Do you trade stocks? If so, you need to learn day trading hot keys in thinkorswim. This will make trading much easier and faster. This post will share the best thinkorswim hot keys to make trading easier!
What Are Hot Keys?
Hot keys are keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform certain actions quickly and easily. In Think or Swim, there are hot keys for just about everything!
Why Are Hot Keys so Important and Critical to Your Success?
As day traders, we’re already at a disadvantage due to market variable conditions. This means that we need to take every opportunity to speed up our trading process and reduce the potential for human error. That’s where hot keys come in!
Depending on your settings, a hot key allows you to quickly and efficiently execute orders and enter and exit positions. Rather than using your mouse to click the ‘button,’ you can use predefined hotkeys on your keyboard. Using the mouse can be sluggish and bears the idea of missing your entry by a fraction of a second. With these trading tools, you can enter and exit positions much more quickly, which can give you a competitive edge in the market.
To Customize the Keyboard Shortcuts in TOS
- Press Setup in the window’s top right corner and choose Application Settings… from the menu.
- In the dialog window, cselect Hot keys tab. You will see the list of commands split up into the following categories: General, Active Trader, WatchList, Chart, and ThinkScript Editor. Each category shows several commands you can create or customize shortcuts for.
- Click on the command you would like to customize the shortcut for. In the pane to the right, you will see the description of the command and the shortcut assigned to it (if any).
To add or change the shortcut, choose Custom and specify the base key(s) for the combination: Ctrl, Alt, and/or Shift. Then select an additional key from the dropdown.
You will see a notification if the specified combination is already assigned to another command. Clicking Reassign in this notification will discard the former hot key combination and assign it to the selected command.
To remove the shortcut, choose None. You can also disable all shortcuts for a category by un-checking Enabled in its title.
You can also restore default values for all hot keys by clicking Set all to defaults.
When you have finished customizing your hot key combinations, click Apply settings.
thinkorswim Hot Keys
Each category below shows several commands you can create or customize shortcuts for on the thinkorswim platform.
General
The General category includes commands that are not specific to any other category. The following are some of the most commonly used General hot keys in thinkorswim:
- F1 – Open the Help menu
- F2 – Rename the selected item
- F3 – Search for a file or folder
- F4 – Display the address bar
Active Trader
Active Trader tab is a thinkorswim interface designed especially for options and futures traders who can benefit from its handy bid/ask price ladder, one-click order entering, and high level of customization. This interface can be accessed by clicking Active Trader on the Trade tab.
The Active Trader category includes commands specific to the active trader window. The following are some of the most commonly used Active Trader keys in thinkorswim:
- Ctrl-F1 – Display the active trader menu
- Ctrl-F2 – Display the security menu
- Ctrl-F3 – Display the order
Watch List
Watch Lists are one of the platform’s key thinkorswim features. A watch list is a collection of symbols grouped along with market data of respective instruments. Sometimes, watch lists consist of companies or derivatives that might be interesting to traders. They can also be constituents of an index like NASDAQ 100, the Dow Jones Industrials, or the S&P 500, to name a few.
It is also possible to have symbols that are indicators of specific economic trends or industry groups that are not directly tradable but have an impact on products.
The WatchList category includes commands that are specific to the Watch List window. The following are some of the most commonly used Watch List keys in thinkorswim:
- Ctrl-W – Open a new watch list
- Ctrl-Shift-W – Close the current watch list
- Ctrl-N – Add a symbol to the watch list
- – Alt-1 – Go to the first watch list
- – Alt-2 – Go to the second watch list
- – Alt-3 – Go to the third watch list
Chart
The Chart category includes commands that are specific to the charting window. The following are some of the most commonly used Chart hot keys in thinkorswim:
- F5 – Refresh the chart
- F6 – Display the studies dialog
- F7 – Display the chart properties dialog
- F8 – Toggle the chart between normal and full-screen mode
ThinkScript Editor
The thinkScript Editor category includes commands specific to the thinkScript editor window. The following are some of the most commonly used thinkScript editor keys in thinkorswim:
- Ctrl-F1 – Open the help menu
- Ctrl-F2 – Rename the selected item
- Ctrl-F11 – Run the script
- Ctrl-F12 – Stop the script
Hopefully, these tools will help you become a more efficient and successful trader!
Options Trading
A hot key can be a valuable tool if you’re an options trader. Depending on your settings, with these trading tools, you can quickly and easily execute trades with just a few keystrokes.
There are a few things to remember when using these shortcuts for options trading. First, remember the relevant risk factors and ensure you understand the trade before entering it. Second, always use a stop-loss order to protect yourself from large losses. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different keys to find the ones that work best for you.
A hot key can save you time and help you make better trades. Use them wisely; they can be a valuable part of your options trading arsenal.
Summary: Day Trading Hot Keys
The hot keys listed above are some of the best and most commonly used shortcuts to make trading easier. The General keys include commands that are not specific to any other category, while the Active Trader keys are specific to the active trader window.
The WatchList keys are specific to the watch list window, and the Chart keys are specific to the charting window. The thinkScript Editor keys are specific to the thinkScript editor window. These shortcuts can help you become a more efficient and successful trader! Try them out and see which ones work best for you.
Learn More
Would you like to learn more strategies to enhance the quality of your day trading activities? Read below to understand how our services can improve your financial success.
Maurice Kenny has helped over 600 people become financially free through one-on-one coaching, mentorship, options trading methods, and trading courses. Many of these new traders are now full-time traders, and they all started by watching his 1-hr webinar.
Feel free to check out other FREE educational resources to help guide you as you begin your new journey to financial freedom.
Also, download a (FREE E-BOOK) by Maurice Kenny, “DAY TRADE LIKE A MILLIONAIRE.”
