CRT Ghost Candle HTF Fractal — Complete Setup & User Guide (Official Documentation for MT5 and MT4)

CRT Ghost Candle HTF Fractal — Complete Setup & User Guide

This is the official setup and user guide for CRT Ghost Candle HTF Fractal, covering every feature, input setting, and configuration step from installation to daily use.

Whether you trade on MT5 or MT4, whether you are new to CRT concepts or already use ICT and SMC methods, this guide walks through every module in the indicator so you can set it up correctly and understand exactly what each feature does.

MT5 Version: https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/162075 

MT4 Version: https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/162556

Free Demo: Available on both product pages. Install the demo first to follow along with this guide.

If anything in this guide is unclear, message me directly via MQL5. I respond to every message.

Table of Contents

1. What This Indicator Does (And What It Does Not Do)
2. Installation and First Load
3. Chart Theme Setup
4. Module 1 — Ghost Candle HTF Projection
5. Module 2 — CRT Trap Levels
6. Module 3 — Previous Period Levels (PDH/PDL, PWH/PWL, PMH/PML)
7. Module 4 — Session Levels (Asian, London, New York)
8. Module 5 — Pivot Points (Classic and Weighted)
9. Module 6 — Period Separators
10. Module 7 — Bias Dashboard
11. Module 8 — CRT Alerts (Desktop, Mobile, Email)
12. Recommended Setups for Different Trading Styles
13. Frequently Asked Questions
14. Troubleshooting
15. Version History

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1. What This Indicator Does (And What It Does Not Do)

CRT Ghost Candle HTF Fractal is a complete market structure and context toolkit. It combines eight modules into a single indicator:

• Ghost Candle HTF Projection (higher-timeframe candles on lower-timeframe charts)
• CRT Trap Levels (automatic liquidity sweep detection)
• Previous Period Levels (PDH/PDL, PWH/PWL, PMH/PML)
• Session Levels (Asian, London, New York highs and lows)
• Pivot Points (Classic and Weighted, Weekly and Monthly)
• Period Separators (timeframe, daily, weekly, monthly boundaries)
• Bias Dashboard (daily and weekly directional reading)
• CRT Alerts (desktop popup, mobile push, email)

Each module can be turned on or off independently using its toggle switch in the input settings.

What it does NOT do:

This indicator does not generate buy or sell signals. It does not place trades, manage positions, or enforce any specific strategy. It is a pure context and structure framework. You make the trading decisions. The indicator gives you the structural information to make those decisions with clarity.

It works on all MT5 and MT4 symbols: Forex pairs, Gold, Silver, Indices (US30, NAS100, DE40), Crypto, and Oil.

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2. Installation and First Load

For MT5 Users

Step 1: Purchase or download the free demo from the MT5 product page.

Step 2: Open MetaTrader 5. Go to the Navigator panel on the left side. Expand "Indicators" under the "Market" section. You will see "CRT Ghost Candle HTF Fractal" listed there.

Step 3: Drag the indicator onto any chart. A settings window will appear with all input parameters organized into collapsible groups.

Step 4: Click OK to load with default settings. The indicator will automatically adjust your chart shift and apply the selected chart theme.

For MT4 Users

The MT4 version follows the same installation process. Purchase or download the demo from the MT4 product page, then find it in your Navigator under Market indicators. Drag it onto your chart and click OK.

Important note for MT4 users: The MT4 version contains the same core features and logic. Some visual differences may exist due to platform limitations, but all modules (Ghost Candles, CRT Levels, Session Levels, Pivots, Previous Period Levels, Dashboard, Alerts, and Separators) are present in both versions.

First Load Behavior

When the indicator loads for the first time, it will:

Apply the selected Chart Theme automatically (unless set to "Keep Your Chart Settings")

• Enable Chart Shift and calculate the correct shift percentage based on how many ghost candle clusters are active
• Display alert configuration reminders in the Experts tab if alerts are enabled
• Clean all previous indicator objects and redraw fresh

Screenshot of indicator loaded on M15 EURUSD with default settings showing Ghost Candles, CRT levels, and dashboard. 

