TradingView charts provide powerful tools for market analysis and trade planning. You can customize chart layouts, apply indicators, draw key levels, and monitor multiple markets from a single workspace.
This guide covers the essential chart features every trader should know.
Step 1: Open a Market Chart
Search for an Instrument
Open TradingView.
Click the search bar at the top of the platform.
Enter the symbol or name of the market you want to analyze.
Select the desired instrument from the results.
Examples:
NQ
MNQ
ES
MES
CL
The selected market will open on your chart.
Step 2: Select a Chart Type
TradingView offers several chart styles to suit different trading approaches.
How to Change Chart Type
Click the chart type selector above the chart.
Choose your preferred chart style.
Available chart types include:
Candlestick
Bar
Line
Heikin Ashi
Renko
Area
Baseline
Many traders prefer Candlestick charts because they provide detailed price information.
Step 3: Change the Timeframe
Timeframes determine how much market data is displayed on each candle or bar.
How to Change Timeframes
Click the timeframe selector above the chart.
Choose your preferred timeframe.
Common options include:
1 Minute
5 Minutes
15 Minutes
1 Hour
4 Hours
Daily
Weekly
You can switch between timeframes at any time to analyze different market perspectives.
Step 4: Customize Chart Appearance
TradingView allows you to personalize the appearance of your charts.
Open Chart Settings
Click the Settings (⚙) icon.
Open the Appearance section.
Available Customization Options
You can adjust:
Candle colors
Background colors
Gridlines
Price scales
Text and labels
Session separators
Customize the chart to match your preferred trading environment.
Step 5: Add Indicators
Indicators can help traders analyze market conditions and identify potential opportunities.
How to Add Indicators
Click Indicators on the top toolbar.
Search for the desired indicator.
Click the indicator to add it to the chart.
Popular indicators include:
Moving Averages
RSI (Relative Strength Index)
MACD
Bollinger Bands
Volume
Volume Profile
You can add multiple indicators and customize their settings.
Step 6: Use Drawing Tools
Drawing tools help traders mark important price levels and chart patterns.
Access Drawing Tools
Use the toolbar located on the left side of the chart.
Common Drawing Tools
Trend Lines
Horizontal Levels
Support and Resistance Zones
Fibonacci Retracements
Rectangles
Text Annotations
Arrows and Markers
These tools can help improve chart analysis and trade planning.
Step 7: Save Your Chart Layout
If you frequently use the same setup, TradingView allows you to save your layout.
Save Your Workspace
Click Save Layout.
Enter a layout name.
Save the configuration.
Your charts, indicators, and drawings will be available the next time you log in.
Step 8: Refresh Chart Data
If you believe chart data is not updating properly:
Refresh the Chart
Click the refresh icon.
Or use:
Ctrl + R (Windows)
Cmd + R (Mac)
This reloads the chart and updates market data.
Step 9: Use Multiple Charts
TradingView allows traders to monitor several markets simultaneously.
Open Multiple Charts
Click Select Layout.
Choose the number of charts you want displayed.
You can monitor multiple instruments from a single workspace.
Switching Between Markets
Use your Watchlist to quickly switch between different instruments without rebuilding your charts.
Managing Your Workspace
As your trading style evolves, you can continue updating:
Chart layouts
Indicators
Drawing tools
Watchlists
Timeframes
TradingView automatically saves many of these preferences, helping you maintain a consistent workflow.
Need Assistance?
If you experience issues with chart layouts, indicators, or platform functionality, please contact TradingView Support. For account-related questions, the AquaFutures Support Team is available to assist you.