What the Force Index shows
The Force Index is an oscillator, a line that moves above and below a centre line instead of following price on the chart. It multiplies price change by volume. A large move on heavy volume gives a large reading. A small move on light volume gives a reading close to the centre line.
When the line is above the centre, closes have been rising with volume behind them. When it is below, closes have been falling with volume behind them.
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Formula and default settings
The raw value for each bar is:
Force Index = (current close − previous close) × volume
The raw line is noisy, so platforms smooth it with a moving average. MetaTrader uses an exponential moving average by default. You can change the period, the moving average method and the price type.
- Short period: reacts quickly. It suits timing an entry inside a move but gives many false swings.
- Long period: smoother. It suits judging the direction of a trend but turns late.
Many traders run a short and a long version together and read them side by side.
How to add it in MT4 and MT5
In MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, open the Insert menu, then Indicators, then Oscillators, and choose Force Index. The settings window opens. Set the period and method, then confirm. The indicator appears in a separate window below the price chart.
How to use Force Index: reading a drawn example
This is an imaginary chart with no real prices:
| Bar | Price change | Volume | Force Index reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Small rise | Light | Slightly above centre |
| B | Large rise | Heavy | Sharp peak above centre |
| C | Small rise | Light | Falls back towards centre |
| D | Small fall | Moderate | Crosses below centre |
| E | Large fall | Heavy | Deep trough below centre |
Bar B shows strong buying pressure. At bar C price still rises, but the indicator weakens. A higher price with a lower Force Index peak is a bearish divergence. It describes fading pressure, not a turning point. At bar E selling pressure dominates.
Common uses:
- Checking whether a breakout bar had volume behind it.
- Spotting a pullback inside a trend, where the short version dips across the centre and then recovers.
- Comparing pressure from one swing to the next, as with OBV or the Money Flow Index.
These are ways to read market conditions. They are not trade signals, and no setting guarantees results.
Where the Force Index misleads
- Tick volume in forex. Spot forex has no central exchange. MetaTrader shows tick volume, which is the number of price updates and not traded size. Treat the readings as an estimate. See volume in forex.
- News spikes. A single release bar can stretch the scale. Readings before and after the spike then look flat.
- Session gaps. A gap after a weekend or a closed session produces a large reading that does not reflect normal trading.
- Ranging markets. The line keeps crossing the centre and gives no useful direction.
- Different instruments. The scale depends on each instrument's price and volume, so readings cannot be compared across symbols.
Leveraged CFD and forex trading can lose money fast. Pair any indicator with a plan from risk management.
Frequent questions
Is the Force Index a leading or lagging indicator?
The smoothing makes it lag. Divergence can appear before price turns, but often it does not. See leading vs lagging.
Can I use a Force Index strategy on its own?
It works better combined with price structure, such as support and resistance, than as a stand-alone rule.
Does Force Index work in forex?
Yes, but it relies on tick volume, so treat its readings as approximate.
Which period should I choose?
It depends on your timeframe and purpose. Test settings on a demo account before using them with real money.