A MetaTrader 4 chart shows a symbol's price over a chosen timeframe — the period each candle or bar represents. MT4 has nine built-in timeframes, three chart types, and reusable templates so you can switch views and layouts in a click. Here's how it all works.
The nine MT4 timeframes
- Minutes: M1, M5, M15, M30
- Hours: H1, H4
- Daily / Weekly / Monthly: D1, W1, MN
Each candle represents one unit of that period — on H1, one candle per hour; on D1, one per day.
How to change the timeframe
-
Show the periodicity toolbar
If the timeframe buttons aren't visible, enable
View ▸ Toolbars ▸ Periodicity. -
Click the timeframe you want
Click M1, M15, H1, H4, D1… and the chart redraws. Or right-click the chart ▸ Timeframes.
Chart types and reading the chart
- Candlesticks —
Alt+2; the most common view (open/high/low/close per period). - Bars —
Alt+1; OHLC bars. - Line —
Alt+3; closing prices joined into a line.
Zoom with + / -, press End to jump to the latest candle, and toggle auto-scroll
so new candles stay in view. New to reading them? See the best MT4 indicators and
the moving average guide.
Saving a template
Once a chart has the indicators, colours and objects you like, right-click it ▸ Template ▸ Save Template. Load it on any chart later from Template ▸ Load — your whole setup appears at once. Save it as Default and every new chart opens that way.
MT4 only ships the nine standard timeframes. To build non-standard periods, run the Period Converter script included with MT4 — find it under Navigator ▸ Scripts and drag it onto a chart of the base timeframe (e.g. H1 to build H2). It assembles the new period from the lower timeframe's data. If you need them natively, MetaTrader 5 has 21 timeframes — see MT4 vs MT5.
Explore the charts on a free demo
Open a free MT4 demo and try the timeframes, chart types, and templates with live prices and virtual money.
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Related
Add analysis with the best MT4 indicators and custom indicators. Ready to trade the chart? See how to place a trade. Back to basics: how to use MT4.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change the timeframe in MT4?
Click a timeframe button on the periodicity toolbar (M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN) — the chart redraws at that period. If the toolbar is hidden, turn it on with View ▸ Toolbars ▸ Periodicity, or right-click the chart and choose Timeframes.
What timeframes does MT4 have?
Nine: M1, M5, M15, M30 (minutes), H1, H4 (hours), D1 (daily), W1 (weekly) and MN (monthly). These are the standard built-in periods.
How do I switch to candlesticks in MT4?
Press Alt+2 for candlesticks (Alt+1 is bars, Alt+3 is a line chart), or use the chart-type buttons on the toolbar. Right-click the chart ▸ Properties lets you set candle colours.
Can I get H2, H8 or H12 timeframes in MT4?
Not natively — MT4 only has the nine standard periods. To build non-standard timeframes like H2, H8 or H12 you run the 'Period Converter' script that ships with MT4 (or a custom indicator), which assembles them from the lower timeframe's data. MT5, by contrast, includes 21 timeframes.
How do I save a chart template in MT4?
Set up a chart the way you like — indicators, colours, objects — then right-click it ▸ Template ▸ Save Template. Apply it to any chart later via Template ▸ Load, so your full setup appears in one click. Saving it as 'Default' applies it to new charts automatically.
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