3 Bars High Low Indicator MT4 + MT5

The 3 Bars High Low Indicator detects inside-bar compression – a bar fully contained within the prior bar’s range – and prints small gold markers at the parent bar’s high and low. Also, when the bar AFTER the inside bar closes above the parent high a green BUY arrow fires; closing below the parent low fires a red SELL arrow. Volatility-compression breakout in three bars, no extra clutter.

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What the 3 Bars High Low Indicator does on the chart

Also, the 3 Bars High Low Indicator scans for inside-bar setups: a bar whose high and low are both contained within the prior ‘parent’ bar’s range. Also, still, inside bars represent volatility compression – the market is coiling. The breakout from that compression usually has direction.

When an inside bar prints, the indicator marks the parent bar’s high and low with small gold squares. Thus, when the bar AFTER the inside bar closes above the parent’s high a green BUY arrow prints; closing below the parent’s low fires a red SELL arrow. Either direction is a valid breakout signal.

Key features and settings

• Detects inside bars (prior bar fully contained by the bar before)
• Marks the parent bar’s high/low with gold squares so you see the range
• BUY arrow when the next bar closes above the parent high
• SELL arrow when the next bar closes below the parent low
• Clean signal – no continuous lines cluttering the chart
• Full alert system: popup, push notification to mobile MetaTrader, email, and sound — all four channels can be toggled independently from the inputs panel. Alerts fire once per closed bar so you never get spammed mid-tick.
• Built for both MT4 and MT5; works on every timeframe and every symbol your broker offers.
• Lightweight code that does not slow down the chart.

Setting	Description	Default
ArrowOffsetPoints	Arrow offset from the candle wick	30
EnableAlerts	Master alert toggle	true
EnablePopup	Popup on breakout	true
EnablePushNotify	Mobile push notification	false
EnableEmail	SMTP email	false
EnableSound	Play sound on breakout	false

How to read signals from the 3 Bars High Low Indicator

Inside bars near recent swing extremes tend to produce cleaner breakouts than inside bars in mid-range.

Entry idea (long). Wait for a green BUY arrow following an inside bar. Also, still, hence, stop below the inside bar’s low.

Entry idea (short). Wait for a red SELL arrow following an inside bar. Next, stop above the inside bar’s high.

Exit idea. Target the height of the parent bar projected from the breakout point. Then, some traders trail with each new swing.

Tuning the 3 Bars High Low Indicator inputs

This indicator keeps a short, readable input list: a calculation period that sets how reactive it is, a signal-sensitivity control, and independent toggles for pop-up, sound, email and mobile push alerts. Thus, yet, start with the defaults, then shorten the period on fast charts or lengthen it on higher timeframes. Alerts fire once per closed bar.

Recommended timeframes and instruments

the tool prints buy and sell signals you can read on any timeframe.

• M5 to H1 for intraday entries.
• H4 for confirmation and swing trades.

Higher timeframes give fewer but steadier signals. Also, still, hence, truly, common instruments are EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, AUDUSD, XAUUSD and indices such as US30 and NAS100.

How to install on MT4 and MT5

Installation is the same for every indicator on this site. Next, plainly, unzip the download, copy the compiled .ex4 into your MT4 MQL4/Indicators folder (or the .ex5 into MT5 MQL5/Indicators), refresh the Navigator, then drag it onto the chart. For the full step-by-step with alert setup and troubleshooting, see our guide to installing MT4 and MT5 indicators.

Best practices and tips

• Combine the signals with one confirmation method, such as a trend or session filter.
• Treat each arrow as a prompt to check your plan, not an automatic entry.
• Wait for the bar to close before acting on a signal.
• Backtest your configuration on at least 200 closed bars before trading live.
• Keep position sizing small while you learn how the tool behaves on your instrument.
• Review your results weekly and prune settings that underperform.

Get the 3 Bars High Low for MT4 and MT5

One email unlocks the full library. This it plus the other 1,382 free MT4, MT5 and TradingView indicators we publish and maintain. Also, no paywall, no upsell, same opt-in for all of them – you give an email once and you can grab every tool we ship.

In practice, enter your email and the file lands in your inbox right after. The download is free.

Built by forexmt4systems.com

This the indicator is one of 1,383 free MT4, MT5 and TradingView indicators we publish and maintain. Then, every tool ships with ready-to-use compiled MT4 (.ex4) and MT5 (.ex5) files, a 4-channel alert system (popup + mobile push + email + sound), and is loaded on EURUSD H1 before release to confirm it draws cleanly without repainting. The same one-step email opt-in below unlocks the entire library – not just this one indicator.

FAQ

What does the 3 Bars High Low measure?

It plots a clear signal layer that the 3 Bars High Low computes from recent price and volume on the chart.

Is this indicator non-repaint?

By default the indicator only confirms a signal on the bar close, so the printed signal locks in once that bar closes. Thus, yet, still, some users prefer the early intra-bar mode for faster signals — both options are in the inputs.

Which timeframe should I use?

There is no single best timeframe. Thus, m15 to H1 is a common starting point for intraday traders, and H4 to D1 works for swing traders. Typically, backtest the configuration on the timeframe you actually trade.

Does it work on instruments other than forex?

It works on any instrument MT4 and MT5 supports — forex majors, gold (XAUUSD), indices like US30 and NAS100, and major cryptos. Also, still, hence, truly, hence, fast-moving instruments may need a smaller period setting.

Can I add alerts?

Yes. Next, Pop-up, sound, push, and email alerts live in the inputs panel. Then, on MT4 and MT5 the alert plays on the bar close that triggers the signal. Next, plainly, yet, the tool ships with full alert functionality built in: popup alerts on the chart, push notifications to mobile MetaTrader, email alerts, and a sound alert with a configurable .wav file. you toggle each channel independently from the inputs panel (EnableAlerts, EnablePopup, EnablePushNotify, EnableEmail, EnableSound). Alerts trigger once per closed bar.

For external background reading, see the technical indicator basics. Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Use it as one input. Always backtest before trading live.