How to add indicators to a chart: moving averages, RSI and MACD in TradingView and MT5

Indicators are calculations on price: an average, a momentum reading, a volatility band. Some are drawn on top of the candles (overlays) and others in their own window under the chart. Here is how to add and set them up, and how to avoid the usual clutter.

Charts · Guide 3/4 2 min read · Platform menus checked against official help: October 2026

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An overlay and a separate window1.10311.10831.1135EUR/USD · H1MA 20MA 503070RSI (14)Overlay: moving averages on priceSeparate window: RSI (14)Indicators are calculated from past prices. They describe; they do not predict.
An overlay and a separate window Illustrative chart: drawn data, not real prices.

Indicators in TradingView

  1. Open the indicators list. Click Indicators in the top toolbar, or press the / key on the chart.
  2. Search and add. Type a name such as Moving Average, RSI or MACD and click the result to add it to the chart.
  3. Change the settings. Double-click the indicator (its line or its name on the chart) to open settings. Inputs holds values such as the length; Style holds colours and levels.
  4. Add two moving averages. To show a 20 and a 50 moving average, add the indicator twice and set the lengths to 20 and 50.
  5. Hide or remove. Hover over the indicator name on the chart to show the buttons to hide it, open its settings or remove it.

Indicators in MT5

  1. Insert an indicator. Drag it from the Navigator window (Indicators folder) onto the chart, or use Insert → Indicators. A window with its parameters opens.
  2. Set the parameters. Set values such as the period, then use the Levels tab to add lines such as 70 and 30 for RSI, and click OK.
  3. Edit or delete it later. Right-click the indicator and choose its properties, or open the indicators list from the chart’s right-click menu to edit or delete any indicator.
  4. Fix the scale of an oscillator. For an indicator in its own window, the Scale tab lets you set a fixed minimum and maximum, such as 0 and 100 for RSI.

Use indicators well

  1. Give each indicator one job. For example: one moving average for trend direction, RSI for momentum. Two indicators that measure the same thing (such as RSI and Stochastic) do not double your evidence.
  2. Keep standard settings at first. Default values such as RSI 14 are what most people look at. Tuning settings until past trades look perfect is called overfitting, and it rarely holds up later.
  3. Price first, indicator second. Read structure and levels on the chart first. Use the indicator to confirm or question what price shows, not to replace it.

Common problems

The indicator shows in a new window instead of on price
Oscillators such as RSI and MACD always use their own window. Moving averages and Bollinger Bands are drawn on price.
The values differ from another site
Check the settings (length, price used, type of average), the timeframe and the data source. A different broker feed gives slightly different values.
The chart is too crowded to read
Remove everything except the one or two indicators you actually use in your plan.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best RSI settings?

There is no best setting. The standard is 14 periods with levels at 70 and 30, and it is a sensible place to start.

How many indicators should I use?

Few. Many experienced traders use one or two alongside price structure and levels.

Do indicators give buy and sell signals?

They give readings that people interpret. Treat them as one input in a written plan, never as an automatic signal.

Sources (official help pages)