TradingView Setup — Building Your Chart

Step 1: Go to TradingView.com

Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge—any browser works).

In the address bar, type: www.tradingview.com

Press Enter. You'll land on the TradingView homepage.

Step 2: Click "Get Started" or "Sign Up"

Look at the top right corner of the page. You'll see a button that says:

• "Get Started" (on desktop)
• "Sign Up" (on mobile or some layouts)

Click that button.

Step 3: Choose Your Sign-Up Method

TradingView will ask you how you want to create your account. You have several options:

Option A: Sign Up with Google (Recommended)

If you have a Gmail account, this is the fastest and easiest way.

• Click the "Continue with Google" button
• Select your Gmail account
• TradingView will automatically create your account

Pros: One-click setup, no need to remember another password, your account syncs across devices easily

Option B: Sign Up with Facebook

Click "Continue with Facebook" and log in with your Facebook credentials.

Option C: Sign Up with Apple

If you're using an iPhone or Mac, click "Continue with Apple" and authenticate with your Apple ID.

Option D: Sign Up with Email

• Click "Sign up with email"
• Enter your email address
• Create a username (pick something simple, like "JuanTrader" or your first name)
• Create a strong password (mix of letters, numbers, and symbols)
• Click "Create account"
• TradingView will send a verification email. Open it and click the confirmation link

Step 4: Complete Your Profile (Optional)

After signing up, TradingView might ask you a few questions:

• "What brings you to TradingView?" → Select "Trading" or "Learning to trade"
• "What markets are you interested in?" → Select "Forex" and "Crypto"
• "What's your experience level?" → Select "Beginner"

You can skip these questions if you want—they're just to personalize your experience.

Step 5: You're In!

Congratulations! You now have a free TradingView account. 🎉

You'll be taken to the TradingView homepage or dashboard.

Step 6: Open the Chart

At the very top of the page, you'll see a navigation menu with options like: Products, Community, Markets, News.

Look for the "Chart" button (sometimes under "Products" → "Chart").

Click it.

You're now on the TradingView charting platform. This is where all the magic happens.

Step 1: Change the Market Symbol

By default, TradingView probably opened with a stock chart (like Apple or Google). We want to look at Forex or Crypto.

For Forex:

• Click the symbol search box at the top left
• Type: EURUSD (Euro vs US Dollar)
• TradingView will show you a list of matches. You'll see entries like:
  • EURUSD from OANDA
  • EURUSD from FXCM
  • EURUSD from FOREX.COM
• These are different brokers providing the same currency pair data. The price is almost identical—pick any one. OANDA is popular and reliable
• Click "EURUSD OANDA" (or any broker you prefer)
• Your chart now shows the Euro vs US Dollar price movements

For Crypto:

• Click the symbol search box at the top left
• Type: BTCUSDT (Bitcoin vs Tether)
• You'll see matches like:
  • BTCUSDT from BINANCE
  • BTCUSDT from COINBASE
  • BTCUSDT from BYBIT
• These are different crypto exchanges. Binance is the most popular and has the highest trading volume
• Click "BTCUSDT BINANCE"
• Your chart now shows Bitcoin price movements

Step 2: Choose Your Timeframe

Now that you're viewing the right market, let's set the timeframe.

At the top of the chart, you'll see the timeframe buttons: 1m | 5m | 15m | 1H | 4H | 1D | 1W | 1M

For Forex traders:

Click "4H" (4-Hour). This means each candlestick represents 4 hours of price movement. It's a great timeframe for learning—not too fast, not too slow.

For Crypto traders:

Click "1H" (1-Hour) or "1D" (Daily). Crypto moves faster than Forex, so 1-hour charts are popular. Daily charts are good for seeing the bigger picture.

Your chart will update to show the selected timeframe.

Step 3: Make Sure You're Viewing Candlesticks

By default, TradingView usually shows candlesticks. But let's make sure.

Look at the chart type button near the top (it might look like bars or candles). Click it and select "Candles".

Your chart will now display candlesticks:

• Green (or white) candles = Price closed higher than it opened (bullish)
• Red (or black) candles = Price closed lower than it opened (bearish)

Perfect. This is exactly what you learned in Chapter 2.

Step 4: Clean Up the Chart (Remove Unnecessary Panels)

Your chart might have extra panels at the bottom—like:

• Volume (we'll add this back later as needed)
• Economic Calendar
• News Feed

To keep things clean for now, close these panels:

• Look at the bottom of the chart
• If you see any extra panels, look for a small "X" icon in the corner of each panel
• Click it to close the panel

Don't worry—you can add them back anytime.

Step 5: Adjust Background and Candle Colors (Optional)

TradingView has two main themes:

• Dark Theme (black or dark blue background)
• Light Theme (white background)

Which should you use?

It's personal preference:

• Dark Theme is easier on your eyes during long trading sessions, especially at night
• Light Theme can be clearer if you're studying during the day or taking screenshots

To change the theme:

• Click the gear icon (Settings) at the top right
• Look for "Appearance" or "Theme"
• Select "Dark" or "Light"
• The chart will update instantly

To change candle colors:

• In the same settings menu, look for "Candles" or "Symbol"
• You can customize:
  • Up Candle Color (default is green—you can change it to white, blue, etc.)
  • Down Candle Color (default is red—you can change it to black, orange, etc.)

Step 6: Save Your Layout

You've just customized your chart:

• You picked a market (EURUSD or BTCUSDT)
• You chose a timeframe (1H, 4H, or 1D)
• You set it to display candlesticks
• You cleaned up extra panels

Now save this layout so you don't have to do it again every time you open TradingView.