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3. Chart Theme Setup

The indicator includes four built-in chart themes that apply automatically on first load. This ensures a clean, professional chart appearance without manual configuration.

Input: Chart Theme (under "CHART THEME" group)

Options:

• Keep Your Chart Settings — The indicator does not change anything about your chart. Use this if you already have a custom template you prefer.
• Institutional (White Background) — White background, black candle outlines, white bullish bodies, black bearish bodies. Clean institutional look with no grid.
• Dark Mode (Black Background) — Black background, green candle outlines, black bullish bodies, white bearish bodies. Designed for low-light trading environments.
• Standard Default (Colored on White) — White background with standard green bullish and red bearish candle fills. Grid disabled for clarity.

The theme is applied once on first load and whenever you change timeframes or reload the indicator. If you are running the indicator in the Strategy Tester visual mode, the theme reapplies on every new bar to prevent the tester from resetting chart colors.

Recommendation: Start with "Standard Default" or "Institutional (White Background)" for the cleanest view of all indicator modules. The ghost candle colors (blue for bullish, dark grey for bearish) are designed to contrast well against both white and black backgrounds.

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4. Module 1 — Ghost Candle HTF Projection

This is the core visual feature of the indicator. It draws higher-timeframe candles as transparent "ghost" overlays to the right of the current price on your lower-timeframe chart.

What It Shows

Each ghost candle represents one completed (or forming) higher-timeframe candle. For example, if you are trading on M15 and set TF1 to H1, you will see H1 candles rendered as visual blocks to the right of your live chart. This allows you to see the higher-timeframe picture without switching charts.

The most recent ghost candle (index 0) updates in real time as the current higher-timeframe candle forms. Older ghost candles show completed historical structure.

Three Independent Timeframe Clusters

The indicator supports up to three simultaneous HTF clusters, each fully independent:

TF1 (Anchor/Primary) — Default: H1. Your primary context timeframe.

TF2 (Trend/Secondary) — Default: H4. Your broader trend reference.

TF3 (Macro/Tertiary) — Default: D1. Disabled by default. Enable for macro context.

Each cluster has its own toggle (Show TF1, Show TF2, Show TF3), its own timeframe selection, and its own candle count setting.

Key Input Settings

Show TF1 / TF2 / TF3 — Toggle each cluster on or off. Only enabled clusters are drawn and consume resources.

TF1 / TF2 / TF3 Timeframe — Select the higher-timeframe period. This must be higher than your chart timeframe. For example, if your chart is M15, set TF1 to H1 or H4. Setting it to M5 would not provide useful context.

Candle Count — How many ghost candles to display per cluster. Default is 3. Increasing this shows more history but requires more chart shift space. Values of 3 to 5 work well for most setups.

Gap between Clusters (Bars) — Spacing between TF1, TF2, and TF3 ghost candle groups. Default is 10 bars. Increase this if clusters overlap visually.

Gap between Live Price and Ghosts — Spacing between the current live price area and the first ghost candle cluster. Default is 20 bars. This ensures ghost candles do not overlap with your trading area.

Candle Width (Bars) — How wide each ghost candle body is rendered. Default is 3 bars. Wider candles are easier to see but take more space.

Bullish Color / Bearish Color — Default is Institutional Blue for bullish and Dark Grey for bearish. You can change these to match your preference.

Fill Body — Whether to fill the candle body with solid color or leave it as an outline. Default is filled.

Sweep Lines

When "Show High/Low Sweep Levels" is enabled (default: on), the indicator draws horizontal lines connecting the highs and lows of consecutive ghost candles. If a candle has swept the previous candle's high or low (and closed back inside), the sweep line becomes thicker and an "S" marker appears.

This is the visual representation of CRT logic applied directly to the ghost candle cluster.

