MetaTrader 5 Shortcut to Move Between Charts: A Complete Guide for Traders

Imagine this: you’re monitoring three different currency pairs, the economic calendar just flashed a major news event, and you need to check your open positions across multiple charts—fast. Your mouse cursor is somewhere between the Market Watch window and the toolbar, and every second counts. This is the moment when knowing the MetaTrader 5 shortcut to move between charts transforms from a “nice-to-know” into an essential part of your trading workflow.

Mastering Chart Navigation in MT5

Navigating between charts in MetaTrader 5 isn’t just about switching tabs. It involves moving through time, adjusting views, and jumping between instruments with precision. The shortcuts available are designed to keep your hands on the keyboard and your eyes on the price action.

For switching between open chart windows themselves, the key combinations are straightforward. Pressing Ctrl+F6 activates the previous chart window, while Ctrl+Shift+F6 moves you to the next one . If you prefer a more visual approach, pressing the Enter key opens the Fast Navigation box, where you can type a symbol name to instantly switch to that chart .

Beyond just switching windows, understanding time-based navigation is equally critical. Using the Left and Right Arrow keys scrolls the chart forward and backward in time, while Page Up and Page Down allow for faster scrolling . For precise analysis, F12 moves the chart forward one bar or candle at a time, and Shift+F12 moves it backward .

The Limitations of Terminal-Only Navigation

While these keyboard shortcuts are powerful, they all require MetaTrader 5 to be your active, foreground application. The terminal window must be open, visible, and in focus for these commands to work. This creates a friction point: every time you need to check a chart or manage a position, you’re pulled back into the full MT5 interface. It’s an all-or-nothing approach that doesn’t always align with a modern, multitasking workflow.

A Smarter Approach to Chart Monitoring

This is where Camovia Tray offers a complementary solution. It doesn’t replace the powerful charting capabilities or the shortcut ecosystem of MT5. Instead, it solves a different problem: how to stay connected to your charts and positions without needing the full terminal window open on your desktop at all times.

Camovia Tray turns your MT5 into a tool that lives in your system tray. You can quickly check live quotes by hovering over the icon, and manage open positions directly from a floating order panel—viewing entry prices, current profit/loss, and closing trades with a two-step confirmation process . This is especially useful when you’re in the middle of a report, a meeting, or any situation where pulling up the full MT5 interface is inconvenient or draws unwanted attention.

Crucially, all this data is read directly from your local terminal and stays on your computer . It offers a fast, convenient, and private way to stay on top of your trading activity, bridging the gap between deep analysis in MT5 and the need for quick, discrete oversight throughout your day.