MT5 Chart Not Moving? Complete Fix Guide
Discover the 7 proven solutions to fix frozen or non-updating charts in MetaTrader 5, from connection issues to terminal settings.
7 Solutions
Step-by-step fixes
Quick Diagnostics
Identify the problem fast
Expert Tips
Prevention strategies
Common Symptoms
Understanding Why MT5 Charts Stop Moving
When your MetaTrader 5 charts freeze or stop updating, it disrupts your trading workflow and can cost you valuable opportunities. This guide provides a systematic approach to diagnose and fix chart freezing issues, covering everything from connection problems to terminal settings.
Quick Diagnosis Checklist
Before diving into solutions, check these indicators:
✓ Connection Status
Look at the bottom-right corner for connection indicator
✓ Market Watch Activity
Check if prices update in the Market Watch window
✓ Time Display
Verify the terminal time is current
✓ Data Feed Bars
Green bars in Market Watch indicate active data
7 Proven Solutions to Fix Frozen MT5 Charts
1 Check Your Internet Connection
The most common cause of frozen charts is a disrupted internet connection. Even brief disconnections can stop chart updates.
How to Fix:
- Check the connection indicator in the bottom-right corner of MT5
- Look for a green connection icon with signal bars
- If red or showing "No connection", check your internet
- Try opening a web browser to verify connectivity
- Restart your router if necessary
Pro Tip:
Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of WiFi for more stable trading connectivity.
2 Verify Broker Server Connection
Even with good internet, you might be disconnected from your broker's server. This prevents price data from reaching your terminal.
How to Fix:
- Go to Tools → Options → Server
- Check if "Enable news" is checked
- Click File → Login to Trade Account
- Re-enter your login credentials
- Select the correct server from the dropdown
- Click "Login" to reconnect
Alternative: Right-click in the "Navigator" window and select "Login" to quickly reconnect.
3 Disable "Offline Chart" Mode
MT5 has an offline mode that stops charts from receiving live updates. You may have accidentally activated it.
How to Fix:
- Right-click on the frozen chart
- Look for the "Offline Chart" option in the menu
- If it has a checkmark, click it to uncheck
- The chart should immediately start updating
Warning:
Offline charts are useful for testing EAs on historical data, but they won't show live prices.
4 Restart MetaTrader 5
Sometimes MT5 develops temporary glitches that can only be resolved by restarting the platform.
How to Fix:
- Close MT5 completely (not just minimize)
- Wait 10-15 seconds
- Check Task Manager to ensure the process has closed
- Reopen MT5 and log in
- Your charts should refresh automatically
Quick Restart: Press Alt + F4 to close MT5 quickly.
5 Clear Chart Cache and Refresh
Corrupted cache files can prevent charts from displaying current data. Clearing the cache forces MT5 to download fresh data.
How to Fix:
- Right-click on the chart
- Select Refresh from the context menu
- Or press F5 on your keyboard
- For deeper cleaning: Close MT5
- Navigate to
C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\[ID]\bases - Delete the folder for your broker's server
- Restart MT5 (it will rebuild the cache)
6 Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings
Your firewall or antivirus might be blocking MT5's connection to the broker's servers, preventing data updates.
How to Fix:
- Open Windows Defender Firewall
- Click Allow an app through firewall
- Click Change settings
- Find MetaTrader 5 (terminal64.exe or terminal.exe)
- Check both "Private" and "Public" network boxes
- Click OK to save
- Do the same in your antivirus software
Security Note:
Only add MT5 exceptions if you downloaded it from your broker's official website or MetaQuotes.
7 Reinstall or Update MT5
If all else fails, your MT5 installation may be corrupted. A clean reinstall often resolves persistent issues.
How to Fix:
- First, try updating: Go to Help → Check for Updates
- If updates don't help, uninstall MT5 from Control Panel
- Delete remaining files in
C:\Program Files\MetaTrader 5 - Download the latest version from your broker's website
- Install MT5 and log in with your credentials
Before Reinstalling:
Save your templates, EAs, and indicators by backing up the MQL5 folder.
Advanced Troubleshooting Tips
Check Trading Session Hours
Some markets have limited trading hours. During off-hours, charts may appear frozen but will resume when the market opens.
Verify Symbol Availability
Right-click in Market Watch and select "Show All" to ensure your trading symbols are visible and active.
Test on Different Symbols
Open a chart for a major pair like EURUSD. If it updates but others don't, the issue is symbol-specific.
Contact Broker Support
If problems persist, your broker may be experiencing server issues. Check their status page or contact support.
Preventing Future Chart Issues
Once you've fixed the problem, follow these best practices to minimize the chance of it happening again:
Use Stable Connection
Prefer wired connections over WiFi. If using WiFi, stay close to your router and minimize interference.
Keep MT5 Updated
Enable automatic updates or regularly check for the latest version to ensure optimal performance.
Configure Firewall Properly
Add MT5 to your firewall whitelist during installation to avoid future connection blocks.
Regular Maintenance
Restart MT5 daily and clear cache weekly to prevent accumulated data from causing issues.
Key Takeaways
-
Always check connection status first—most chart issues stem from connectivity problems
-
Verify you're not in "Offline Chart" mode before troubleshooting further
-
A simple restart solves most temporary glitches—try it before complex solutions
-
Firewall and antivirus settings can block MT5—whitelist the application
-
Use wired connections for stability and regularly update your platform
"A frozen chart is rarely a platform issue—it's usually connection, configuration, or cache. Work through these solutions systematically."
Quick Fix Checklist
⚡ First Steps (2 mins)
- • Check connection indicator
- • Verify internet connectivity
- • Press F5 to refresh chart
🔧 Quick Fixes (5 mins)
- • Disable offline mode
- • Restart MT5
- • Reconnect to server
🛠️ Deep Fixes (15 mins)
- • Clear cache files
- • Check firewall settings
- • Add MT5 to whitelist
🔄 Last Resort (30 mins)
- • Update MT5
- • Reinstall platform
- • Contact broker support