How to Change Chart and Candlestick Colors in MT4

Most traders don't think about chart colors until they've spent a few hours staring at the default MT4 screen. The default color scheme varies by installation client, but the most common combination—a black background with bright green candlesticks—is iconic, but not necessarily ideal for long hours in front of the screen. Then there's the "Black on White" scheme, which some traders find harsh on the eyes.

The problem is that everyone's eyes and preferences are different. Some traders prefer a dark background to reduce eye strain during late-night sessions, while others find a clean white or light grey background helps them spot price action more clearly during the day. And even within that, the color of up and down candlesticks can make a huge difference in how quickly you can read a chart at a glance.

The good news is that adjusting your chart and candlestick colors in MT4 is one of the simplest yet most impactful customizations you can make. Here is how you can set it up to work for you.

How to Change Chart and Candlestick Colors in MT4

The process is straightforward. To access the color settings, you need to open the chart properties. You can do this in three ways:

1. Right-click anywhere on the chart and select "Properties" from the context menu.
2. Press the F8 key while the chart window is active.
3. Go to the menu bar and select "Charts" -> "Properties".

This opens a dialog box where you can customize the chart's appearance. In this window, you will find a list of chart elements on the left and a color selector for each on the right. These include:

• Background: The main chart background color.
• Grid: The color of the vertical and horizontal gridlines.
• Bull Candle / Bear Candle: The fill color for bullish (up) and bearish (down) candlesticks.
• Bar Up / Bar Down: The color of the wick (shadow) and border for up and down candles.
• Foreground: The color of axis labels, price markers, and the OHLC line.
• Volumes: The color of the volume bars shown below the chart.
• Ask Line: The color of the line showing the current ask price.

Click the color swatch next to any element to choose a new color. You can even create custom colors if the preset ones do not suit your needs. Once you are satisfied, click "OK" to apply the changes to your chart.

Save Your Custom Colors as a Default Template

Customizing a chart is just the beginning. If you have ever meticulously set up a chart only to find that a new chart opens with the default, clashing color scheme, you know how frustrating it is to repeat the process. To avoid this, you need to save your color scheme as a template.

MT4 templates store a chart's entire visual configuration, including your custom color scheme, indicators, timeframe, and even Expert Advisor settings. To save your work:

1. Right-click on the chart with your custom colors and select "Template" -> "Save Template".
2. Give your template a name, like "NightTrading" or "DaytimeView".
3. Pro tip: If you want every new chart you open to use your colors automatically, save the template with the specific filename "default" (.tpl).

By saving a default.tpl template, you ensure that any chart that is opened in MT4 will load with your custom color scheme immediately, saving you time and providing visual consistency.

Practical Options for Your Color Scheme

The "best" color scheme is subjective, but a few popular options cater to different trading environments and visual preferences.

Black Background (Classic for Night or Extended Sessions) This is a common MT4 default, but you can optimize it. The standard scheme often features bright green candles, which can be intense. A refined version uses a black background with subtle, well-chosen accent colors like LimeGreen for bull candles, Red for bear candles, and a neutral color for the grid.

White Background (Popular for Daytime and Clearer Price Action) Some expert traders prefer a white or light grey background, often combined with dark or deep-colored candlesticks like RoyalBlue and OrangeRed. This scheme tends to reduce the "gaming" look of the chart and can make price action feel more clinical and focused.

Why Color Choice Matters Changing colors is not just about aesthetics. A high-contrast scheme can make individual price bars easier to read but may cause eye strain over time. The color choice impacts how quickly you can interpret market data, reducing the cognitive load of deciphering what each color means.

The Context: MT4 is Only One Part of Your Workflow

After you have set up your chart colors and have your ideal trading view, you might still find that you are spending more time managing MT4 than actively analyzing the market. The terminal can be cumbersome to keep open on your main screen, cluttering your workspace while you wait for a specific price level to hit.

This is a workflow gap that tools like Camovia Tray address. Camovia Tray turns your MT5/MT4 into a tray tool, allowing you to check live quotes by simply hovering over the system tray icon. It also enables you to manage positions—view open trades and close them with a click—without bringing the MT4 main window to the foreground.

While you spend time fine-tuning your visual settings in MT4, tools like Camovia Tray can handle the convenience of accessing the data you need, keeping your screen clutter-free and your terminal out of the way when you are not actively analyzing the chart.