Getting Started

TradingView is primarily used for chart analysis, market observation, technical analysis, and trade preparation. Unlike MetaTrader 5, the focus is not on executing trades, but on understanding what the market is doing and planning potential setups.

For this guide, we’ll focus on the features you’ll use most often: Market Search, Watchlist, Charts, Timeframes, Drawing Tools, Indicators, Alerts, Chart Settings, and Layouts.

Desktop

After opening TradingView, select Supercharts to enter the main charting interface.

The center of the screen contains your chart. On the left, you’ll find drawing tools. The top navigation contains the symbol, timeframe, chart type, indicators, alerts, and other chart settings. On the right side, you’ll usually find your Watchlist and additional market information.

You do not need to understand every button immediately. Start with the basic functions explained in this guide and gradually explore the platform from there.

Mobile

Open the TradingView app and sign in to your account.

The mobile version contains the same core functionality as the desktop platform, but the tools are organized into menus to fit the smaller screen. You can switch between your Watchlist, Charts, Ideas, News, and other sections using the navigation inside the app.

For everyday analysis, you'll mainly use the Watchlist, Chart, Timeframe, Drawing Tools, and Indicators.

Finding Market

Before you can analyze anything, you first need to open the correct financial instrument.

TradingView contains thousands of markets, including Forex pairs, Gold, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, and Cryptocurrencies. One important thing to understand is that the same market can sometimes appear several times because different brokers or data providers offer their own price feed.

For example, searching for Gold may show several versions of XAU/USD.

Desktop

At the top left of the chart, click the current symbol name. A search window will open. Enter the asset you want to analyze, for example:

XAUUSD

TradingView will show matching results from different brokers and exchanges. Select the instrument you want to follow. The chart will immediately change to the selected market.

If you're following a Traidx setup, make sure you're looking at the same underlying asset mentioned in the signal.

Mobile

Open the chart and tap the current symbol name at the top. Use the search field to enter the market you want to analyze, such as XAUUSD. Select the relevant result from the list. TradingView will then load the live chart for that asset.

Using Your Watchlist

Your Watchlist is where you can save the markets you regularly follow. Instead of searching for Gold, EUR/USD, NASDAQ, Bitcoin, or another instrument every time, you can keep all important assets organized in one place.

Desktop

Your Watchlist is normally located on the right side of the screen. Click the plus icon to add a new market. Search for the symbol and select it. The asset will then appear in your Watchlist. You can click any asset in the list to instantly switch your current chart to that market.

You can also organize your Watchlist into sections, for example:

• Forex

• Gold & Commodities

• Indices

• Crypto

• Stocks

This is useful if you monitor several different markets.

Mobile

Open your Watchlist inside the app. Tap the plus icon to add a new market. Search for the instrument and select it. It will then appear in your Watchlist. Tap any saved market to view its current price and open the corresponding chart.

Unterstanding The Chart

The chart shows how the price of an asset changes over time. For most traders, the standard view is a Candlestick Chart.

Each candle represents price movement during a specific period and contains four pieces of information:

• Opening price

• Highest price

• Lowest price

• Closing price

Understanding how candles move together helps you recognize trends, consolidations, support and resistance areas, and other market structures.

Desktop

You can move around the chart by clicking and dragging it. Use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out. Moving the cursor across the chart allows you to inspect historical candles and exact price levels. You can also move the price scale on the right side to adjust how compressed or expanded the chart appears.

Mobile

Use one finger to move the chart left or right. Use two fingers to zoom in or out. You can tap and hold parts of the chart to inspect specific prices and candles more closely. This makes it easy to review historical price movements even on a smaller screen.

Changing the Timeframe

A timeframe determines how much time one candle represents.

For example:

• 1m = one minute

• 5m = five minutes

• 15m = fifteen minutes

• 1H = one hour

• 4H = four hours

• 1D = one day

Different timeframes provide different perspectives on the same market.

A 4H chart gives you a broader view of the market structure, while a 5-minute chart shows much smaller short-term movements.

Desktop

Click the timeframe selector in the top toolbar. Choose the timeframe you want to analyze. You can also save your most frequently used timeframes as favorites, making them available directly in the toolbar.

A common workflow could be:

4H → 1H → 15M

First analyze the larger trend, then move to smaller timeframes for a more detailed view.

Mobile

Tap the current timeframe displayed on the chart. Choose the timeframe you want to use.

Switching between higher and lower timeframes helps you understand both the overall market direction and the current short-term movement.

Changing the Chart Type

TradingView offers several ways to display price movements. For beginners, we recommend using Candlesticks, as they show more information than a simple line chart and are the standard view for technical analysis.

Desktop

In the top toolbar, click the icon with the two bars to open the chart type menu.

You’ll see different options such as:

• Candles

• Bars

• Line

• Area

• Heikin Ashi

• Renko

Select Candles to switch to the standard candlestick view.

Mobile

Tap the three dots to open the main menu. Under Tools, select Chart Type. From there, choose Candles to display the market as a candlestick chart.

Unless you are using a strategy that specifically requires another chart type, Candlesticks are the best choice for most beginners and for general technical analysis.

Using Drawing Tools

Drawing tools allow you to visually mark important areas on your chart. They are one of the most important features in TradingView because technical analysis often involves identifying and marking relevant price zones.

