Drawing support and resistance manually is a fundamental skill every trader should master. But once you’ve drawn it on your primary chart, doing the same exercise on H4 + D1 + W1 for context is repetitive. This auto-S/R indicator handles secondary timeframes for me — same multi-touch logic I’d apply by hand, executed automatically across any timeframe in seconds.
Below is how the indicator works, the multi-touch settings I use, and the rejection-entry strategy that pairs cleanly with manual S/R on your primary chart.
What is Auto Support and Resistance?
The indicator combines two well-established techniques:
- Swing pivot detection — find the local high (or low) where the bars on each side are lower (or higher). A 5-bar swing means the bar’s high is greater than the 5 bars before AND the 5 bars after.
- Touch clustering — group swing pivots within a tolerance (e.g., 50 points). The level price is the average of clustered pivots.
A level that contains 4 swing pivots within tolerance is a stronger S/R than one with 2. Our indicator weights the line width proportionally to touch count, so the strongest zones jump off the chart visually.
The two parameters that matter:
- Tolerance — how close pivots need to be to cluster as the same level. Tight (20 points) catches precise levels but misses approximate zones; loose (100 points) catches broader zones but flags too many.
- Min touches — minimum pivots required for a level to be drawn. 2 = lots of weak levels; 3-4 = only the strongest. Default is 2 for completeness.
How Auto S/R Detection Works on MT4
Our FOB_AutoSR.ex4 scans the last 300 bars (configurable), finds all swing pivots using the configurable swing-bars filter, clusters them within tolerance, and draws horizontal lines at multi-touch zones. Resistance lines (above current price) are red; support (below) is green.
Three patterns matter for forex traders.
The first is fresh level rejection. A level that’s been hit 3+ times historically and price is approaching for the first time in many bars = high-probability reversal. The line width on our indicator (proportional to touch count) makes these jump out.
The second is level break with retest. When price breaks a strong level, that level often flips polarity (resistance becomes support, vice versa). Auto-S/R levels still appear on the chart after the break — when price retests them from the other side, you have a high-edge continuation entry.
The third is multi-timeframe confluence. Apply the indicator on H1, H4, and D1. Levels that appear on all three are structural pivots — the strongest S/R you can find without ICT-style order blocks.
Key Features
- Custom MT4 indicator (FOB_AutoSR.ex4)
- Auto-detection of swing pivots + clustering
- Configurable lookback (default 300 bars)
- Configurable swing-bars filter (default 5 bars each side)
- Configurable tolerance for touch clustering
- Configurable min touches (default 2)
- Line width proportional to touch count (visual weighting)
- Non-repainting once swings are confirmed
Best Settings for Auto S/R Indicator
The defaults work for H1 majors. Adjust tolerance and min touches based on volatility.
| Use Case | Lookback | Swing Bars | Tolerance (points) | Min Touches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalping (M5) | 200 | 3 | 20 | 3 |
| Day Trading (H1) | 300 | 5 | 50 | 2 |
| Swing (H4) | 500 | 7 | 80 | 2 |
| Position (D1) | 1000 | 10 | 150 | 3 |
Recommended starting point: H1 EURUSD with 300-bar lookback, 5-bar swings, 50-point tolerance, 2 min touches.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hands-off — eliminates the tedium of redrawing S/R as new swings form | Less context-aware than manual drawing — captures touches but not regime changes |
| Multi-touch weighting makes strongest levels visually obvious | Custom install required — not built into MT4 |
| Works on every timeframe and instrument | Settings need tuning per pair (volatility differences) |
| Pairs cleanly with manual drawing on primary chart | Cluster tolerance is a judgement call — too tight misses zones, too loose merges separate ones |
How to Install Auto S/R Indicator on MT4
The Auto S/R indicator is custom. See install custom indicators on MT4.
Step 1: Download FOB_AutoSR.ex4 from the form below.
Step 2: MT4 > File > Open Data Folder > MQL4 > Indicators. Drop the .ex4 in.
Step 3: Restart MT4 (or refresh Navigator).
Step 4: Drag FOB_AutoSR onto your H1 chart with default settings.
