How Do You Change Timeframes in MT4?
Changing the timeframe of a chart in MetaTrader 4 is a routine action that traders perform many times in a typical session. The platform supports nine standard timeframes, ranging from one minute to one month, and offers several methods of switching between them. Knowing the available timeframes, where the controls are located, and which method best suits a particular workflow can speed up multi-timeframe analysis and reduce the time spent navigating the interface. This article explains the timeframes available in MT4, the three primary ways to change between them, and the practical considerations for organising charts across multiple timeframes.
Available Timeframes in MT4
MT4 offers nine timeframes by default. Each timeframe sets the period of time that a single candle or bar represents on the chart.
| Timeframe | Code | Period |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | M1 | 1 minute |
| M5 | M5 | 5 minutes |
| M15 | M15 | 15 minutes |
| M30 | M30 | 30 minutes |
| H1 | H1 | 1 hour |
| H4 | H4 | 4 hours |
| D1 | D1 | 1 day |
| W1 | W1 | 1 week |
| MN | MN | 1 month |
This set covers most needs for short-term, intraday, swing, and position trading. Traders who want intermediate timeframes such as two-hour or six-hour bars need to look at MT5 instead, which offers a broader timeframe selection. MT5’s additional timeframes include M2, M3, M4, M6, M10, M12, M20, H2, H3, H6, H8, and H12, which is the main reason some traders prefer MT5 for multi-timeframe analysis. The difference between MT4 and MT5 extends beyond timeframes, but the timeframe list is one of the more visible distinctions.
When a chart’s timeframe is changed, the chart is redrawn using the same instrument data but aggregated to the new period. The history is preserved as long as MT4 has downloaded enough historical data to display the new timeframe. If recent history is missing, MT4 will pull the data from the broker server automatically the next time the connection is active.
Method One: The Periodicity Toolbar
The fastest way to change a timeframe in MT4 is through the Periodicity toolbar. This toolbar sits along the top of the platform window by default and contains a row of buttons labelled with the available timeframe codes (M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN).
To switch the active chart’s timeframe, the user clicks the button corresponding to the desired timeframe. The chart updates immediately. The currently selected timeframe button stays highlighted to indicate the active period.
If the Periodicity toolbar is not visible, it can be enabled through the View menu. Open View, hover over the Toolbars submenu, and tick the box next to Periodicity. The toolbar reappears at the top of the interface.
Some users hide other toolbars to give the Periodicity toolbar more visual prominence, particularly if they switch timeframes frequently during analysis.
Method Two: Right-Click Menu
A second method uses the right-click context menu on the chart itself. Right-clicking anywhere inside the chart area opens a menu that includes a Timeframes submenu. The submenu lists the same nine timeframes available through the Periodicity toolbar. Clicking one applies it to the active chart.
This method is useful when the trader’s focus is already on the chart and moving the mouse to a toolbar at the top of the screen would interrupt the workflow. It is also helpful when working on smaller screens where the toolbar may be partially hidden or arranged in a non-default position.
The right-click submenu behaves identically to the toolbar in terms of which timeframe is applied. The only difference is the location of the click.
Method Three: The Charts Menu
The third method uses the Charts menu in the main menu bar. Opening Charts and hovering over Periodicity reveals the same list of timeframes available through the other two methods. Clicking one applies it to the active chart.
This method is the slowest of the three for routine timeframe switching but can be useful for traders who keep most toolbars hidden and rely on the menu bar for navigation.
Working Across Multiple Timeframes
A common practice in forex trading is to analyse a single instrument across several timeframes simultaneously. The conventional approach uses a higher timeframe to identify the overall trend, an intermediate timeframe to identify the setup, and a lower timeframe to refine entry timing.
A typical multi-timeframe layout for a swing trader might include a daily chart for trend direction, a four-hour chart for setup identification, and a one-hour chart for entry timing. A scalper might use a one-hour chart for context, a fifteen-minute chart for setup, and a one-minute or five-minute chart for execution.
Rather than switching timeframes on a single chart, many traders open multiple chart windows simultaneously, each set to a different timeframe but showing the same instrument. The chart windows can be arranged side by side using the Window menu’s tiling options, or by clicking and dragging chart titles to arrange them manually. This approach avoids the time cost of switching timeframes back and forth on a single chart and allows the trader to see all timeframes at once.
For traders who frequently use the same multi-timeframe setup, saving the layout as a profile through File > Profiles > Save As preserves the arrangement and can be reloaded at any time. Templates can also be applied to individual charts to preserve indicator and styling preferences. The relationship between profiles and templates determines how MT4 remembers chart settings.
Practical Considerations
When changing timeframes, history depth matters. MT4 only displays as much historical data as has been downloaded for the active instrument and period. On the higher timeframes (W1, MN), this is rarely an issue. On the lower timeframes (M1, M5), the platform may show only a few weeks or months of history by default. Backtesting or pattern analysis on lower timeframes may require importing additional historical data through Tools > History Center.
Time of day affects what is visible on lower timeframes during illiquid sessions. The candles will still print, but if volatility is very low, M1 and M5 candles can appear flat or noisy. Traders typically focus their lower-timeframe analysis on active market hours.
Saving templates is useful when the same indicators and settings are applied across multiple timeframes. Right-click on a chart, select Template > Save Template, and the configuration can be applied to any other chart through Template > Load Template. This avoids reconfiguring indicators each time a new chart is opened or a timeframe is changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many timeframes does MT4 support? MT4 supports nine timeframes by default: M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, and MN. These cover one minute through one month and are the same set across all MT4 installations regardless of broker.
Can I add custom timeframes to MT4? Not directly. MT4 does not allow new native timeframes beyond the nine listed. Some third-party scripts and custom indicators can simulate additional timeframes by aggregating data from a lower timeframe, but these are workarounds rather than native support. Traders who want a broader set should consider MT5, which supports 21 timeframes including M2, M3, H2, H3, H6, H8, and H12.
What is the fastest way to change a timeframe? The Periodicity toolbar at the top of the MT4 interface is the fastest method. Clicking the desired timeframe button applies it immediately to the active chart. If the toolbar is hidden, it can be enabled through View > Toolbars > Periodicity.
Why is the Periodicity toolbar missing? The toolbar may have been hidden by the user or by a profile that excluded it. It can be restored through the View menu by opening the Toolbars submenu and ticking the box next to Periodicity. The toolbar will reappear at the top of the interface.
Does changing the timeframe affect the indicators on a chart? Yes. Indicators recalculate their values for the new timeframe, since they are based on the candles of the active period. An indicator that signals a particular condition on the H1 chart may not signal the same condition on the H4 or M15 chart, even though the underlying instrument is the same.
Can I view multiple timeframes of the same instrument simultaneously? Yes. Open multiple chart windows, each set to the same instrument but a different timeframe. The windows can be arranged side by side using the Window menu’s tiling options or by dragging the title bars manually. This is the most common approach for multi-timeframe analysis.
Why is recent history missing on my chart after changing timeframes? MT4 only displays historical data that has been downloaded for the active instrument and period. Lower timeframes such as M1 and M5 have shorter default history depths than higher timeframes. Additional historical data can be downloaded through Tools > History Center if more depth is needed for backtesting or analysis.