What is ATR Volatility Indicator?
atr-volatility-indicator uses the Average True Range to show how large the current price movement is, drawing it as a histogram in a separate pane. The taller the bar, the higher the ATR reading.
It does not indicate direction. What it tells you is how much the market is moving, so you can see at a glance whether conditions are active or quiet.
How to use ATR Volatility Indicator
Read the color of the bars. Green marks high ATR readings, blue the normal range of movement, and red low readings where the range is small. The height of each bar shows the size of the current reading.
Compare the color and height of the bars with the price movement on the main chart over the same period. A stretch of red marks a quiet spell, and a switch to green marks a period of larger movement.
Where it helps
The three colors separate high, normal and low ATR readings, so the level of movement is readable without comparing numbers.
A run of red bars marks the periods where the reading stays small, which is harder to pick out from the candles alone.
The histogram keeps earlier readings on screen, so a quiet stretch and an active one can be compared across the same chart.
MT5 Indicator Parameters
The table below lists the available MT5 indicator parameters. You can customize these options in the MetaTrader Inputs dialog to match your trading preferences.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| ATR period | Sets the period used to calculate ATR. |
| Higher level | Sets the threshold for high volatility. |
| Lower level | Sets the threshold for low volatility. |
| Calculation mode | Selects how ATR values are calculated. |
| Maximum bars | Sets the maximum number of bars for which the histogram is displayed. |
The screenshot above shows the default input parameters in the MT5 settings window.
How to Install .ex5 Indicator in MetaTrader 5
- Download the ZIP file and extract it.
- In MT5, select File → Open Data Folder.
- Open MQL5 → Indicators and copy the EX5 or MQ5 file into it.
- If the package includes library files, copy them to MQL5 → Libraries. Copy TPL files to the top-level templates folder.
- Restart MT5, find the indicator in the Navigator, and drag it onto a chart.
Test the tool on a demo account first. File contents and required folders can vary between packages.
