> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.daytraderincome.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# How to Use TradingView for Day Trading: A Beginner's Guide
- URL: https://www.daytraderincome.com/how-to-use-tradingview/
- Published: 2026-10-27T21:15:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-31T23:11:11.000Z
- Description: A plain-English walkthrough of TradingView for new day traders: open a free account, build a chart, draw levels, set alerts and paper trade.
- Author: Indy Karveli
- Tags: Tools

**Short answer:** TradingView is a charting platform that runs in your browser. For day trading you need five things from it: a clean chart of one market, a few lines for your levels, an alert or two, a way to review past days, and a paper trading account to practice. The free plan covers most of that. Here's how to set it up, the way I use it.

## 1\. Open a free account

Go to [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/?aff%5Fid=1173482&ref=daytraderincome.com) (affiliate link) and sign up with email or Google. Pick the free **Basic** plan; you can upgrade later if you need to. Signing up through my link gets you a $15 coupon toward a paid plan if you ever want one.

## 2\. Open a chart

Click **Products** then **Supercharts**. Type a symbol in the search box at the top left: **MNQ1!** for micro Nasdaq futures, **ES1!** for S&P 500 futures, or a stock ticker like **AAPL**. Pick one market and stick with it while you learn.

## 3\. Set the timeframe and candles

- **Timeframe:** click the interval button next to the symbol and pick **5m**. Fast enough for day trading, slow enough to think.
- **Candle type:** the button next to it switches between candles, bars, line and [Heikin Ashi](https://www.daytraderincome.com/what-is-heikin-ashi/). Start with plain candles.
- **Time zone:** right-click the time axis at the bottom and choose yours.

## 4\. Keep it clean

The free plan allows two indicators per chart. That's a feature, not a limit: most beginners bury the chart in indicators that all say the same thing. Learn to read [plain price](https://www.daytraderincome.com/how-to-read-a-trading-chart/) first.

## 5\. Draw your levels

Use the **horizontal line** tool in the left toolbar to mark yesterday's high and low, and the overnight high and low. These are where price tends to react. Right-click a line to change its color or lock it.

## 6\. Set an alert

Right-click a line and choose **Add alert**. TradingView will notify you when price crosses it, so you don't have to stare at the screen waiting.

## 7\. Save your layout

Click the layout name at the top right and save. Next session, everything is where you left it.

## 8\. Paper trade

Click **Trade** at the top right of the chart, choose **Paper Trading**, and connect. You now have a simulated account to practice in. Reset it to a realistic balance first. Full walkthrough: [connect paper trading and place your first order](https://www.daytraderincome.com/paper-route-08-connect-paper-trading/).

## What to know about the free plan

- CME futures data (NQ, MNQ, ES) is delayed about 10 minutes on the free plan. Real-time futures data needs a paid plan plus TradingView's data add-on.
- Bar Replay works on daily charts and up on the free plan; intraday replay needs a paid plan.
- The free plan shows ads.

More detail in [TradingView free vs paid](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-free-vs-paid/). Want the whole beginner path in order? Take my free course, [The Paper Route](https://www.daytraderincome.com/paper-route/).

## Every TradingView guide on this site

- [Is TradingView free?](https://www.daytraderincome.com/is-tradingview-free/)
- [Best TradingView settings for day trading](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-settings-for-day-trading/)
- [How to set alerts on TradingView](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-alerts/)
- [TradingView paper trading: set it up](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-paper-trading/)
- [How to reset TradingView paper trading](https://www.daytraderincome.com/reset-tradingview-paper-trading/)
- [TradingView Bar Replay](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-bar-replay/)
- [Why TradingView futures data is delayed](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-futures-data/)
- [TradingView free vs paid](https://www.daytraderincome.com/tradingview-free-vs-paid/)

*Education only, not investment advice. Most people who day trade lose money. TradingView links on this page are affiliate links: if you sign up or upgrade, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Plan details change; check TradingView's pricing page for what's current.*