> Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you sign up through our links.
If you spend hours a day staring at charts, you know the drill: draw a trendline on the daily, switch to the 4-hour, and realize you need to redraw it. Or maybe you have a specific setup of Fibonacci retracements, horizontal lines, and trendlines that you apply to every stock or crypto you analyze.
Redrawing these manually is a massive time sink. It also introduces human error—a slight misalignment on a support level can mean missing a trade or setting a stop-loss too tight.
TradingView solved this problem with Chart Templates. A chart template saves the exact state of your chart—including all your drawings, indicator settings, and layout configurations—and lets you apply it to any other chart with a single click.
In this guide, we'll break down how to save, apply, and manage your TradingView chart templates in 2026. Whether you're a swing trader who needs a quick daily setup or a scalper who relies on a specific indicator stack, this workflow will save you hours every week.
What Exactly Is a TradingView Chart Template?
A chart template is a snapshot of your chart's current state. When you save a template, you aren't just saving the drawings (like trendlines, rectangles, or Fibonacci tools). You are saving:
* All drawings and their properties: Colors, line styles, thickness, and text labels.
* Indicator configurations: The specific indicators you have on the chart, along with their exact parameter settings (e.g., RSI length, MACD fast/slow lengths). * Chart layout: The number of sub-charts and how they are arranged. * Symbol and timeframe: The template remembers which asset and timeframe it was saved on, though you can apply it to different symbols and timeframes.Think of it like a CSS stylesheet for your charts. You write the rules once, and apply them anywhere.
> Note: Steps below are reconstructed from official docs and current platform behavior. Verify each step against the current UI before relying on it, as TradingView frequently updates its interface.
How to Save a Chart Template in TradingView
Saving a template is incredibly straightforward. Here is the step-by-step workflow:
1. Open your chart and set it up exactly how you want it. Add your trendlines, draw your support/resistance zones, and load up your indicators.
2. Click the three vertical dots (the "More" menu) in the top-right corner of the chart area. 3. Hover over Templates in the dropdown menu. 4. Select Save current template. 5. A dialog box will appear. Give your template a descriptive name (e.g., "Daily Swing Setup," "Crypto Scalp," or "Fibonacci + EMA"). Click Save.That's it. Your template is now stored in your TradingView account and ready to be applied to any other chart.
Pro Tip: Naming Conventions Matter
If you only have one or two templates, naming them "Template 1" and "Template 2" is fine. But if you trade multiple asset classes or strategies, use a naming convention that makes sense. For example: *STOCKS-Swing
* CRYPTO-Scalp
* FOREX-Daily
This way, when you open a chart of a new asset, you know exactly which template to apply without having to guess.
Like what you're reading? Try it yourself — this link supports ChartedTrader at no cost to you.
Try TradingView →How to Apply a Saved Chart Template
Applying a template is just as fast as saving one. Here is how to do it:
1. Open a new chart (or switch to an existing chart that you want to reset).
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the chart area. 3. Hover over Templates. 4. You will see a list of all your saved templates. Click on the one you want to apply.In less than a second, your chart will transform. All your old drawings and indicators will be replaced by the ones from your saved template. The symbol and timeframe will remain the same, but the visual setup will be completely updated.
What Happens to Your Old Drawings?
When you apply a template, it overwrites the current state of the chart. Any drawings or indicators you had on the chart before applying the template will be deleted. If you have important drawings on the current chart, save them to a template first before applying a new one!Advanced Template Management: Editing and Deleting
As you refine your trading strategy, your chart setups will evolve. You might add a new indicator, change the color of your trendlines, or remove a drawing tool you no longer use.
