---
title: Platform Overview
description: Take a tour of the MetroTrade platform workspace. See where to find your account summary, charts, watchlist, order panel, and open positions.
---

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1. [KnowledgeBase](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb?hsLang=en)
2. [MetroTrade Platform](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en)
3. [Getting Started](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#getting-started)

# Platform Overview

When you first log into the MetroTrade platform, the interface may look like a lot to take in. Once you know what each part of the screen does, moving around the platform becomes second nature.

This article walks through the main areas of the workspace so you know where to look for account info, market data, charts, and order entry.

![New Platform - Desktop Display - General Chart Layout (Fullscreen)](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Platform%20-%20Desktop%20Display%20-%20General%20Chart%20Layout%20(Fullscreen).png?width=475&height=267&name=New%20Platform%20-%20Desktop%20Display%20-%20General%20Chart%20Layout%20(Fullscreen).png)

### **The Workspace at a Glance**

MetroTrader is organized into five main areas:

- **Top bar (Account Summary)**: account info and platform settings
- **Watchlist panel**: your markets
- **Chart panel**: price charts
- **Order panel**: where you place trades
- **Positions panel**: your open trades and order history

You can resize and rearrange most of these panels to fit how you like to trade. Layout customization is covered in a separate article.

### **Top Bar (Account Summary)**

**![Screenshot 2026-10-05 151846](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151846.png?width=670&height=23&name=Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151846.png)**

The top bar stays visible no matter where you are in the platform.

- **Account selector**: Shows which account you're trading on (Live or Demo) along with the account number. Use the dropdown to switch between accounts if you have more than one.
- **Account summary**: A row of key numbers that update in real time as you trade. You can enable more options by clicking the menu icon to the right of it if you want more detail visible at a glance.
- **Connection status**: A ping indicator shows your connection speed to the platform.
- **Notifications**: The bell icon opens alerts for order fills, margin warnings, and other account activity.
- **Layout menu**: Opens workspace layout options.
- **Account menu**: Your profile icon in the top right gives you access to platform settings and account options.

### **Watchlist Panel**

**![Screenshot 2026-10-05 151913](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151913.png?width=183&height=305&name=Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151913.png)**

The watchlist shows the markets you're following.

- Use the tabs at the top of the panel (Favorites, Agricultural, Crypto, and so on) to switch between watchlist categories.
- Each row shows the contract symbol, a description, last price, percentage change for the day, and bid & ask.
- Symbols are grouped by asset class, such as Agricultural, Crypto, Energy, and Equities.
- Click any symbol to load it in the chart panel.

Building and customizing your watchlist is covered in a separate article.

### **Chart Panel**

**![Screenshot 2026-10-05 151952](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151952.png?width=475&height=301&name=Screenshot%202026-10-05%20151952.png)**

The chart panel takes up most of the screen and shows price action for whichever symbol you've selected.

**Above the chart:**

- **Timeframe selector**: Switch between timeframes from 1-minute to monthly (1m, 5m, 15m, 1H, 4H, 1D, 1W, 1M).
- **One-Click Trading**: Enable the one-click trading bar to quickly buy & sell using market orders.
- **Indicators**: Opens the indicator library so you can add technical studies to your chart. A number badge shows how many indicators are currently active.
- **Chart Appearance**: Choose candlestick styles and add market high/low, session breaks, and more.
- **Symbol search**: Search for any contract by name or symbol.
- **Fullscreen**: Expands the chart panel to fill the screen.
- **Panel On/Off Toggle:** Click Watchlist, Order, and Trades to enable/disable each pan

**On the left edge of the chart:**

A vertical toolbar gives you drawing and annotation tools, including trendlines, horizontal lines, and a crosshair tool for measuring price and time. The trash icon clears drawings from the chart. Drawing tools are covered in more detail in a separate article.

**Below the chart:**

A volume histogram shows trading volume for each candle, with green and red bars matching the direction of price movement.