Step 5: Save as a chart template (“AutoSR-H1”) for one-click reuse.
Trading Strategy: Level Rejection
The cleanest auto-SR strategy. Best on H1 EURUSD, GBPUSD, gold during London/NY sessions.
Setup: FOB_AutoSR + 50 EMA on price for trend context.
Long Entry (support bounce in uptrend):
1. H4 trend is up — price above H4 50 EMA
2. On H1, identify a thick (multi-touch) auto-SR support line below current price
3. Wait for price to retrace down to the level
4. Enter long when price prints a bullish rejection candle at the level
5. Stop loss 10-15 pips below the level
6. Take profit at the next major auto-SR resistance line above
Short Entry (resistance rejection in downtrend):
1. H4 trend down — price below H4 50 EMA
2. Identify thick multi-touch auto-SR resistance above current price
3. Wait for retracement up to the level
4. Enter short on bearish rejection candle close
5. Stop loss 10-15 pips above the level
6. Take profit at the next major auto-SR support below
The discipline that matters: prioritise the THICKEST lines (most touches). Thin (2-touch) lines have meaningfully lower hit rates. 4+ touches = high-edge zones.
Auto S/R vs Order Blocks
Both define horizontal S/R. Different methods.
| Feature | Auto S/R | Order Blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Detection method | Multi-touch swing clustering | Last opposing candle + impulse |
| Best for | Hands-off horizontal S/R | Precision ICT entries |
| Zone width | Single line + tolerance | Single candle range |
Verdict: Use Auto S/R for general structural levels; use Order Blocks for ICT-style precision entries. They’re complementary — both can run on the same chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Auto S/R indicator free?
Yes. Our FOB_AutoSR.ex4 is free below.
Does the indicator repaint?
No. Once a swing pivot is confirmed (5 bars on each side), it’s locked. Levels only update as new swings form.
How is auto-detection different from manual drawing?
Auto-detection captures TOUCHES but misses CONTEXT. Manual drawing lets you ignore old levels that no longer matter (post-major-move). Best practice: draw S/R manually on your primary chart, run auto-S/R on secondary timeframes for context.
What’s the best tolerance setting?
50 points on H1 EURUSD. Drop to 20 for scalping; raise to 100+ for daily charts. The right tolerance depends on the pair’s average true range.
Can I use this on MT5?
Yes. Our enhanced version supports both platforms.
Download Auto S/R Indicator for MT4 – Free
Auto-S/R isn’t built into MT4. Our free FOB_AutoSR.ex4 gives you:
- Auto-detection of swing pivots + multi-touch clustering
- Configurable tolerance and min touches per timeframe
- Line width proportional to touch count for visual weighting
- Non-repainting — confirmed pivots never change
Platform: MT4 (Build 1000+)
File type: .ex4
File size: 22 KB
Version: 1.0
Last updated: May 2026
Download the Auto S/R Indicator – Free Instant Access
No payment. No catch. Enter your email below and the Auto S/R Indicator file lands in your inbox within 60 seconds. Here’s everything you get:
- The non-repainting Auto S/R Indicator file (.ex4) – install in 30 seconds
- Step-by-step installation guide with chart screenshots
- Best-performing settings for scalping, day trading, and swing trading
- The exact level-rejection rules I use in live trading
- Weekly trading insights from a developer with 16+ years of market experience
Download the Support and Resistance Indicator – Free Instant Access
No payment. No catch. Enter your email below and the Support and Resistance Indicator file lands in your inbox within 60 seconds. Here’s everything you get:
- The non-repainting Support and Resistance Indicator file (.ex4) – install in 30 seconds
- Step-by-step installation guide with chart screenshots
- Best-performing settings for scalping, day trading, and swing trading
- The exact entry and exit rules Dom uses in live trading
- Weekly trading insights from a developer with 16+ years of market experience
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Overall Rating: 4.6/5
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | 4.5/5 |
| Ease of Use | 4.8/5 |
| Features | 4.6/5 |
| Value | 4.7/5 |
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- best support and resistance indicators for MT4 – The full ranked list
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