To update a saved template, you have two options:
Option 1: Save as a New Template
If you want to keep the old template intact but create a new variation, simply set up your chart the way you want it, go to the Templates menu, and select Save current template. Give it a new name (e.g., "Daily Swing Setup V2").Option 2: Overwrite the Existing Template
If you want to replace the old template entirely, set up your chart with the new changes, go to the Templates menu, and select Save current template. When the dialog box appears, you will see a list of your existing templates. Select the one you want to overwrite and click Save. The old template will be permanently replaced.Deleting a Template
If you have a template you no longer need, you can delete it directly from the Templates menu. Hover over Templates, and you will see a Delete option next to each template name. Click it to remove it from your account.Practical Use Cases for Chart Templates
Here are the setups I actually use templates for:
1. The "Daily Routine" Setup
I start every morning by drawing yesterday's high, low, and VWAP. Instead of clicking through the same 5 tools every day, I just apply a "Daily Routine" template. It takes 0.5 seconds.2. Switching Between Asset Classes
My stock charts are cluttered with volume profile and session indicators. My crypto charts are much cleaner, relying mostly on EMAs and Fibs. I keep aSTOCKS-Setup and a CRYPTO-Setup template so I don't have to manually strip out 10 indicators every time I switch from Apple to Bitcoin.
3. Strategy-Specific Templates
I have a swing trading template loaded with weekly S/R levels, and a separate day trading template with intraday pivots. It's a lifesaver when I need to shift focus without manually deleting 20 drawings.4. Backtesting and Replay
Before I start a Bar Replay session, I apply my live trading template. It ensures my backtesting environment matches exactly what I see when I'm actually trading.Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Pitfall 1: Applying a Template to the Wrong Timeframe
A daily chart template applied to a 5-minute chart will look completely wrong—the trendlines won't align with the current price action. Fix: Name your templates with the timeframe included (e.g.,Daily-Setup vs 5min-Setup). Don't force a daily setup onto a scalping chart.
Pitfall 2: Losing Important Drawings
Applying a template overwrites everything. If you accidentally click the wrong template on a chart you spent an hour drawing on, that work is gone. Fix: Always check the chart state before applying. If you have important drawings, save them to a new template first. (Ctrl+Z works, but only if you haven't made any other changes since applying the template).Pitfall 3: Overcomplicating Your Templates
A cluttered chart is a confusing chart. If your template has 20 indicators, you'll spend more time reading the chart than making trading decisions. Fix: Keep it lean. If you find yourself ignoring an indicator, remove it from the template.TradingView Free vs. Paid: Do Templates Work on the Free Plan?
Yes, chart templates are available on the TradingView Free plan. You can save, apply, edit, and delete templates just like you can on the paid plans.
However, there are some limitations on the free plan that might affect your ability to use templates effectively:
* Indicator Limit: The free plan only allows you to have up to 3 indicators on a chart at the same time. If your template includes 4 indicators, you will get an error when you try to apply it. You will need to remove one of the indicators from the template or upgrade to a paid plan.
* Drawing Tool Limit: The free plan has a limit on the number of drawing tools you can have on a chart at one time. If your template includes more drawings than the free plan allows, you will also get an error.If you find yourself hitting these limits, it might be a sign that you need to upgrade to a paid plan. The Essential plan (the lowest paid tier) removes these limits and gives you more flexibility in your chart setups. If you're looking to test the waters, you can Try TradingView with a 30-day free trial of the Essential plan to see if the extra features are worth it for your workflow.
Conclusion
Chart templates are a massive time-saver. Start by creating a few basic templates for your most common setups, and update them as your strategy evolves. You'll find charting becomes much faster and less prone to human error.
FAQ
Can I share my chart templates with other TradingView users?
No, chart templates are saved locally to your account and cannot be shared directly with other users. However, you can share your chart setup by taking a screenshot or by creating a public chart and sharing the link.What happens to my template if I delete a drawing tool from my chart?
If you delete a drawing tool from your chart, it will not affect your saved template. The template is a snapshot of the chart's state at the time you saved it. If you want to update the template to reflect the removal of the drawing tool, you will need to save the chart as a new template or overwrite the existing one.Can I apply a template to a chart that already has drawings and indicators?
Yes, but be aware that applying a template will overwrite the current state of the chart. All existing drawings and indicators will be replaced by the ones from the template. If you want to keep your current drawings, save them to a template first before applying a new one.Are chart templates available on the TradingView mobile app?
No, chart templates are currently only available on the desktop version of TradingView. The mobile app does not support saving or applying chart templates.How many chart templates can I save?
There is no official limit to the number of chart templates you can save on TradingView. You can save as many templates as you want, though having too many might make it difficult to find the one you need. Use descriptive naming conventions to keep your templates organized.Risk Warning
> Risk Warning: Crypto trading involves substantial risk of loss. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. This is not financial advice.