Timeframe Labels

Each cluster displays a label above the ghost candles showing the timeframe (for example, "H1" or "H4"). This helps you instantly identify which cluster represents which timeframe.

Screenshot showing three ghost candle clusters (H4, D1, W1) side by side on an M15 chart. 

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5. Module 2 — CRT Trap Levels

CRT Trap Levels are the analytical core of this indicator. They automatically detect Candle Range Theory liquidity sweeps on the selected higher timeframe and draw the corresponding range levels directly on your execution chart.

How CRT Detection Works

The indicator scans backward through higher-timeframe candle history (controlled by the Scan Depth setting) and checks each candle pair for this pattern:

Specifically:

• Bullish CRT (Low Sweep): Candle 1's low goes below Candle 0's low, but Candle 1's close stays above Candle 0's low. This indicates that sell-side liquidity was taken and price rejected lower prices.
• Bearish CRT (High Sweep): Candle 1's high goes above Candle 0's high, but Candle 1's close stays below Candle 0's high. This indicates that buy-side liquidity was taken and price rejected higher prices.

Pending vs Completed CRT

This is a critical distinction that separates this indicator from manual CRT analysis.

Pending CRT (Solid Lines, Orange by Default)

A CRT level is pending when the sweep has been detected but price has not yet broken the opposite side of the range. The range high and range low are drawn as solid horizontal lines extending from the reference candle's time to the current price area.

Pending CRT means: the setup exists, but it has not been invalidated or confirmed by subsequent price action. This is context, not a signal.

Completed CRT (Dotted Lines, Grey by Default)

A CRT level becomes completed when the live candle's price reaches the opposite boundary. For a Bullish CRT, completion occurs when the current candle's high reaches the reference candle's high. For a Bearish CRT, completion occurs when the current candle's low reaches the reference candle's low.

Completed CRT levels are marked with a checkmark symbol (✓) and drawn in dotted style to visually distinguish them from active pending levels.

Both-Side Sweep Filter

This is an advanced filter enabled by default. When a candle sweeps BOTH the high and the low of the reference candle, it is classified as volatile expansion rather than genuine manipulation. These events are filtered out automatically.

Why this matters: a candle that takes both sides of liquidity in a single bar is typically driven by news or volatility events, not institutional positioning. Removing these keeps your CRT levels clean and focused on genuine sweep setups.

Input: Filter Out Both-Side Sweeps (default: true)

Set this to false if you want to see all sweeps including double-sided ones. Most traders should leave this enabled.

Key Input Settings

Show CRT Trap Levels — Master toggle for this entire module.

Scan Depth (History Check) — How many higher-timeframe candles to scan backward for CRT events. Default is 5. Increasing this shows older CRT levels but may clutter the chart. Values of 3 to 8 work well.

Pending CRT Color — Default: Orange. Color for active, unconfirmed CRT range levels.

Completed CRT Color — Default: Grey. Color for confirmed, completed CRT range levels.

Standard Line Thickness — Controls the thickness of CRT lines. Default is 2.

Screenshot showing both pending (solid orange) and completed (dotted grey with ✓) CRT levels on DAX (DE40/GER30) M5.

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6. Module 3 — Previous Period Levels

This module draws Previous Day, Previous Week, and Previous Month highs and lows automatically on your chart. These are among the most commonly referenced levels in institutional trading and ICT methodology.

What It Draws

• PDH / PDL — Previous Day High and Previous Day Low
• PWH / PWL — Previous Week High and Previous Week Low
• PMH / PML — Previous Month High and Previous Month Low

Each level is drawn as a horizontal line spanning from the period's open time to the current price area (for the most recent set) or to the next period's boundary (for older sets).

Lookback Depth

The Lookback Period setting controls how many previous periods are shown. Default is 5, meaning you will see the last 5 previous day highs and lows, the last 5 previous week highs and lows, and so on.

Only the most recent set (lookback index 0) displays labels to keep older levels clean. Older levels appear as unlabeled horizontal lines so you can see historical confluence without chart clutter.

