About
You can get this indicator here:
MT4:
https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/165128/
MT5:
https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/165129/
Introduction
If you've ever wanted a clearer way to identify ICT macro windows and important trading sessions on your MT4/MT5 charts, or struggled to align your trading with specific time-based opportunities, this indicator is designed to solve that problem.
It draws clean session boxes directly on your chart and tracks each macro's high and low in real time. While it comes configured with ICT's most profitable macro windows, its real strength is flexibility. You can customize any of the six macro periods to match your strategy's specific time windows.
This guide walks you through what the indicator does, how to use it, and how to configure it correctly—especially the timezone settings, which are crucial for accurate session timing.
Key Features at a Glance
- Six fully customizable macro/session windows
- Real-time session high and low tracking
- Preconfigured with optimal ICT macro times (EST-based)
- Adjustable colors, line styles
- Optional labels showing macro name and start/end times
- Supports overnight sessions (crossing midnight)
- Supports multi-day sessions
- Manual timezone offset system for global compatibility
- Buffer values available for EAs and scanners
- Optional alerts on session start/end
What This Indicator Does
At its core, this is a macro window visualization tool built specifically for ICT trading concepts. It draws boxes around specific time windows and continuously updates the high and low of each macro as price moves.
Think of it as a precision timer for institutional order flow:
"The NY AM Macro window just started. Current high is X. Current low is Y. Watch for liquidity sweeps and FVG formation."
As long as the macro is active, the range adjusts dynamically. When the macro ends, the box locks in place with its final high and low, giving you a clear historical reference for that specific time window.
Default Configuration – ICT Macro Times (EST)
The indicator comes preconfigured with the most important ICT macro windows, all displayed in Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is the standard for ICT methodology:
Macro 1 – London Open
Time: 02:33 AM – 03:00 AM EST
Use: Early London session volatility and initial directional bias
Macro 2 – London Macro
Time: 04:03 AM – 04:30 AM EST
Use: High institutional activity, liquidity sweeps, stop hunts
Macro 3 – NY AM Macro
Time: 09:50 AM – 10:10 AM EST
Use: Highest probability window. London/NY overlap, major news releases, Silver Bullet setups
Macro 4 – NY Late AM
Time: 10:50 AM – 11:10 AM EST
Use: Secondary liquidity targeting window
Macro 5 – NY Lunch
Time: 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM EST
Use: Re-engagement when earlier macros fail to clear liquidity
Macro 6 – NY Close
Time: 03:15 PM – 03:45 PM EST
Use: Closing session volatility and end-of-day positioning
These times align perfectly with ICT's teachings and represent the most liquid, volatile windows for institutional order flow.
You can understand a lot about ICT Zones from multiple resources online. Example:
https://x.com/LumiTraders/status/1676641550829510656/photo/1
But remember different markets will have different times with important areas of liquidity, so be careful what pairs you choose. The same zones will not work for all pairs.
Understanding the Timezone System
This is the most important section to understand. The indicator uses a simple but powerful manual offset system.
How It Works
All bar times on your MT4/MT5 chart are in your broker's server timezone (usually GMT+2 or GMT+3). The indicator uses two offset settings to handle timezone conversions.
To figure out your broker timezone, just look at the time in Market Watch:
Next go to any forex timezone converter site like this one:
https://forex.timezoneconverter.com/
And look at the time.
My broker is at 2:05PM and GMT Timezone shows 12:05PM. So my broker is "GMT+2"
Meaning the offset is 2 hours.
Most online resources will give you the ICT Hours in EST Timezone (New York Timezone). Which is GMT-5.
Note that: It will switch to EDT (GMT-4) from March to November.
So, for my broker GMT+2, the EST timezone will always be at +7:00 offset.
Your broker might be different. This is just an example, if you are using EST related timings. Adjust according to timezones you prefer.
Below are the settings in the Indicator:
Macro TimeZone Offset (TimeZone to Broker):
This tells the indicator how to interpret the macro start/end times you enter. Default: +7:00
Example: If your broker is GMT+2 and you want to enter times in EST:
- EST is 7 hours behind GMT+2 (during winter)
- You set this offset to +7:00
- When you enter 09:50 as a start time, the indicator knows this is 09:50 EST and converts it to broker time automatically
Label Display Offset (Broker to TimeZone):
This controls what timezone to display in the chart labels. Default: -7:00
Example: To show EST times on labels when your broker is GMT+2:
- Set this second to -7:00
- Labels will display "Start: 9:50 AM" (EST) instead of broker time
If you prefer to see start end labels in broker/server time, then just leave it blank.