### **Order Panel**

**![Screenshot 2026-10-05 152044](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-10-05%20152044.png?width=215&height=301&name=Screenshot%202026-10-05%20152044.png)**

The order panel on the right side of the screen is where you place and manage trades.

- **Order type tabs**: Choose between Market, Limit, Stop, and Stop Limit orders.
- **Buy and Sell buttons**: Show the current bid and ask price along with the spread. Clicking either button opens an order for that side of the market.
- **Quantity selector**: Set how many contracts you want to trade using the plus and minus buttons or entering it directly.
- **Order duration**: Choose between Day (expires at the end of the trading session) and GTC, or Good-Til-Cancelled (stays open until filled or manually cancelled).
- **Stop-loss and take-profit**: Set your SL and TP levels directly from the order panel. You can set your SL and TP using ticks or entering specific price levels. The platform also displays your estimated P&L and risk-to-reward ratio based on the levels you enter.
- **Margin usage**: Shows how much margin the trade will use against your available balance.
- **Fees**: Breaks down commission and exchange fees before you submit the order, so you know your total cost upfront.
- **Submit button**: Places the order. The button updates to reflect your order type, quantity, and symbol.

The MetroTrade platform also supports keyboard shortcuts for faster order entry (Alt+B to buy, Alt+S to sell, Alt+Enter to submit). Order types and trade execution are covered in more detail in a separate article.

### **Trades Panel**

**![Screenshot 2026-10-05 152105](https://help.metrotrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-10-05%20152105.png?width=670&height=104&name=Screenshot%202026-10-05%20152105.png)**

The panel along the bottom of the screen shows your trading activity.

The **Positions** tab displays any open trades, including symbol, side, size, average price, current price, unrealized P&L, realized P&L, and your current stop-loss and take-profit levels.

The **Orders** tab displays any open orders, including status, symbol, side, price, date/time, and order ID.

The **Orders History** tab displays a record of your orders. You can filter this by symbol, order type/status, and date.

The **Closed Trades** tab displays a trade journal outlining your trade details, such as your P&L, commissions, and a summary of your net profit.

If you have no open positions, this panel will show a message letting you know, along with a prompt to place your first trade.

### **Customizing Your Workspace**

Most panels in the platform can be resized, moved, or hidden to fit your trading style. This is covered in a separate article. 

- [Account Information](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/account-information?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Account Eligibility](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/account-information?hsLang=en#account-eligibility)
    - [Account Management / Profile](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/account-information?hsLang=en#account-management-profile)
    - [Account Statements & Reporting](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/account-information?hsLang=en#account-statements-reporting)
- [Funding & Withdrawals](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/funding-withdrawals?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Legacy FCM Accounts (Dorman Trading)](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/funding-withdrawals?hsLang=en#legacy-fcm-accounts-dorman-trading)
- [MetroTrade Platform](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting Started](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#getting-started)
    - [Charting](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#charting)
    - [Order Entry & Trade Execution](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#order-entry-trade-execution)
    - [Position & Risk Management](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#position-risk-management)
    - [Market Data & Watchlists](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#market-data-watchlists)
    - [Mobile App](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#mobile-app)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrade-platform?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
- [Pricing & Fees](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/pricing-fees?hsLang=en)
- [Margins & Trading Info](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/margins-trading-info?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Margin & Risk](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/margins-trading-info?hsLang=en#margin-risk)
    - [Trading Hours & Market Schedule](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/margins-trading-info?hsLang=en#trading-hours-market-schedule)
- [About MetroTrade](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/about-metrotrade?hsLang=en)
- [MetroTrader Platform (Legacy)](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrader-platform-legacy?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [MetroTrader Web](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrader-platform-legacy?hsLang=en#metrotrader-web)
    - [MetroTrader App](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrader-platform-legacy?hsLang=en#metrotrader-app)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/metrotrader-platform-legacy?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
- [Products & Specs](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/products-specs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Product Information](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/products-specs?hsLang=en#product-information)
    - [Contract Specs](https://help.metrotrade.com/kb/products-specs?hsLang=en#contract-specs)

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