If you’re jumping into prop firm trading with MetaTrader 5 (MT5), you already understand the platform has a lot to offer. But come on — gazing at the default charting setup day after day isn’t only dull… it can slow you down. With clunky colors, tiny fonts, and too much information, your trading screen becomes a visual disaster.
The good news? MT5 is highly customizable. And if you’re a prop trader, especially under pressure to perform within a limited challenge phase or funded account, chart customization isn’t just about looks — it’s about clarity, speed, and focus.
Let’s discuss the tips and tricks you’ll need to tailor your MT5 charts in a manner that makes your trading process neater, quicker, and a lot more efficient.
Why Chart Customization Matters in Prop Firm Trading
Why waste time customizing charts when you can simply trade off of the default configuration?
Easy. Prop firm trading is stressful. You’re working with tight drawdown regulations, time constraints, and usually fairly tight profit objectives. That leaves no room for error in missing a setup because your chart was too busy or your indicators weren’t highlighted.
Here’s how good chart customization can help you:
- Minimize visual clutter so you can concentrate on price action
- Emphasize important MT5 indicators and levels
- Rapid analysis is important when you’re attempting to catch rapid trades
- Establish consistency across multiple charts and timeframes
It’s not about making your charts beautiful. It’s about making them useful to you.
Begin With a Clean Slate
Get rid of the default template. MT5 loads all charts with gridlines, volume bars, and funky colors. That’s not exactly what you want when you’re trying to trade quickly and stay concentrated.
How to declutter your chart:
Right-click on the chart → Properties (F8)
In the “Colors” tab, toggle the chart background to a lighter color — such as white, light gray, or black (depending on what’s better for your eyes).
In the “Common” tab, deselect:
- “Show Grid”
- “Show OHLC” (if you do not require it)
- “Show Volumes” (unless it forms a part of your strategy)
Removing these elements effectively minimizes visual noise and presents you with a clean slate to work on.
Use a Color Scheme That Works for You
You’d be amazed at how much of an impact color can have. Staring at charts for 3 hours or 13, eye strain is a definite possibility. And if your brain is exhausted, you begin making stupid errors — not exactly what you want when facing a prop firm challenge.
Color scheme quick tips:
- Use green for long candles and red for short ones if that’s what you’re used to. But if you’re a visual person or you need to differentiate, try using blue vs. orange, or another contrast pair.
- Thin out wicks compared to candle bodies. This allows you to pay attention to where price actually opened and closed.
- Keep indicators in high-contrast colors that can be easily seen. (Don’t use yellow RSI lines on white, for instance — you’ll regret it.)
And once you discover a color combination that you adore?
Save it as a template. Just right-click the chart → Template → Save Template. You’ll thank yourself when opening 10 charts in a row later.
Master the Art of Templates
Prop traders usually deal with multiple timeframes and currency pairs. You don’t want to be spending 10 minutes reapplying your favorite indicators and settings each time you open a chart.
How to simplify your setup:
- Make one chart exactly as you prefer it — colors, indicators, drawing tools, etc.
- Then navigate to Right-click → Template → Save Template.
- Name it something like “Clean_Scalping_Setup” or “Swing_Template.”
Next time you create a new chart? Simply use your template and voilà — instant consistency.
Bonus: MT5 also allows you to set a default template. Simply save your template as “default.tpl”, and MT5 will apply it to all new charts automatically.
Arrange Your Indicators Intelligently
Most of us overdo it with indicators at some point. Next thing you know, you’ve got RSI, MACD, two EMAs, a stochastic, and perhaps a Bollinger Band to boot.
Overkill? You bet.
Prop trading values simplicity over complexity. So when you’re configuring your chart, ask yourself: “What’s really needed here?”
Smarter indicator tips:
- Stack similar indicators in the same sub-window (e.g., RSI + stochastic)
- Employ clear or light-colored lines for secondary indicators
- Suppress indicator labels unless you must have them
- Establish alerts instead of monitoring indicators all the time
Also, if you’re using moving averages, use varying line types — solid for shorter term, dashed for longer term, for instance.
And again, save these configurations in your template for quick reuse.
Take Advantage of Hotkeys and Profiles
Here’s a tip for customizing less related to charts and more related to how you navigate through them — and one that can save you loads of time.
In MT5, you can:
- Make profiles for alternate setups (e.g., one profile for USD pairs, another for commodities)
- Hop between them at lightning speed from the bottom toolbar
- Use hotkeys to toggle between chart windows, timeframes, or add indicators
Why this is important in prop trading:
Suppose you are in a battle and tracking 6 pairs for a breakout. One profile can have those 6 charts arranged in just the way you like. You can toggle to your secondary profile with swing trades underway — without disrupting your scalping arrangement.
It is all a matter of speed and concentration. The less clicking involved, the quicker you can react.
