Adding charts to TopstepX takes three steps: connect your broker data, select the chart type you want, and customize it for your trading style

TopstepX is a trading platform that lets you track positions and analyze price movement. Charts are the visual core of that analysis — they show you price history, trends, and patterns at a glance. The platform comes with built-in charting tools, but you need to know where to find them and how to set them up so they display the data you actually want to see.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you're adding a chart to your main dashboard or opening one in the dedicated charting workspace. Both routes take less than a minute once you know where to click.

Key Takeaways

  • TopstepX charts pull data from your connected broker account, so you must link your broker before any chart will display real prices.
  • The fastest way to add a chart is through the dashboard — click the plus icon, search for "Chart", and select your symbol and timeframe.
  • The dedicated charting tool opens from the main navigation menu and gives you more customization options like drawing tools and multiple timeframes side by side.
  • Charts default to candlestick format, but you can switch to bars, lines, or other formats by right-clicking the chart area and selecting your preference.
  • Saving your chart layout happens automatically when you close the window, so your settings persist the next time you log in.

Connect your broker account first

TopstepX cannot display any price data until it knows which broker you trade through. The platform uses your broker connection to pull live or delayed quotes depending on your account type. Without this link, charts will show no data at all.

Go to your account settings — usually a gear icon in the top right corner — and look for "Connected Accounts" or "Broker Integration". Select your broker from the list (TopstepX works with most major brokers including TD Ameritrade, Interactive Brokers, and Alpaca). You'll be asked to log in with your broker credentials. TopstepX does not store your password; it uses a find token to request data on your behalf.

Once connected, wait 30 seconds to a minute for the system to sync. You'll see a green checkmark next to your broker name when the connection is live. If you see a red X or warning icon, check that you entered your credentials correctly and that your broker account is active.

Add a chart from your dashboard

The dashboard is the home screen you see when you log in. It's divided into widgets — small boxes that each show one piece of information, like your account balance, open positions, or a chart. To add a new chart widget, look for a plus icon (usually in the top right of the dashboard area) and click it.

A menu will appear showing available widgets. Search for or scroll to "Chart" and click it. A new blank chart widget will appear on your dashboard. Click on the widget itself to open the settings panel.

In the settings panel, type the symbol you want to chart in the "Symbol" field — for example, AAPL for Apple or ES for the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract. Press Enter or Tab to confirm. Then select your timeframe: 1-minute, 5-minute, 15-minute, hourly, daily, or weekly are the standard options. TopstepX will when ready load the chart with historical data for that symbol and timeframe.

You can resize the widget by dragging its edges, and you can move it around the dashboard by dragging the title bar. The chart will stay in that position and with those settings the next time you log in.

Use the dedicated charting tool for more control

If you want more space or more features — like drawing trend lines, adding multiple indicators, or viewing multiple timeframes at once — use the dedicated charting tool instead of a dashboard widget. This opens in its own window and gives you the full charting interface.

Find the charting tool in your main navigation menu. It's often labeled "Charts" or "Charting" and appears in the left sidebar or top menu bar depending on your TopstepX layout. Click it to open the charting workspace.

The charting workspace shows a large chart in the center with a symbol search box at the top. Type your symbol and press Enter. The chart will load when ready. Below the chart, you'll see tabs or buttons for different timeframes — click any of them to switch what you're viewing without losing your other settings.

On the left side of the charting tool, you'll find a toolbar with drawing tools (lines, rectangles, trend channels), indicator buttons, and chart type options. On the right side, you can add technical indicators like moving averages, RSI, or MACD by clicking the indicator button and selecting from the list.

Change the chart type and appearance

By default, TopstepX displays charts as candlesticks — the standard format that shows open, high, low, and close prices for each time period as a vertical bar with wicks. Candlesticks work well for most traders, but you can switch to other formats if you prefer.

Right-click anywhere on the chart itself (not on the axes or labels). A context menu will appear with options including "Chart Type" or "Display Format". Click it to see the available formats: candlestick, bar chart, line chart, and sometimes others like Heikin-Ashi or Renko depending on your TopstepX version.

Select the format you want. The chart will redraw when ready in that style. Your choice is saved automatically, so the next time you open that same chart, it will display in the format you selected.

You can also customize colors, grid lines, and axis labels by right-clicking and looking for "Settings" or "Preferences". Most traders leave these at defaults, but if you want a dark background or different colors for up and down candles, those options are there.

Add indicators and overlays to your chart

Indicators are calculations based on price and volume that help you spot trends and potential entry or exit points. TopstepX includes dozens of built-in indicators. To add one, look for an "Indicators" button or icon on your chart — usually a wavy line or a plus sign in the toolbar.

Click the indicator button. A list of available indicators will appear, organized by category: trend (moving averages, MACD), momentum (RSI, stochastic), volatility (Bollinger Bands), and volume. Click the indicator you want to add.

The indicator will appear on the chart when ready. If it's a price-based indicator like a moving average, it will overlay directly on the candlesticks. If it's an oscillator like RSI, it will appear in a separate panel below the main chart. You can adjust the indicator's settings — like the period length for a moving average — by right-clicking on the indicator name and selecting "Settings".

You can add multiple indicators to the same chart. Most traders use two to four at a time to avoid cluttering the view. Each indicator you add is saved with that chart, so they'll be there the next time you open it.

Save and manage your chart layouts

TopstepX saves your chart settings automatically. When you close a chart window or navigate away from the dashboard, the platform remembers which symbols you were viewing, which timeframes you had selected, which indicators you added, and how you arranged them on your screen.

If you want to save a specific layout with a custom name — for example, "Swing Trade Setup" or "Scalp Watch List" — look for a "Save Layout" or "Save Workspace" button in the charting tool. Click it, give your layout a name, and click Save. You can then switch between saved layouts from a dropdown menu, which is useful if you trade different strategies at different times of day.

To delete a chart from your dashboard, hover over the widget and look for an X or trash icon in the top right corner of that widget. Click it to remove it. The chart data itself is not deleted — you can add it back anytime by clicking the plus icon again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my chart show no data or say "No Data Available"?

Your broker account is either not connected or the connection has dropped. Go to your account settings and check that your broker shows a green checkmark. If it shows red, click it and re-enter your login credentials. Also verify that the symbol you typed is correct — typos like "APPL" instead of "AAPL" will return no results.

Can I view multiple symbols on the same chart?

Most charting tools in TopstepX show one symbol per chart window. To compare two symbols, open two separate chart windows side by side or use the dedicated charting workspace, which often lets you split the screen. Some versions of TopstepX support overlaying a second symbol on top of the first — check your chart settings for an "Add Symbol" or "Overlay" option.

How do I add a moving average or other indicator?

Click the Indicators button on your chart toolbar, find the indicator you want in the list, and click it. It will appear on the chart when ready. Right-click the indicator name to adjust its settings, like changing the period from 20 to 50 for a moving average.

What's the difference between the dashboard chart and the dedicated charting tool?

Dashboard charts are smaller widgets that fit alongside other information on your home screen. The dedicated charting tool opens in a full window with more space and more features, like drawing tools and the ability to view multiple timeframes at once. Use the dashboard for quick glances and the charting tool when you want to analyze in detail.

Do my chart settings save automatically?

Yes. TopstepX saves your symbol, timeframe, indicators, and chart type automatically when you close the window. The next time you log in, your charts will look exactly as you left them. If you want to save multiple different setups, use the "Save Layout" feature to name and switch between them.