MetaTrader 4 keyboard shortcuts every trader should know

MetaTrader 4 keyboard shortcuts every trader should know

Reading time: 7 minutes

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is designed to make trading and market analysis accessible. But when markets move so quickly, constantly reaching for menus and toolbars can interrupt your workflow. Learning a handful of MT4 keyboard shortcuts can make exploring charts, checking positions, and accessing key tools much more efficient.

It doesn’t matter if you are new to MT4 or have been using it for years; these shortcuts are worth adding to your trading routine and practice.

Shortcut #1: [F9] Open the New Order Window

Pressing F9 provides quick access to MetaTrader 4's New Order window, where you can prepare and place a market or pending order.

Instead of shifting through the menu, pressing F9 opens the New Order window, where you can select the instrument, order type, volume, as well as other available parameters. Where supported, here’s where you can also set stop-loss and take-profit levels.

This keyboard shortcut is useful if you prefer a more deliberate order-entry process rather than directly trading directly from the chart.

Shortcut #2: [Ctrl + T] Open or Close the Terminal

The Terminal is one of the most useful parts of MT4 when it comes to monitoring your trading activity. When you press Ctrl + T, it opens or closes the Terminal window, which gives you access to areas such as open trades, account information, and trading history. Instead of leaving the Terminal permanently open and eating up valuable estate on your screen, you can swiftly bring it up when you need it or hide it when you want a cleaner chart.

Shortcut #3: [Ctrl + M] Open or Close Market Watch

By pressing Ctrl + M, a trader can quickly show or hide the Market Watch window. This window provides a live view of available instruments and their bid/ask prices. This shortcut lets you open and close Market Watch without keeping the panel visible all the time. It’s also a useful feature for traders monitoring a handful of markets simultaneously; being able to access MarketWatch can render your MT4 workspace a lot less chaotic.

Shortcut #4: [Ctrl + N] Open or Close Navigator

Press Ctrl + N to open or close the Navigator window, which enables you to enter elements like accounts, indicators, Expert Advisors, and other platform resources. If you frequently flit back and forth between indicators and Expert Advisors, this shortcut proves very useful. Instead of navigating through several menus, you can bring the Navigator into view almost instantly.

Shortcut #5: [Ctrl + D] Open the Data Window

Want more information about a particular bar on your chart? The Ctrl + D shortcut reveals the Data Window, which can display information associated with the selected chart position, including price and indicator values.

For more technical traders, this is handy when examining historical price action or checking the precise value of an indicator at a specific bar.

Shortcut #6: [F11] Enter Full-Screen Mode

Pressing F11 enables Full Screen mode in MetaTrader 4, hiding the toolbars, status bar and service windows to give your charts more room on screen. Press F11 again to return to the normal view.

This shortcut can be particularly useful during technical analysis when you want to focus on price action with fewer distractions.

Shortcut #7: [F1] Open the MT4 User Guide

Sometimes, even experienced traders need a reminder of what a particular function does. Press F1 to open the built-in MetaTrader 4 User Guide, where you can find information about the platform's functions, features and settings.

FP Markets also provides a range of MT4 tutorials covering topics such as installation, logging in, navigating the platform, using Market Watch and charts, and working with different order types.

Think of F1 as a handy shortcut to keep in mind whenever you come across an unfamiliar MT4 feature or need a quick refresher.

Shortcut #8: [Alt +1 , 2, 3] Change Chart Type

MetaTrader 4 supports three main chart types: bar charts, candlestick charts, and line charts. FP Markets’ MT4 offering also provides multiple charting options and customisation features. The following keyboard shortcuts can help you switch between these views quickly:

Alt + 1: Bar chart

Alt + 2: Candlestick chart

Alt + 3: Line chart

Shortcut #9: [+ and -] Zoom In and Out of Charts

The designers of MetaTrader 4 know that charts are rarely one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, you need to zoom in to examine a recent price confirmation. Other times, you want to zoom out to give yourself a better view of the broader trend. Without needing to reach for the toolbar, the + and - keys enable the trader to adjust the chart’s zoom level. Remember that a setup that looks compelling when you are zoomed in may look very different once you take a wider view.

Shortcut #10: Home and End - Navigate Historical Data

When analysing historical price action, scrolling manually through hundreds or thousands of candles can be burdensome. The Home and End keys serve as quick pathways to navigate through available chart history. They also help you move between older price data and the more recent portion of the chart without relying on your mouse so much.

Trade on MetaTrader 4 with FP Markets

True, keyboard shortcuts are just a tiny speck of the wider MetaTrader 4 experience. But they can make the platform feel considerably more intuitive once you become familiar with them. The real takeaway here is that the above shortcuts should support your trading process rather than encourage impulsive decisions. Faster access to an order window, for example, only makes sense if the following action is preceded by proper analysis, position sizing, and risk management.

Are you ready to make your MT4 workflow more efficient? Explore MetaTrader 4 with FP Markets, practise these shortcuts on a demo account, and start building a platform setup that works with and around your trading style. Open a trading account with FP Markets today and explore global financial markets.