Moving Average Cross Indicator for MT4 and MT5

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 16 Jun 2026 · Last updated 24 Sep 2026

Twelve and twenty-six are the MACD numbers, drawn here as plain lines on price. The moving average cross indicator marks every bar where the quicker one clears the slower one. A single setting picks between simple, exponential, smoothed and weighted averages.

This build ships as a compiled .ex4 for MT4 and .ex5 for MT5; the screenshots below come from EURUSD H1.

Platforms	MT4 (.ex4) + MT5 (.ex5)
Chart window	Main price chart
Plots	4: Fast MA, Slow MA, BUY, SELL
Alerts	popup, push notification, email, sound
Inputs	10

What the build shows

Two lines and two marks on price.

`Fast MA` traces dodger blue at width 2.

`Slow MA` traces orange at width 2.

`BUY` prints lime at width 3 with arrow 233.

`SELL` prints red at width 3 with arrow 234.

Marks sit a fixed pip distance from the bar.

• Fast MA: line, dodger blue, width 2
• Slow MA: line, orange, width 2
• BUY: arrow, lime, width 3, arrow code 233
• SELL: arrow, red, width 3, arrow code 234

How the source computes it

Picking the recipe

`MAMethod` `1` selects exponential. Zero gives simple, two gives smoothed and three gives linear weighted, and both lines always follow the same choice.

Seeding the lines

Each exponential line starts from a plain average of its first bars. That keeps the left edge of the chart free of a spike climbing out of zero.

The cross

`FastPeriod` `12` finishing above `SlowPeriod` `26` after sitting at or below it prints the buy. The reverse move prints the sell.

How to follow it

Blue above orange means short-term strength.

The gap between lines shows how firm it is.

Marks land on the bar that crossed.

`ArrowOffsetPips` `2.0` sets a fixed gap.

Smoothed and weighted recipes change the timing.

Warm-up needs twenty-eight bars.

Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.

A cross on a closed bar is what reports. `EnableAlerts` is the top-level switch; the pop-up and the desktop audio playing `SoundFile` both ship on, while mobile push and email wait.

Every Moving Average Cross Indicator input

Core settings

Setting	What it does	Default
FastPeriod	Length of the quicker line, `12`.	12
SlowPeriod	Length of the slower line, `26`.	26
MAMethod	0=SMA 1=EMA 2=SMMA 3=LWMA. Recipe code, zero to three, `1`.	1

Display settings

Setting	What it does	Default
ArrowOffsetPips	Mark distance from the bar in pips, `2.0`.	2.0

Alert settings

Setting	What it does	Default
EnableAlerts	Top-level switch for cross news, `true`.	on
EnablePopup	Pop-up in the terminal, `true`.	on
EnablePushNotify	Mobile push, `false`.	off
EnableEmail	Email, `false`.	off
EnableSound	Audio on the desktop, ships on, `true`.	on
SoundFile	Audio file used, `”alert.wav”`.	alert.wav

Settings that fit your chart

Twelve and twenty-six react fast enough to cross several times a week on hourly bars. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart. On M5 the lines weave constantly. On D1 a cross marks a change that usually holds for weeks.

What it will not tell you

Close lengths mean many crosses in a range.

A pip offset suits some symbols better than others.

The lines lag every turn they report.

Audio ships on, so every cross makes a sound.

Copy the compiled Moving Average Cross Indicator file into your MQL4/Indicators folder, and the MT5 build into MQL5/Indicators, then restart the terminal and drag it onto a chart. The step-by-step guide with screenshots is at how to install MT4 and MT5 indicators.

Related on forexmt4systems.com: Moving Average Crossover Strategy.

Download the Moving Average Cross Indicator for MT4 and MT5

The zip holds the compiled Moving Average Cross Indicator build for MT4 and MT5, plus a short README. Compiled files only, no source. Enter your email below and the download link arrives in your inbox.

FAQ

Which recipe does MAMethod 1 select?

Exponential. The codes run zero for simple, one for exponential, two for smoothed and three for linear weighted, and both lines always use the same one.

Why 12 and 26 for FastPeriod and SlowPeriod?

They are the lengths Gerald Appel used inside MACD. Drawn on price instead of in a pane, their cross is the same event a MACD line crossing zero describes.

Does ArrowOffsetPips 2.0 adapt to volatility?

No, it is a fixed two pips. That reads well on major pairs but can sit too tight on gold or indices, where you may want to raise it.

Where does a SELL mark land?

Above the high of the bar on which the 12-bar line fell under the 26-bar line, two pips clear. Only closed bars count, so it never jumps mid-bar.

Are results guaranteed?

No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Moving Average Cross Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.