Label Positioning

You have full control over where labels appear:

• Labels on Right Side (default: true) — Labels appear near the current price, making them easy to read during live trading.
• Labels on Left Side — Labels appear at the line's origin point (the period boundary). Some traders prefer this to see where the level originated.
• High Label Position — Above the Line or Below the Line. Default: Above. Controls whether the "PDH" label sits above or below the horizontal level.
• Low Label Position — Above the Line or Below the Line. Default: Below.

Key Input Settings

Show Previous Period Levels — Master toggle.

Show Previous Day H/L — Toggle PDH/PDL. Default: on.

Show Previous Week H/L — Toggle PWH/PWL. Default: on.

Show Previous Month H/L — Toggle PMH/PML. Default: off (to reduce visual density on smaller timeframes).

Lookback Period — Number of historical sets to display. Default: 5. Maximum: 50.

Colors — Each level pair has its own color: PDH/PDL in Dodger Blue, PWH/PWL in Medium Purple, PMH/PML in Dark Orange. All customizable.

Line Style and Thickness — Default: Dashed lines, thickness 1. Keeps previous period levels visually distinct from CRT trap levels (which use solid lines).

Screenshot showing PDH/PDL in blue and PWH/PWL in purple on an M15 chart with labels.

 

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7. Module 4 — Session Levels

This module tracks the high and low of each major trading session and draws them on your chart. Sessions are defined by server time, with fully adjustable start and end hours.

Three Sessions Tracked

• Asian Session (AS) — Default: 01:00 to 10:00 server time. Color: Goldenrod.
• London Session (LD) — Default: 10:00 to 19:00 server time. Color: Steel Blue.
• New York Session (NY) — Default: 16:30 to 00:00 server time. Color: Indian Red.

Each session draws two horizontal lines: the session high and the session low, spanning from the session start time to the session end time (or to the current price if the session is still active).

How Session Levels Form

The indicator scans all chart bars within the defined session window and finds the highest high and lowest low. If the session is still in progress (has not reached the end time), the levels update in real time as new bars form. Once the session closes, the levels are locked.

Adjusting Session Times for Your Broker

This is the most common configuration step.

The default session hours are set for a typical GMT+2 (or GMT+3 during daylight saving) broker server time, which is the standard for most Forex brokers.

If your broker uses a different server time offset, you need to adjust the session start and end hours accordingly.

How to find your broker's server time:

Open any chart in MetaTrader. Look at the time shown on the horizontal axis. Compare it to your local time and to GMT. The difference is your broker's server time offset.

Example adjustments:

If your broker runs on GMT+0 (UTC), subtract 2 hours from each default setting. The Asian session would become 23:00 (previous day) to 08:00, London would become 08:00 to 17:00, and New York would become 14:30 to 22:00.

If your broker runs on GMT+3, add 1 hour to each default.

The indicator accepts start and end hours and minutes separately, so you can set precise boundaries like 16:30 for the New York open.

Midnight Wrapping

The New York session default ends at 00:00 (midnight). The indicator handles midnight wrapping automatically. If the end time is earlier than or equal to the start time, the indicator knows the session crosses midnight and calculates accordingly.

Lookback

The Session Lookback setting controls how many days of session levels are displayed. Default is 1 (today only). Set to 2 or 3 to see yesterday's and the day before's session ranges as well.

Label Alignment

Session labels can be positioned in three locations:

• Left — At the session start time (default)
• Right — At the session end time or current price
• Center — Midpoint of the session range

Labels are only shown on the most recent day (day 0) to keep older session levels clean.

Screenshot showing Asian (gold), London (blue), and New York (red) session levels on USTEC/ NQ M15 chart.

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8. Module 5 — Pivot Points

This module calculates and draws standard pivot point levels using the previous period's high, low, and close. Two calculation methods are available, and both weekly and monthly pivots are supported.

