How can I create a chart template in MetaTrader?

Here is how to do it:

  1. Save the template of your customized chart. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on the chart and selecting Template->Save Template.
Save template from your chart
  1. Name the template file accordingly and click Save:
Choose template name and click save

Now, if you want to copy the template for usage in another platform, just follow to the next step. If you only want to load the template in another chart inside the same platform, you can proceed directly to step 8.

  1. Open the platform’s data folder by using the menu File->Open Data Folder:
Open data folder

Alternatively, you can navigate to the folder using Windows Explorer:

C:Users<Windows_User_Name>AppDataRoamingMetaQuotesTerminal<Instance_ID>

  1. If you are using MetaTrader 4, open templates folder:
Templates folder in MT4

If you are using MetaTrader 5, first, open /MQL5/Profiles/ folder:

Opening profiles folder in MT5

And then open Templates folder:

Templates folder in MT5

This is the only difference in handling templates between MT4 and MT5.

  1. Copy your template file (it has. tpl extension):
Copy template file
  1. Go to your target platform and open its data folder using menu File->Open Data Folder:
Open data folder in another platform

Alternatively, you can navigate to the folder using Windows Explorer:

C:Users<Windows_User_Name>AppDataRoamingMetaQuotesTerminal<Instance_ID>

  1. Open its templates folder (see step 4) and paste the template file here:
Paste template file

It is now ready for use in this another platform.

  1. Right-click on the chart where you want to load your custom template and select the template’s name:
Load template

Alternatively, you can choose to load template from a file — it is a useful feature when you do not want to copy the template file to the platform’s data folder:

Load template from file

By doing all of this, your new chart will now look exactly like the old one:

Chart with loaded template in another platform

Please note: 

  • The same can be done when you want to quickly load a complete set of chart parameters, indicators, and expert advisors on several charts inside one platform. Just save the template once and load it on other charts within the same MetaTrader.
  • Templates transfer everything (even EAs) except timeframe and currency pair. However, you need to have the same custom indicators and expert advisors files in the target platform, otherwise they won’t load.
  • This guide is valid for both MT4 and MT5, but although you can try loading an MT4 template onto an MT5 chart or vice versa, the results might not be very good. Some chart settings will carry over, but indicators and EAs won’t.