How to save:

• Look at the bottom right of the chart
• You'll see a small "cloud icon" or "Layouts" button
• Click it
• A menu will appear. Click "Save As…" or "Save Layout"
• Give your layout a name. Examples:
  • "Forex 4H Clean"
  • "Crypto 1H Setup"
  • "Beginner EUR Chart"
• Click "Save"

Congratulations! Your layout is now saved. 🎉

Step 1: Click the "Indicators" Button

At the top of your chart, look for the button that says "Indicators" or has an "fx" icon. Click it.

A large panel will slide in from the right side of the screen.

This is the Indicators Library—a massive collection of thousands of indicators, scripts, and strategies.

Don't panic. We're only going to use a few of them.

Step 2: Search for Your First Indicator — Moving Average

At the top of the indicators panel, you'll see a search box.

Type: "Moving Average"

As you type, TradingView will start showing matching results. You'll see entries like:

• Moving Average (by TradingView)
• Moving Average Exponential
• Moving Average Weighted
• And many custom versions created by users

For now, click the very first one: "Moving Average" (it should have a small TradingView logo next to it).

Step 3: The Indicator Appears on Your Chart

As soon as you click it, a line will appear on your chart. This is your moving average!

By default, it's usually set to:

• 9 periods
• Blue or purple color
• Simple Moving Average (SMA)

We're going to customize it in the next section.

Step 4: Add Your Second Indicator — RSI or MACD

You have one indicator slot left. Let's use it for a momentum indicator.

Option A: Add RSI (Relative Strength Index)

• Click the "Indicators" button again
• In the search box, type: "RSI"
• Click "Relative Strength Index" (the first result from TradingView)
• A new panel will appear below your chart showing the RSI indicator
• It will look like a line moving up and down between 0 and 100, with horizontal lines at 30 and 70

Option B: Add MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)

• Click the "Indicators" button again
• In the search box, type: "MACD"
• Click "MACD" (the first result from TradingView)
• A new panel will appear below your chart showing the MACD indicator
• It will look like two lines and a histogram (bars)

Step 5: You've Hit Your 2-Indicator Limit

You now have:

• Indicator 1: Moving Average (on the main chart)
• Indicator 2: RSI (in a separate panel below)

If you try to add a third indicator, TradingView will show a message like:

"You've reached the indicator limit for your plan. Remove an indicator or upgrade."

This is normal. You're on the free plan.

But remember: 2 indicators are enough. You have everything you need.

Step 1: Open the Settings Panel

Look at the top left of your chart. You'll see a small label that says something like: "MA 9" (or "SMA 9")

This tells you there's a Moving Average indicator with a 9-period setting currently on your chart.

To customize it:

• Option A: Click the small gear icon next to the "MA 9" label
• Option B: Right-click on the Moving Average line on your chart and select "Settings"

A settings panel will open.

Step 2: Change the Period (Length) to 50

In the settings panel, you'll see a field labeled "Length" or "Period." This controls how many candles the average uses.

Change this number from 9 to 50

Step 3: Make Sure It's Set to SMA (Simple Moving Average)

In the same settings panel, look for a dropdown menu labeled "Type" or "Method."

Make sure it's set to "SMA" (Simple Moving Average).

If it says "EMA" (Exponential) or anything else, click the dropdown and select "SMA."

Step 4: Change the Color

You can change the color of the moving average line to whatever you like.

In the settings panel, you'll see a color box (usually a small square with a color). Click it and choose a color that stands out against your candlesticks.

Good choices:

• Bright yellow (easy to see on dark backgrounds)
• White (clean and professional)
• Cyan/light blue (clear but not harsh)

Avoid colors that blend into your candles (like red or green).

Step 5: Adjust Line Thickness (Optional)

You can make the moving average line thicker so it's easier to see.

Look for a setting called "Width" or "Thickness." Change it from 1 to 2 or 3.

Step 6: Click "OK" or "Apply"

At the bottom of the settings panel, click "OK" or "Apply."

The settings panel will close, and your Moving Average will update with the new settings.

Now you have a 50-period Simple Moving Average in your chosen color! 🎉

Step 1: Open the RSI Settings

Look at the top left of the RSI panel. You'll see a label like: "RSI 14"

This means the RSI is set to a 14-period calculation (the default).

To customize it:

• Click the small gear icon next to "RSI 14"
• Or right-click on the RSI line and select "Settings"

Step 2: Keep the Period at 14 (Standard Setting)

In the settings panel, you'll see a field labeled "Length" or "Period."

The default is 14, which is the standard setting used by most traders.

Leave it at 14. There's no need to change this.

Step 3: Customize the Colors (Optional)

The RSI line is usually blue or purple by default.

You can change it to a color that's easy for you to read—like white, yellow, or cyan.

You'll also see settings for the background zones:

• The 70 line (overbought zone) might have a red shaded area
• The 30 line (oversold zone) might have a green shaded area

You can customize these colors too, but the defaults are usually fine.

Step 4: Click "OK"

Close the settings panel. Your RSI is now customized.

Step 1: Remove the Current Indicator

Look at the indicator label (like "RSI 14").

Next to the eye icon, you'll see a small "X" icon or three dots (…).

Click the "X" to remove the indicator.

Or: Right-click on the indicator and select "Remove."

The indicator will disappear.

Step 2: Add the New Indicator

Now you have an open indicator slot.

• Click the "Indicators" button
• Search for the new indicator (like "MACD")
• Click it to add it to your chart

Step 3: Customize and Save

Adjust the settings of the new indicator (if needed), then save your layout again.