Calculation Methods

Classic Pivot: PP = (High + Low + Close) / 3

Weighted Pivot: PP = (High + Low + 2 × Close) / 4

The Weighted method gives more importance to the closing price, which many institutional traders prefer because the close reflects the final consensus of the period.

Input: Pivot Calculation Method (default: Weighted)

Available Levels

From the pivot point (PP), the indicator calculates:

• R1 and S1 — First resistance and support: R1 = (2 × PP) − Low, S1 = (2 × PP) − High
• R2 and S2 — Second resistance and support: R2 = PP + (High − Low), S2 = PP − (High − Low)
• R3 and S3 — Third resistance and support: R3 = High + 2 × (PP − Low), S3 = Low − 2 × (High − PP)

Each pair (PP, R1/S1, R2/S2, R3/S3) can be toggled on or off independently. Default shows only PP. Enable the others based on your analysis needs.

Weekly vs Monthly

Show Weekly Pivots — Default: on. Calculates pivots from the previous week's high, low, and close. The levels span across the current week.

Show Monthly Pivots — Default: off. Calculates from the previous month's data. Enable for swing trading or to identify major structural levels.

Lookback

Pivot Lookback (default: 5) controls how many previous pivot sets are shown. Setting this to 1 shows only the current period's pivots. Setting it to 3 or 5 lets you see historical pivot clusters, which is useful for identifying recurring confluence zones.

Label and Visual Settings

• PP Color — Default: Gold
• Resistance Color (R1–R3) — Default: Crimson
• Support Color (S1–S3) — Default: Sea Green
• Line Style — Default: Dotted. Keeps pivot lines visually distinct from CRT and period levels.
• Labels on Right Side — Default: on. Labels appear with a "W" (Weekly) or "M" (Monthly) prefix.

Pivot labels follow automatic anchoring:

Resistance levels and PP labels are positioned above the line. Support levels are positioned below the line. This ensures labels never overlap with the price level they describe.

Screenshot showing Weekly PP (gold), R1 (red), and S1 (green) on H1 chart.

 

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9. Module 6 — Period Separators

Period separators are vertical lines that mark the boundaries of specific time periods on your chart. They help you see where one period ends and another begins.

Available Separators

• TF1 Separator — Marks the open of each TF1 candle. Syncs with your TF1 timeframe setting. Only appears when TF1 cluster is enabled.
• TF2 Separator — Same as above for TF2. Only appears when TF2 cluster is enabled.
• Daily Separator — Marks the start of each trading day.
• Weekly Separator — Marks the start of each trading week.
• Monthly Separator — Marks the start of each month.

Key Input Settings

Show Period Separators — Master toggle for all separators.

Separator Lookback (Count) — How many separators to draw. Default: 20. Maximum: 100.

Line Style — Default: Dotted. Use solid for more prominent boundaries.

Line Width — Default: 1.

Each separator type has its own color setting and can be toggled independently.

Practical use: Daily separators help you see the start of each trading day clearly, which is essential for identifying the Asian range formation. TF1 separators help you visually align the ghost candle cluster with the corresponding bars on the live chart.

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10. Module 7 — Bias Dashboard

The Bias Dashboard is a compact on-chart panel that shows the current directional bias on Daily and Weekly timeframes, along with the specific reasoning behind each reading.

How Bias Is Determined

The dashboard reads the higher-timeframe structure and applies this logic (in priority order):

1. CRT-Based Bias (Highest Priority)

If a CRT event is detected on the previous two candles of the timeframe, the bias reflects the CRT direction:

— Bullish CRT (Low Sweep) → BULLISH

— Bearish CRT (High Sweep) → BEARISH

2. Structure Break

If no CRT is present, the dashboard checks for structural breaks:

— Current close above previous high → BULLISH ("Break > Prev High")

— Current close below previous low → BEARISH ("Break < Prev Low")

3. Failed Break (Sweep Without Follow-Through)

— Price went below previous low but closed above it → BULLISH ("Failed Break < Prev Low")

— Price went above previous high but closed below it → BEARISH ("Failed Break > Prev High")

4. Inside Range (No Signal)

If none of the above conditions are met, the bias reads NEUTRAL with "Inside Range" as the reason.

