TradingView is the world's most popular charting platform - and for good reason. But out of the box, it's cluttered. Overwhelming. Most traders never tap into its real power.
This guide will transform your TradingView from default chaos into a clean, efficient trading environment. Whether you're just starting or want to optimize an existing setup, these steps will level up your charting game.
First Steps: Clean the Interface
The default TradingView layout is noisy. Start by removing what you don't need:
Right-click the chart and adjust these settings:
- Go to Settings → Appearance
- Turn off "Grid Lines" (they add visual clutter)
- Disable "Navigation Buttons" (use keyboard shortcuts instead)
- Hide "Compare" button if you don't use it
Clean up the toolbar:
- Right-click the left toolbar → Customize
- Remove tools you never use
- Keep only: Trend Line, Horizontal Line, Fib Retracement, Rectangle (most used by traders)
Set your color scheme:
- Go to Settings → Appearance → Background
- Use a dark background (easier on eyes for long sessions)
- Pick candlestick colors that are easy to distinguish (classic green/red or hollow candles)
Essential Chart Settings
These settings make a significant difference in usability:
Candlestick Style:
- Go to Settings → Symbol
- Enable "Borders" for candle wicks (makes them visible against background)
- Consider using "Hollow Candles" - they show the open-close relationship more clearly
Scale Settings:
- Settings → Scales → Right click on price scale
- Enable "Auto" for automatic scaling
- Turn on "Lock Price to Bar Ratio" if you want consistent candle sizes
Session Settings:
- Settings → Symbol → Session
- Set to your trading session (Regular hours only, or Extended)
- This removes after-hours noise if you don't trade those sessions
Building Your Watchlist
A well-organized watchlist is crucial for efficient trading:
Create Sections:
- Click the star icon to open the watchlist panel
- Use "Create new section" to organize by category
- Examples: "Primary Setups," "Watching," "Earnings This Week"
Add Key Columns:
- Right-click column headers to customize
- Essential columns: Symbol, Last Price, Change %, Volume
- Advanced: Add "Relative Volume" to spot unusual activity
Use Flags:
- Flag symbols with different colors for different purposes
- Red: Potential shorts
- Green: Potential longs
- Blue: News pending
Layout Management
Professional traders use multiple layouts for different purposes:
Create a Scanning Layout:
- Use Layout → Save Layout As
- Set up multiple small charts in a grid (2x2 or 3x3)
- Quick overview of watchlist without detailed analysis
Create an Analysis Layout:
- Single large chart or 2-chart split
- Room for indicators and drawing tools
- Use for detailed trade planning
Create a Multi-Timeframe Layout:
- Same symbol across 3-4 timeframes
- Linked by symbol (synced across all charts)
- Essential for understanding complete market structure
Link Your Charts:
- Click the chain link icon on each chart
- Set all charts to the same color group
- Changing the symbol on one changes all linked charts
Indicator Setup
Less is more with indicators. Here's how to set them up properly:
The Essentials:
- Volume (always - it's free information)
- One or two moving averages (EMA 20/50 or SMA 50/200)
- One momentum indicator if needed (RSI or MACD, not both)
Indicator Settings Tips:
- Double-click any indicator to access settings
- Adjust colors to match your theme
- Use "Style" tab to adjust line thickness (thicker = easier to see)
- Save as default so new charts use your settings
Using Templates:
- Set up your perfect indicator combination
- Right-click chart → Save Template
- Apply to any new chart instantly
Keyboard Shortcuts That Matter
Fast traders use keyboards, not mice. Memorize these:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + T | Trend line tool |
| Alt + H | Horizontal line |
| Alt + F | Fibonacci retracement |
| Alt + I | Insert indicator |
| Space | Toggle play/pause on replay |
| +/- | Zoom in/out |
| Arrow keys | Navigate chart history |
| Delete | Remove selected object |
Spend 10 minutes practicing these. The speed improvement compounds over thousands of interactions.
Alert Configuration
Alerts are one of TradingView's most powerful features:
Price Alerts:
- Right-click price level → Add Alert
- Set for key support/resistance levels
- Use "Once Per Bar Close" to avoid spam
Drawing Tool Alerts:
- Draw a trend line or horizontal line
- Right-click → Add Alert on [Drawing]
- Alerts when price crosses your drawn levels
Indicator Alerts:
- Create alert → Condition → Select indicator
- Example: RSI crossing above 30 (oversold exit)
- Example: MACD histogram changing color (momentum shift)
Alert Destinations:
- Set up mobile notifications (download TradingView app)
- Enable email alerts for important levels
- Use webhook integration for advanced automation
Replay Mode for Practice
TradingView's replay feature is underused but invaluable:
- Click "Replay" button in bottom toolbar
- Select date to replay from
- Use speed controls to practice pattern recognition
- Take notes on what you would have done
This is the closest thing to a trading simulator without risking money. Use it to test your strategies against historical data.
Free vs. Paid: What's Worth It?
TradingView's free tier is capable. Paid tiers add:
Worth the upgrade:
- More charts per layout (Essential if you use multi-timeframe)
- More alerts (Free limit is restrictive)
- More indicators per chart
- Faster data refresh
Skip for now:
- Premium tier unless you need 8+ charts
- Backtesting features (better third-party tools exist)
- Most paid indicators (learn the free ones first)
Start free. Upgrade when you hit a specific limitation.
Pro Tips for Daily Use
- Use the search bar: Press "/" to open quick search. Type anything - symbols, indicators, settings.
- Screenshot with one click: Camera icon captures your analysis. Great for journals.
- Sync across devices: Your layouts and drawings save to the cloud. Access from anywhere.
- Use the Pine Editor: Even if you don't code, you can find and import custom scripts from the community.
- Check the economic calendar: Built-in calendar shows upcoming news events. Access via the "+" menu.
The Bottom Line
A professional TradingView setup isn't about having the most indicators or the fanciest layout. It's about removing friction between you and the data that matters.
Start with these foundations:
- Clean interface (remove clutter)
- Organized watchlists (sections, flags, key columns)
- Multiple saved layouts (scanning, analysis, multi-timeframe)
- Smart alerts (let the platform work for you)
- Keyboard shortcuts (speed compounds)
Spend an hour setting this up once, and you'll save hundreds of hours over your trading career.
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