The Problem Every MT4 Trader Faces

You've spent time setting up your charts exactly the way you like them — the right indicators, colour scheme, timeframe, and zoom level. Then you restart MT4 or switch to a new currency pair, and it's all gone. You're starting from scratch again.

MT4 has two powerful features to solve this problem: Templates and Profiles. Understanding the difference between them — and how to use both — will save you significant time and frustration.

Templates vs. Profiles: What's the Difference?

Feature Template Profile
What it saves Chart settings for one chart window The entire MT4 workspace (all open charts)
Best used for Applying a consistent look to any chart Switching between trading setups or sessions
Includes indicators? Yes Yes (via the saved chart templates)
Includes chart layout? No Yes (window positions, sizes)

How to Save a Chart Template

Templates save everything on a single chart: indicators, colours, timeframe, chart type, and drawing objects.

  1. Configure your chart exactly as you want it (add indicators, set colours, etc.).
  2. Right-click on the chart area.
  3. Select Template → Save Template.
  4. Give your template a descriptive name (e.g., "RSI_EMA_Setup") and click Save.

How to Apply a Saved Template

  1. Open any chart you want to apply the template to.
  2. Right-click on the chart.
  3. Select Template → [Your Template Name].

The chart will instantly update to match your saved configuration. This is particularly useful when you open a new currency pair and want your standard indicator setup applied immediately.

Setting a Default Template

You can make any template the default for all new charts:

  1. Set up your chart exactly as you want it.
  2. Right-click → Template → Save Template.
  3. Name it exactly default (lowercase).
  4. Click Save.

From now on, every new chart you open in MT4 will automatically use this template.

How to Save a Profile

Profiles save your entire MT4 workspace — all open chart windows, their positions, sizes, and which templates they're using.

  1. Arrange all your charts the way you want (e.g., 4 currency pairs in a grid layout).
  2. Go to File → Profiles → Save As.
  3. Enter a name for the profile (e.g., "London Session" or "Scalping Setup").
  4. Click OK.

How to Switch Between Profiles

  1. Go to File → Profiles.
  2. Select the profile you want to load.

MT4 will close your current charts and open the saved workspace instantly. This is ideal if you trade different sessions with different setups — for example, a swing trading layout for mornings and a scalping layout for the London/New York overlap.

Pro Tips for Using Templates and Profiles

  • Create session-specific profiles: Build separate profiles for Asian, London, and New York sessions with the relevant pairs pre-loaded.
  • Build strategy-specific templates: Have one template for trend-following setups and another for range trading.
  • Back up your templates: Templates are saved as .tpl files in the MT4 templates folder. Copy these files to cloud storage or an external drive so you never lose them.
  • Share templates between installations: Copy .tpl files to the same folder on another MT4 installation to replicate your setup on a new device.

Where Are Templates Stored?

MT4 template files are located at:

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\[TerminalID]\profiles\templates\

You can share, back up, or transfer these files just like any other document.