Dashboard Layout

The panel displays:

Line 1: "MARKET BIAS" header

Line 2: DAILY bias (BULLISH, BEARISH, or NEUTRAL) with color

Line 3: Daily bias reason

Line 4: Separator

Line 5: WEEKLY bias with color

Line 6: Weekly bias reason

Customization

• Dashboard X / Y Offset — Position the panel anywhere on your chart. Default: top-left corner (10, 50).
• Dashboard Width — Default: 180 pixels.
• Background Color — Default: Dark grey panel.
• Bullish / Bearish / Neutral Colors — Customize the bias text colors.

Tip: The dashboard is most useful at the start of your trading session. Check the daily and weekly bias before looking for any setups. If both timeframes agree (for example, both show BULLISH with CRT reasons), you have strong confluence for a directional bias.

Close-up screenshot of the Bias Dashboard showing DAILY: BULLISH "CRT (Low Sweep)" and WEEKLY: BEARISH "Break < Prev Low".

 

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11. Module 8 — CRT Alerts

The alert system notifies you when a new CRT event is confirmed on any of your selected timeframes. Alerts are available via desktop popup, mobile push notification, and email.

How Alerts Work

The indicator checks for new CRT confirmations on each new bar. A CRT alert fires when:

• A confirmed CRT event is detected on the specified timeframe
• The event has not been alerted before (duplicate prevention)
• The indicator has completed at least one full calculation cycle 

Duplicate Prevention

Each timeframe (TF1, TF2, TF3) maintains its own alert state. The indicator tracks the candle time of the last alerted CRT event. If the same CRT event is still present on the next tick, no duplicate alert is sent. You will receive exactly one alert per confirmed CRT setup.

Reinit Suppression

When you switch timeframes, change input parameters, or recompile the indicator, MetaTrader reinitializes it. Without suppression, this would fire false alerts for existing CRT levels that were already present before the reinit.

The indicator suppresses all alerts during the first calculation cycle after any reinit event. Normal alert operation resumes from the second bar onward.

Alert Message Format

• Each alert includes:
• CRT direction (BULLISH or BEARISH)
• Sweep type (Low Sweep or High Sweep)
• Symbol name
• Timeframe
• TF label (TF1, TF2, or TF3)
• Range boundaries (high and low prices)

Example message:

Setting Up Email Alerts

Step 1: In MetaTrader, go to Tools → Options → Email tab.

Step 2: Enter your SMTP server details. For Gmail, use:

— SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com

— SMTP Port: 465

— SMTP Login: your Gmail address

— SMTP Password: your Gmail App Password (not your regular password)

Important: Gmail requires an App Password if you have 2-factor authentication enabled (which you should). To create one, go to your Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App passwords. Generate a new one for "Mail" and use that in MetaTrader.

Step 3: Enter your "From" and "To" email addresses. (Same Gmail can be used)

Step 4: Click "Test" to verify the connection.

Step 5: In the indicator settings, enable "Email Alert" under the CRT Alerts group.

Setting Up Mobile Push Notifications

Step 1: Install the MetaTrader 5 app (or MetaTrader 4 app for MT4 users) on your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play.

Step 2: Open the mobile app. Go to Settings → Messages. You will see a MetaQuotes ID (an 8-character alphanumeric code, e.g., A1B2C3D4).

Step 3: In your desktop MetaTrader, go to Tools → Options → Notifications tab. Enter the MetaQuotes ID from your phone.

Step 4: Click "Test" to send a test notification.

Step 5: In the indicator settings, enable "Mobile Push Notification" under the CRT Alerts group.

Key Alert Input Settings

Enable CRT Alerts — Master toggle. Default: off. Turn this on to activate the entire alert system.

