that are outside the current automatic range of the chart.
To return the chart scale to default, simply click and drag up on the price grid. If you use automatic chart scaling, you can just hit Numpad 5.
These are the most useful MetaTrader 4 (MT4) hotkeys and shortcuts that I use on a regular basis, and some others that I’ve used before. If you found this article useful, please share it with other traders, and feel free to suggest any hotkeys or shortcuts that I’ve missed. Good luck and happy trading!
Ahhh, yes. I use those hotkeys every day. Very helpful and makes all the work twice as faster. Thanks for taking the time to list all of them. I didn’t knew about the CTRL+W.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I use these all the time as well. I’m glad you found this useful.
Do you know of hotkeys to use for Objects? Or any kind of add-on that would allow the use of hot-keys for Objects? Thank you
I don’t, Loni. It would be cool if there was an add-on that let you create hotkeys for your favorite objects or something like that.
thanks a ton! it was a very useful post!
I’m glad you found this useful.
Hi Thanks for these tips, I’d like to ask if there’s an easy way to set s/l and t/p for sell stops, sell limits etc. Sometimes I set up a few, but then to manually enter in the value for multiple charts can be a bit tedious, I was hoping there was something similar to setting trade levels? Thanks again!
I mentioned in the post above that MT4 has a built-in feature that allows you to drag and drop your S/L and T/P levels. If they aren’t already present, you can drag from your entry level to create them.
Check out this post for more info: https://www.fxdayjob.com/drag-and-drop-levels-mt4
Hi.. how to drag copy … example.. if I place the word but, i want to copy it instantly. Please teach me.
As I mentioned in the article, you can copy any chart object (including text) by double-clicking the object, holding “Ctrl” with your mouse cursor over the object, and dragging.
Greetings, Very nice and helpful list of hotkeys. Thank you.
I’m wondering what the correct hotkeys are for switching a chart display from one time period to another. E.g. M1 / M5 / M15 / M30 / H1 / etc and it would be VERY helpful to know how to set custom time periods for charts. E.g. M45 / H6 / etc.
Thanks for reading, Lee. As far as I know, there are no hotkeys to change time frames in the default MT4 platform.
I’ve written an article about creating custom time frames with an indicator here: https://www.fxdayjob.com/custom-time-frames-for-metatrader-4
Thank you much for your kind reply, Chris.
The custom time frames as indicator is very helpful indeed. Much appreciation for the pointer!
Which brings me back to my original question: The reason I’m wondering about a hotkey to switch timeframes is because I’m using an indicator that only “redraws” after going to a timeframe and then switching to another one and then back. Rather odd, but it means that I have to manually cycle through all the timeframes for each pair every so often. Very, very irritating.
Is there a way to have MT4 automagically cycle through timeframes for an individual pair or to have an indicator “redraw” on a regular interval basis for all available timeframes?
Sorry. If that function isn’t built into your indicator, I don’t know how to fix that problem. I know you can setup a script to assign time frames and other features to hotkeys. It’s not a default function, though. I don’t have experience with scripts like that, so I can’t help you.
Maybe you could hire a coder to program an auto refresh function into your indicator.
Thank you for the suggestion. Sadly the indicator I purchased was the type of “arcane black box” which does not include source code, otherwise I’d just look into inserting a few subroutines myself. Interestingly I find that the indicator nudges MT4 to contact some remote license server on the interweb every time it starts.
Let this then be a caveat emptor for those who would purchase indicators without source code. Even with “lifetime warranty” such claims only apply to the lifetime of the company, not the customer’s lifetime.
I see. That’s a shame, although I do understand why companies do that. There are services available that will supposedly decompile ex4 files for you. I’ve never tried any of them, though, so I have no idea if they actually work.
Brilliant! I had no idea. Shades of decompilers for the Z-80 and 8086 assembly back in the day. Who knew it could be so e-a-s-y. We’ll see. Much appreciation for all your very helpful suggestions.
No problem, Lee. Let me know it goes.
Hi. Good Job! Thanks. Is there any updates in 2018? I would like to have some shortcuts for drawing objects like square, fibo etc. I had asked one guy to write a script for that but give up.
Also if you guys love shortcuts like me you will love this mouse Logitech G600. I know is for gaming but forforex its perfect, you will love this mouse.
There have been no changes in the default hotkeys and shortcuts for MetaTrader 4 that I know of since I originally wrote this article. I’ll definitely update this page if that changes.
thanks for the list of hot keys. Being a noobe this helps. I would like to know if there is a way to set chart display to the original display. I some how got navigator and market watch side by side instead of both being stacked on the left side of the chart. any help would be welcomed.
Thanks, Howard
Sorry for the late response. I’m glad you found this useful. As far as your MT4 problem, I’ve never had that happen before and I’m using Trading View these days. I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now. If nothing else, you could always back up your indicators, EAs, and profiles and reinstall MT4.
what is short cut key to maximize chart window in mt4. and how to toggle between multiple charts in mt4 by keyboard
F11 toggles fullscreen on/off. Ctrl+F6 cycles to the next chart window.
Waaaauuuu this is what I have been looking for ! Thanks alot.
No problem. Good luck!
what is undo key in meta trader?
it’s not crtl+z
Backspace – delete the last object added to the chart
Alt+Backspace – undo last deleted object(s)
Are either of those what you’re looking for?
Hi, is there anyway of (minimising) or (maximising) a chart windows without using the mouse ? Im referring to individual charts which are in focus and not the entire application?
Not by default, Daniel. I did see a hotkey script somewhere that claimed to be able to map that function to a single key for toggling.
Any way to easily deselect all objects. They often stay selected.
There are scripts for that.
Hi there. Are there shortcuts for the drawing tools? Or we can´t escape of having to click on the toolbar every single time. Regards
None that I know of, Robertt.
Hi Chris, is there a hotkey for buying and selling with no confirmations? Just open up what the previous buy or sell order was at?
Not that I know of.
This has been really helpful
Great! Glad I could help you.
Hi
I don’t know if it’s my PC, but when I click the bars move backwards, 1 bar at a time. F12 simply puts my PC to airplane mode. I can’t seem to find a way to advance my bars forward 1 bar at a time
Sounds like you’re using a laptop. You have to hold the “FN” (function) key to bypass the alternate function of the F1 through F12 keys on most laptops. In other words, hold FN + F12 to move chart forward 1 bar at a time, and so on.
Excellent, thanks so much for this post!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting!
Found a mistake in your article. The correct shortcuts:
Ctrl+F6
Activate the previous chart window.
Ctrl+Shift+F6
Activate the next chart window.
Tomas, Nice catch! Thanks.
I’ve updated the article with the correct information.