Desktop

The Drawing Toolbar is located on the left side of the chart.

Common tools include:

Horizontal Line
Useful for marking important support, resistance, Entry, Stop Loss, or Take Profit levels.

Trend Line
Used to connect highs or lows and visualize a trend.

Rectangle
Ideal for marking zones instead of one exact price level.

Fibonacci Retracement
Used to measure potential retracement levels within a price movement.

Long Position / Short Position Tool
Helps visualize Entry, Stop Loss, Take Profit, and potential risk-to-reward.

Click the desired tool and then click on the chart where you want to place it.

Mobile

Open the Drawing Tools (Pencil)  menu from the chart. Select the tool you want to use. Tap the chart to place the first point and move the handles to adjust the drawing.

For beginners, start with:

• Horizontal Line

• Trend Line

• Rectangle

These three tools are already enough to perform basic chart analysis.

Editing Your Drawings

Once you've placed a drawing, you can change it at any time.

Desktop

Click the drawing on the chart.

A small menu will appear, allowing you to:

• Change its position

• Adjust its style

• Change line thickness

• Add text

• Lock it

• Hide it

• Delete it

Locking important levels can be useful because it prevents accidentally moving them while navigating the chart.

Mobile

Tap the drawing you want to edit. Use the available options to move, customize, lock, hide, or delete it.

Adding Indicators

Indicators are mathematical tools that use market data to provide additional information about price behavior.

They can help identify trends, momentum, volatility, volume, and other market conditions.

Popular examples include:

• RSI

• MACD

• Moving Averages

• Bollinger Bands

• Volume

• VWAP

Indicators should support your analysis, not replace it.

Desktop

Click Indicators in the top toolbar. Use the search field to find the indicator you want.

For example, type:

RSI

Click the indicator and it will automatically be added to your chart. Some indicators appear directly on the price chart, while others appear in a separate panel below it. Click the indicator's settings icon to adjust its parameters and appearance.

Mobile

Open the Indicators menu from the chart. Search for the indicator you want to use. Tap it to add it. You can then open its settings to customize values, colors, or parameters.

If you're new to trading, avoid adding many indicators at once. Start with one or two that you actually understand.

Setting Price Alerts

Alerts are one of TradingView's most useful features. An alert allows TradingView to notify you automatically when price reaches a level you're waiting for. This means you don't have to watch the chart constantly.

Desktop

Select the Alerts button or right-click on the price level you want to monitor. Create a new alert and define the condition.

For example:

XAU/USD crosses 4,050

You can choose whether the alert should trigger once or repeatedly. Once created, TradingView will monitor the market automatically.

Mobile

Open the chart and select the Alert function. Choose the market, price, or condition you want TradingView to monitor. Confirm the alert. You can then receive a notification on your phone when the condition is met.

For Traidx signals, alerts are useful when price is approaching an Entry Zone or Take Profit level.

Using TradingView for a Traidx Signal

One of the easiest ways to understand a Traidx signal is to visualize the levels directly in TradingView.

Example:

Entry Zone: 4,045–4,050
Stop Loss: 4,035
TP1: 4,060
TP2: 4,070
TP3: 4,085

Desktop

Open the asset mentioned in the Traidx signal. Use a Rectangle to mark the Entry Zone.

Then add Horizontal Lines for:

• Stop Loss

• TP1

• TP2

• TP3

You can now visually see where the market currently is in relation to the complete setup. You can also create an alert near the Entry Zone so TradingView notifies you when price approaches the setup.

Mobile

Open the same asset in the TradingView app. Use the Drawing Tools to mark the Entry Zone and relevant price levels. You can also create an alert directly from the app and wait for price to reach the intended area.

The trade itself can then be executed through MetaTrader 5.

Customizing Your Chart

TradingView allows you to customize your chart so it matches your preferred workflow.

Desktop

Open Chart Settings.

Here you can customize:

• Candle appearance

• Background

• Grid lines

• Price scale

• Symbol information

• Trading sessions

• Timezone

A clean chart is usually easier to analyze than one filled with unnecessary information.

Mobile

Open the chart settings menu. Adjust the appearance and information displayed on your chart.

Try to keep the design simple enough that important price movements and levels remain easy to recognize.

Keeping Your Analysis Simple

TradingView offers thousands of tools and indicators, but you do not need to use all of them. A common beginner mistake is creating a chart filled with indicators, drawings, and information that ultimately makes analysis harder.

A simple setup can be enough:

• Candlestick Chart

• Relevant timeframe

• Support & Resistance

• Entry Zone

• Stop Loss

• Take Profit

• One or two indicators if needed

The goal is not to make your chart look complicated. The goal is to make the market easier to understand.

Final Notes

TradingView is your main workspace for understanding, preparing, and monitoring the market.

Once you know how to:

• Find markets

• Use your Watchlist

• Change timeframes

• Read charts

• Draw important levels

• Add indicators

• Set alerts

• Save your workspace

you already understand the core features required for everyday technical analysis. Take time to explore each feature using a demo or practice environment before relying on it in live trading.

If you need additional help, use the accompanying Video Tutorial or PDF Guide, where the individual steps can be followed visually.