Desktop Popup Alert — Shows a MetaTrader alert dialog on your screen. Default: on (when master is enabled).

Mobile Push Notification — Sends to your phone. Default: on (when master is enabled).

Email Alert — Sends an email. Default: on (when master is enabled).

Alert on TF1 / TF2 / TF3 — Choose which timeframe clusters trigger alerts. Default: TF1 only. Enable TF2 and TF3 if you want alerts on multiple timeframes.

Tip: For most traders, enabling alerts on TF1 (H1) is sufficient. Adding TF2 (H4) alerts is useful for swing traders. TF3 (D1) alerts are infrequent and best suited for position traders.

When alerts are enabled, the Experts tab in MetaTrader will display configuration reminders on indicator load, telling you exactly which alert types are active and what to configure.

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12. Recommended Setups for Different Trading Styles

Setup A: Scalper (M1–M5 Execution)

• Chart Timeframe: M1 or M5
• TF1: M15 (3 candles) — immediate structure
• TF2: H1 (3 candles) — session structure
• TF3: Off 
• CRT Scan Depth: 3
• Sessions: Asian + London + New York all enabled
• Previous Period Levels: PDH/PDL on, PWH/PWL on, PMH/PML off
• Pivots: Weekly PP only 
• Alerts: TF1 only
• Pairs: EURUSD, GBPUSD, XAUUSD, or any

This setup gives fast-moving context without overwhelming the chart. Session levels and PDH/PDL are critical for scalping around key intraday levels.

Setup B: Intraday Trader (M15 Execution)

• Chart Timeframe: M15
• TF1: H1 (3 candles)
• TF2: H4 (3 candles)
• TF3: Off
• CRT Scan Depth: 5
• Sessions: All three enabled
• Previous Period Levels: PDH/PDL + PWH/PWL on
• Pivots: Weekly PP + R1/S1
• Alerts: TF1 + TF2
• Pairs: EURUSD, GBPUSD, GBPJPY, XAUUSD, US30, NQ, DAX etc.

This is the default recommended setup and works well for most ICT/SMC traders. The H1 ghost candles provide immediate structure while H4 gives broader trend context.

Setup C: Swing Trader (H1 Execution)

• Chart Timeframe: H1
• TF1: H4 (5 candles)
• TF2: D1 (3 candles)
• TF3: Off
• CRT Scan Depth: 8
• Sessions: Off (less relevant on H1)
• Previous Period Levels: PWH/PWL + PMH/PML on
• Pivots: Weekly + Monthly PP
• Alerts: TF1 + TF2
• Pairs: Any

Swing traders benefit from deeper scan depth and monthly pivots. Session levels are less relevant on H1 and above but you can keep them on if desired.

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13. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this indicator work on MT4?

A: Yes. A dedicated MT4 version is available here: https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/162556 Both versions contain the same modules and logic.

Q: Does this indicator repaint?

A: No. The HTF candle projection is non-repainting. Ghost candles represent actual higher-timeframe OHLC data. The current forming candle (index 0) updates in real time as the HTF candle is still open, which is expected behavior, not repainting. Once the HTF candle closes, it is locked.

Q: Does this indicator give buy or sell signals?

A: No. It provides context and structure. You make the entry decisions using your own model.

Q: What is the best timeframe to use?

A: M15 as your chart timeframe with H1 and H4 as ghost candle clusters is the most versatile setup. See Section 12 for detailed recommendations based on your trading style.

Q: Can I use this on Gold (XAUUSD)?

A: Yes. It works on all MT5 and MT4 symbols including Forex, Gold, Silver, Indices, Oil, and Crypto.

Q: Why do I not see the ghost candles?

A: Three possible causes:

(1) Your chart is too zoomed in. Zoom out or scroll right to see the ghost candle area.

(2) Chart shift is not enabled. The indicator enables it automatically, but if you manually disabled it, re-enable it via right-click → Properties → Common → Chart shift.