Note: I could have given drop down for multiple timezones, like GMT, EST, etc...
But this method gives you the most customization. To support every kind of timezone, like even when a timezone has full (GMT+5) or half (GMT+5:30) hour system.
A lot of countries have timezone changes because of Daylight Savings Time. And the sessions keep moving based on that.
So this self-customization will be the best method to have every possibility available to you.
Practical Examples
Scenario 1 – Broker is GMT+2, want to use EST times (default setup):
- Macro TimeZone Offset: +7:00
- Label Display Offset: -7:00
- Enter all macro times in EST
- Labels show EST times
Scenario 2 – Broker is GMT+2, want to use GMT times:
- Macro TimeZone Offset: +2:00
- Label Display Offset: -2:00
- Enter all macro times in GMT
- Labels show GMT times
Scenario 3 – Broker is GMT+2, want to use broker time directly:
- Macro TimeZone Offset: 00:00
- Label Display Offset: 00:00
- Enter all macro times in broker's timezone
- Labels show broker time
The format is always ±HH:MM (e.g., +7:00, -5:30, +3:00).
In case if you use EST times, but on chart you want to see your own broker times:
- Macro TimeZone Offset: +7:00
- Label Display Offset: 00:00
Suppose I live in India with timezone GMT+5:30 and I want to use EST times, but see India times on chart:
- Macro TimeZone Offset: +7:00
- Label Display Offset: +03:30
Trading with ICT Macros
Best Practices
The NY AM Macro (09:50–10:10 EST) is widely considered the most profitable window because:
- High volatility from London/NY session overlap
- Increased liquidity and volume
- Major U.S. economic news releases
- Ideal for Silver Bullet setups and liquidity runs
Optimal Timeframes
15-Minute Charts – Analyze directional bias, identify liquidity pools and imbalances
5-Minute, or 1-Minute Charts – Precision entries and executions during macro windows
What to Look For During Macros
- Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) aligning with higher timeframe bias
- Liquidity sweeps above/below previous highs/lows
- Order blocks forming after displacement candles
- Return-to-FVG setups for entries
- Previous Day High/Low (PDH/PDL) targets
- Equal highs/lows being targeted
- Market structure shifts
Avoid Trading
U.S. lunch period (12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST) – reduced activity
Other Uses Beyond ICT Macros
While optimized for ICT methodology, traders also use this indicator for:
- Asian range trading windows
- Crypto market sessions (24-hour markets)
- Custom kill zones
- Pre-market and after-market stock sessions
- Power hour windows
- Any time-based strategy
The indicator doesn't care what the session represents. It simply draws what you define and tracks the range.
Complete Settings Breakdown
Note: The styles for colors, lines, fill etc are kept separate from the session timings. This is because many users might use it with their EAs or other custom indicators.
And iCustom function only supports 64 parameters max.
So, only the session names, timings etc are important for EAs. The visual aspects are not important. Which is why they are kept behind, to support less than 64 params.
Display Settings
Object Name Prefix – Prefix for all chart objects created by the indicator. Change this if running multiple instances.
Show Boxes – Toggle all session boxes on/off globally.
Show Start/End Labels – Show "Start:" and "End:" time labels at box edges.
Show Heading Labels – Show macro name labels (e.g., "NY AM Macro").
Label Offset Multiplier – Adjust label distance from price action. Higher = further away.
Macro TimeZone Offset (TimeZone to Broker) – Timezone offset for interpreting macro start/end times. Format: ±HH:MM (e.g., +7:00 for EST from GMT+2 broker).
Label Display Offset (Broker to TimeZone) – Timezone offset for label display. Format: ±HH:MM (e.g., -7:00 to show EST on GMT+2 broker).
Per-Macro Settings (Repeated for all 6 macros)
Enable MacroX – Turn specific macro on/off.
MacroX Custom Name – Custom name displayed on chart (e.g., "NY AM Macro", "Kill Zone").
MacroX Start Time (HH:MM EST) – When macro begins (HH:MM format, in timezone specified by Macro TimeZone Offset).
MacroX End Time (HH:MM EST) – When macro ends (HH:MM format).
MacroX Add Days To End Time – Add days to end time for multi-day sessions. Usually 0. Set to 1 for overnight sessions if needed.
