Finalmente posso dizer que sou trader profissional

When you’re trading in a quick prop firm environment then every millisecond counts. Whether you're scalping the EUR/USD on a volatile news release or managing multiple positions across different instruments, you don’t have time to be fumbling through menus or clicking ten times to place a trade. This is where MT5 hotkeys come in.

Hotkeys are the cheat codes of the trading world. They speed up your workflow, help you stay focused, and eliminate unnecessary clicks that can slow you down. If you’re serious about trading—especially in the high-pressure world of proprietary trading—you need to master them. Not get familiar. Master.

Let’s see the most important MT5 hotkeys that can seriously boost your speed and efficiency as a prop trader.

Why Hotkeys Matter for Prop Traders

In a prop firm, you're often evaluated on your execution, discipline, and consistency. Every small edge adds up. That edge can literally be a half-second faster trade entry or quicker order cancellation. Manual clicking and dragging is fine for retail traders dabbling on the weekend. But if you're being funded, you’ve gotta operate on another level.

Hotkeys eliminate hesitation. They're like turning your trading into muscle memory—you think, you act, you're done. No overthinking. No lag.

The Most Useful MT5 Hotkeys for Speedy Trading

F9 – Open the ‘New Order’ Window

This is your go-to. Whether you’re placing a market order or setting a pending one, hitting F9 brings up the order window in a flash. No right-clicking, no toolbar navigation.

Tip: Keep the ‘One Click Trading’ option enabled so when you hit F9, you can just enter your lot size and execute without confirmation pop-ups.

Ctrl + T – Open/Close the Terminal

You know that panel at the bottom that shows your trades, exposure, account history, news, etc.? That’s the Terminal. Toggling it quickly helps you manage open trades and monitor your balance and margin at a glance.

If you’re running multiple trades, being able to jump into the Terminal in one click is gold.

Ctrl + M – Open/Close the Market Watch

Need to keep an eye on different symbols? Ctrl + M brings up (or hides) the Market Watch window. From there, you can drag and drop new charts or simply see how your instruments are performing.

Ctrl + N – Navigator Panel

The Navigator is where your accounts, indicators, expert advisors, and scripts live. This hotkey is especially handy when you’re switching accounts or attaching your EAs/scripts.

For prop traders using custom tools or logging into different funded accounts, this one’s a major time-saver.

Ctrl + Y – Show/Hide Period Separators

Wanna get a quick look at where one day ends and another begins? Or separate weeks or months visually on your chart? Ctrl + Y drops vertical lines between periods based on your time frame.

Great for visual backtesting or understanding session behaviors.

Ctrl + F – Crosshair Tool

Sometimes you need to be precise like checking how far the price moved in pips, or when a candle printed. Ctrl + F activates the crosshair, allowing you to scroll over and see exact values, time, and pip distance.

Once you get used to this, you’ll wonder how you ever traded without it.

+ / – (Plus and Minus Keys) – Zoom In and Out

Want to zoom in for detailed price action? Tap the plus key. Zoom out for the big picture? Minus key. Simple but effective.

This is especially useful during fast-moving market conditions when you need to zoom out, check support/resistance, and zoom back in—without missing the move.

F8 – Chart Properties

This opens the chart settings. Need to change the color scheme, hide gridlines, or tweak visual elements? F8 is your shortcut.

It’s a small thing but if you’re someone who likes to customize charts quickly, F8 makes it easier.

F11 – Full-Screen Mode

Distractions are a trader’s worst enemy. F11 wipes away all the clutter and gives you a clean, full-screen chart. It’s perfect for laser-focused analysis, especially when reviewing charts during prep or planning entries.

Ctrl + Z – Undo Drawing Tool

Accidentally added a Fibonacci tool or horizontal line? Ctrl + Z undoes it, just like in most applications. This is super handy during technical analysis when you’re drawing up support/resistance zones or trendlines.

Drawing Tool Hotkeys That Save You Time

If you're constantly drawing on charts (and you should be), then these hotkeys will become your new best friends:

  • Ctrl + G – Show/Hide Grid
     
  • Ctrl + L – Show/Hide Volume
     
  • Alt + T – Add a trendline
     
  • Alt + H – Add a horizontal line
     
  • Alt + V – Add a vertical line
     
  • Backspace – Deletes the last added object

It might seem like a lot to memorize at first but give it a week. You'll be drawing trendlines and deleting clutter in your sleep.

Custom Hotkeys with Scripts or Expert Advisors

Alright, here’s where things get cool. MetaTrader 5 doesn't let you customize all hotkeys natively but there’s a workaround using scripts or EAs.

Let’s say you want a one-click hotkey to close all trades or instantly set break-even stops. You can write a script for that, assign it to a button, and bind that to a custom keyboard shortcut using third-party tools like AutoHotkey or KeyExtender.

For prop traders managing rapid-fire scalps or multiple accounts, this kind of workflow is a game-changer.