(3) The TF cluster toggle is off. Check that Show TF1, TF2, or TF3 is enabled in the settings.

Q: Why are my session levels at the wrong times?

A: The session times use server time, not your local time. Check your broker's server time offset and adjust the session start/end hours accordingly. See Section 7 for details.

Q: Can I run this on multiple charts at the same time?

A: Yes. Each chart instance runs independently. Be aware that each instance creates chart objects, so running it on many charts simultaneously will increase memory usage.

Q: How many activations do I get?

A: Check the current activation count on the product page. If you need more activations, message me via MQL5.

Q: I purchased the indicator but I am not sure how to set it up for my broker. Can you help?

A: Absolutely. Message me via MQL5 with your broker name and server time, and I will provide the correct session time settings for your specific broker.

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14. Troubleshooting

Problem: Indicator loads but nothing appears on chart.

Solution: Make sure you have enough historical data loaded. Go to Tools → Options → Charts and increase "Max bars in chart" to at least 10,000. Then right-click the chart and select Refresh. Also verify that at least one module master toggle is enabled (Show TF1, Show CRT Trap Levels, etc.).

Problem: Ghost candles overlap with live price area.

Solution: Increase the "Gap between Live Price and Ghosts" setting. Default is 20 bars. Try 30 or 40. Also try zooming out the chart slightly.

Problem: Email alerts are not arriving.

Solution: First verify that email is configured correctly in Tools → Options → Email by clicking "Test." If the test succeeds but indicator alerts do not arrive, check that (1) Enable CRT Alerts is turned on, (2) Email Alert is checked, (3) At least one TF alert (Alert on TF1/TF2/TF3) is enabled. For Gmail users, make sure you are using an App Password, not your regular Gmail password.

Problem: Mobile push notifications are not arriving.

Solution: Verify your MetaQuotes ID in Tools → Options → Notifications and click "Test." If the test notification reaches your phone but indicator alerts do not, check the same settings as the email troubleshooting above. Also ensure your phone's MetaTrader app has notification permissions enabled in your phone's system settings.

Problem: CRT levels seem incorrect or missing.

Solution: Increase the Scan Depth setting (default: 5) to scan more historical candles. Also check that the Both-Side Sweep Filter is not removing valid setups — try setting it to false temporarily to see all detected CRT events.

Problem: Labels are overlapping.

Solution: Adjust label positions (Above/Below Line settings) for the overlapping module, or change label alignment (Left/Right/Center). You can also reduce the PPL or Pivot Lookback to show fewer historical levels.

Problem: Chart looks cluttered with too many levels.

Solution: Turn off modules you do not currently need using their master toggles. A good starting point is: Ghost Candles on, CRT on, Sessions on, everything else off. Add modules one at a time as you become familiar with each.

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15. Version History

Version 5.3 (February 2026) — Alert reinit suppression to prevent false alerts on timeframe switch or parameter change — Both-Side Sweep Filter for CRT trap levels — Period Separators module (TF1, TF2, Daily, Weekly, Monthly) — User experience improvements

Version 5.0 – 5.2 — Session Levels module (Asian, London, New York) — Previous Period Levels module (PDH/PDL, PWH/PWL, PMH/PML) — Pivot Points module (Classic and Weighted) — CRT Alert system (Desktop, Mobile, Email) — Bias Dashboard — Chart Theme presets

Earlier Versions — Core Ghost Candle HTF projection — CRT Trap Level detection (Pending and Completed) — Sweep visualization on ghost candle clusters — Multi-cluster support (TF1, TF2, TF3)

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Product Links and Support

MT5 Version: https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/162075

MT4 Version: https://www.mql5.com/en/market/product/162556

Free Demo: Available on both product pages

For questions, setup help, or feature requests, message me directly via MQL5: https://www.mql5.com/en/users/talkingmarkets

I respond to every message personally.

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Disclaimer

This indicator and guide are for educational and analytical purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice or trading signals. All trading involves risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Use discretion and proper risk management at all times.