MacroX Label Color – Label text color.
MacroX Box Color – Box outline color.
MacroX Box Line Width – Box outline thickness (1-5).
MacroX Box Line Style – Box line style (Solid, Dashed, Dotted).
MacroX Fill Box with Color – Fill box with semi-transparent color.
Global Settings
Refresh After Ticks – How many ticks before updating. Lower = more CPU usage. Default 50 is optimal.
Max Past Bars – How many historical bars to process. Higher values = more history but slower loading. Default 5,000 covers several months of data.
Font Settings
Font Name for Labels – Label font (Arial, Courier, etc.).
Font Size for Title Labels – Size for macro name headings.
Font Size for Start/End Labels – Size for start/end time labels.
Tilt Start/End Labels – Angle start/end labels at 45° for cleaner appearance.
Alert Settings
Alert On Session Start – Popup/sound alert when macro begins.
Alert On Session End – Popup/sound alert when macro finishes.
Debug Settings
Show Debug Values – Print detailed timezone offset calculations and session events to Experts log. Useful for troubleshooting timezone issues.
Show Debug Objects Info – Print chart object summary on indicator load.
Using with Expert Advisors (EAs) or Scanners
The indicator exposes 18 buffers for programmatic access:
For each macro (1-6):
- MacroX_High – Current or final high of the session
- MacroX_Low – Current or final low of the session
- MacroX_Active – 1.0 when macro is running, 0.0 otherwise
All buffers update at bar index zero (current bar).
Example EA Logic
"Only take trades during NY AM Macro"
if (iCustom(Symbol(), Period(), "Abiroid ICT Macro Zones MT4", ...buffer_index_Macro3_Active, 0) == 1.0)
"Buy when price returns to NY AM Macro low during the window"
double macro_low = iCustom(...buffer_index_Macro3_Low, 0);
if (Close less than macro_low + buffer && Macro3_Active == 1.0)
These buffers make it easy to build time-filtered trading systems.
Combining with Other ICT Tools
The indicator works exceptionally well alongside:
- Fair Value Gap (FVG) indicators
- Order block drawing tools
- Liquidity sweep indicators
- Market structure break tools
- SMT divergence scanners
Macro zones tell you WHEN to look for setups. Other tools tell you WHAT to look for and WHY price is likely to move.
Handling Overnight Sessions
If a macro's start time is later than its end time (e.g., 22:00 start, 07:00 end):
- Session begins late on Day 1
- Continues past midnight automatically
- Ends on Day 2
The indicator handles this seamlessly without any AddDays setting needed. Use AddDays only for sessions spanning multiple full days (rare).
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sessions appearing at wrong times
- Check your broker's timezone (usually visible in Market Watch)
- Verify TimeSelection_CustomOffset is correct for your timezone conversion
- Enable ShowDebugValues and check the Experts log for offset calculations
- Remember: positive offset means you're entering times from a timezone AHEAD of broker time
Boxes look distorted or incomplete
- Use timeframes M30 or lower for best visual results
- Ensure session length is longer than your chart timeframe period
- Increase MaxPastBars if historical sessions are missing
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Considerations
When clocks change for DST:
• If your region observes DST and broker does too: No adjustment needed
• If broker doesn't observe DST but you do: Adjust offsets by ±1 hour seasonally
• If following EST times: Remember EST becomes EDT (GMT-4) in summer vs EST (GMT-5) in winter
Pro tip: Always follow New York local time for ICT macros to avoid confusion. Adjust your Time Selection Offsets when DST changes if your broker doesn't observe it.
Final Thoughts
The ICT Macro Zones indicator transforms abstract time concepts into concrete visual references. It doesn't predict direction—it shows you WHEN to pay attention and WHERE price has moved during high-probability windows.
Start with the default EST-based macro configuration. Spend a week observing how price behaves during each window. Notice which macros produce the cleanest liquidity sweeps and FVG formations on your chosen instruments. Then refine your focus to 2-3 key windows that align with your schedule and trading style.
The NY AM Macro (09:50-10:10 EST) should be your primary focus as a beginner. It offers the most consistent institutional activity and the clearest setups.
Remember: The boxes show time and price structure.
Your edge comes from understanding market dynamics:
liquidity, imbalances, and institutional behavior...within those windows.
Master the timing. Apply the concepts. Trust the process.
Happy trading!
