Method 1: Set SL/TP in the Order Window
This is the recommended method — set your SL and TP before you enter the trade.
Open the New Order dialog (F9)
The order window shows fields for Stop Loss and Take Profit below the volume field. Both default to 0.00000 (meaning none set).
Enter your Stop Loss price
Type the exact price level where you want your stop loss. For a Buy order: enter a price below your entry. For a Sell order: enter a price above your entry. The field will show red if the price is invalid for the order direction.
Enter your Take Profit price
Type the exact price level for your take profit. For Buy: a price above entry. For Sell: a price below entry. The field shows green for a valid TP.
Execute — SL/TP are attached immediately
Click Buy or Sell. The position opens with SL and TP already set. In the Terminal → Trade tab, you'll see your position with the SL and TP columns populated.
If you want a 30-pip stop loss on EUR/USD at 1.08500: your SL for a Buy would be 1.08500 - 0.00300 = 1.08200. For a Sell: 1.08500 + 0.00300 = 1.08800. Always calculate exact price levels before opening the order dialog.
Method 2: Modify SL/TP on an Open Position
Find the position in Terminal → Trade tab
Scroll right in the Trade tab to see the S/L and T/P columns. If they show 0.00, no SL/TP is currently set.
Double-click on the position
Or right-click → "Modify or Delete Order." The order modification dialog opens. Current SL/TP are pre-filled.
Enter new SL/TP values and click Modify
Type your new stop loss and/or take profit prices. Click "Modify" — the changes apply instantly. The order ticket updates immediately in the Trade tab.
Method 3: Drag SL/TP Lines on the Chart
When a position is open, MT4 displays the entry price line (yellow), stop loss line (red) and take profit line (green) directly on the chart. You can click and drag these lines to new price levels — the SL/TP updates automatically when you release the drag.
MT4 enforces a minimum distance between current price and your SL/TP (usually 5-10 pips, sometimes called "Stops Level"). If you enter a SL too close to the current price, the order will be rejected with an error. Move your SL further from the current price to resolve this.