Summary: This tutorial covers adding symbols, customizing the Quotes list, using chart tools like crosshair and periods on MT4/MT5 mobile apps, with a practical tip on hiding symbols with open positions.




Last Thursday, I was out grabbing coffee when a trade setup started forming on a cross pair I don't usually trade. Normally I'd wait until I got back to the desk, but the setup was too good to ignore. I pulled out my phone, fired up the MT5 app, and then realized - the symbol wasn't in my Quotes list.

The MetaTrader mobile app has a pretty clean interface, and the official MetaTrader 5 Android Help documents the settings well. But when you're standing in line trying to catch a move, you don't have time to read through menus. Here's the quick way to get it done.

Adding symbols on Android:

Open the Quotes tab. Look for the "+" icon in the upper right corner of the screen[citation:6]. Tap it, and you'll see the full symbol list grouped by categories. If you know the symbol name, use the search bar at the top - it filters as you type[citation:7]. Tap the symbol to add it to your list. Once you're done, hit "Done" and the new symbol appears in your Quotes.

Adding symbols on iOS:

Same logic, slightly different layout. Go to the Quotes tab and use the search field at the top. When you find the symbol you need, tap the "+" next to it[citation:5]. The symbol is now added to your active list.

The hidden quirk nobody mentions:

Here's something the official help page doesn't spell out clearly. If you swipe left on a symbol row on the iPhone version, a shortcut menu pops up with three options: trade, open chart, or hide from list[citation:7]. The "hide" command is grayed out if you have an open position or a pending order on that symbol. That makes sense - you don't want to accidentally hide something you're actively trading. But the Android version handles this differently; you need to use the edit button in the upper left corner to manage the list[citation:6].

Getting serious with charts:

Once the symbol is added, tap on it to open the chart. The mobile charting tools are surprisingly capable. Here's what I use most:

  • Timeframes: Tap the timeframe button (usually near the top of the chart) and you'll get the full list - M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN[citation:2][citation:6]. For quick analysis, I toggle between H1 and M15 with two taps.


  • Crosshair mode: On the iPad version, there's a dedicated crosshair button that lets you see precise price and indicator values at any point[citation:2]. On the iPhone, it's tucked inside a radial menu that appears when you tap the chart. The crosshair mode is a lifesaver for measuring distances between support/resistance levels without taking a screenshot and guessing.


    • A workflow I've settled on:

    I keep my Quotes list lean - maybe 10 symbols max. Everything else gets added on the fly using the search bar when I need it. The search is fast enough that I don't waste time scrolling through groups. And I always double-check that a symbol with open positions stays visible. I learned that lesson after a frustrating five minutes of trying to figure out why I couldn't close a trade on a symbol that wasn't showing up anymore.

    Reference: MetaTrader 5 Android Help - Configuration (metatrader5.com); MetaTrader 5 iPhone Help - Quotes (metatrader5.com).

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