Are you looking to trade like the pros? Then you need the Alligator Indicator MT4. This powerful tool helps traders to identify and exploit profitable patterns in the Forex market. With its easy-to-use interface and depth of knowledge, you can maximize your profits with confidence. Unlock your potential today!
Introduction to Alligator Indicator MT4

The Alligator Indicator MT4 (or simply the Alligator) is a technical analysis indicator created by legendary trader Bill Williams, who is also the author of books such as Trading Chaos, Profitunity, and other trading works. The Alligator combines multiple Balance Lines or Moving Averages, where Lips and Teeth form a tunnel in the chart; Jaw is located below this tunnel as a color-changing line. When Lips and Teeth are crossed, they are either green or red, indicating bullish or bearish markets respectively.
The Alligator uses three separate lines of varying periods to help traders identify strong and persistent trends:
- The five-period Smoothed Moving Average (SMA), known as the jaw of the Alligator (green line )
- The eight-period SMA, commonly referred to as its teeth (red line)
- The 13-period SMA, also known as its lips (blue line)
It utilizes fractal geometry combined with nonlinear dynamics in order for traders to better understand price movements over time. By using fractals and nonlinear dynamics, the alligator indicator helps identify breakouts and reversals with higher probability than when using linear indicators like trendlines or basic moving averages. As such, this indicator can be a powerful tool when used in combination with other forms of technical analysis.
Benefits of Using Alligator Indicator MT4
The Alligator is a widely used technical indicator designed by Bill Williams that can be used to help traders identify trends and reversals in the currencies traded on the foreign exchange market. The indicator uses three moving averages and their interactions with each other to provide buying or selling signals. It may be a useful tool for traders who are looking for new ways to gain an edge when conducting Forex trading.
The Alligator indicator is beneficial because it helps traders spot changes in trends quickly and easily. The indicator considers the relationship between three different moving averages of different time periods, which helps traders determine whether they should buy or sell based on the current trend’s momentum. When all three of the moving averages are converging, it indicates that a reversal may soon be likely – a phenomenon known as ‘the alligator’s jaws opening’ – which could offer potential entry points for traders looking to capitalize on turning trends before they take hold.
The Alligator indicator can also be used as confirmation of other strategies, such as breakouts and momentum trading; when coupled with other tools, such as support/resistance indicators and oscillators, it can help you make better-informed decisions about entering trades. This is particularly useful for short-term trades, as it helps traders identify quick profits amidst choppy markets.

How to Set Up Alligator Indicator MT4
The Alligator Indicator is a commonly used technical analysis tool that can help you identify trading opportunities by predicting when markets are about to move. It can be a helpful companion to your existing trading strategy, allowing you to better interpret market conditions and find ideal entry and exit points.
Setting up the Alligator Indicator in the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform is a simple process that will only take a few minutes of your time.
To begin, open the MT4 platform and right-click on your chart. Select “Indicators” and then choose “Alligator” from the list of available options. A window will appear that allows you to adjust the settings according to your preferences. The default settings are as follows:
- Lips Period: 13
- Jaw Period: 8
- Teeth Period: 5
- Shift: 8
You can then select ‘OK’ to apply these settings, or you can make modifications as desired. Once complete, click ‘OK’ again and the indicator will appear on your chart. This will give you an overview of where prices may move in relation to market trends and volatility levels.
How to Interpret Alligator Indicator MT4
The Alligator indicator is a trend-following momentum indicator designed to help traders identify the beginning and end of a trend. The Alligator consists of three displaced lines – a 13-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) offset by 8 and 5 bars added to form the jaw, teeth, and lips of the alligator.
Interpreting the Alligator indicator is easy:
- When the three lines are close together, it suggests that price action is becoming “smoother” as it moves within its range-bound channel.
- As the price breaks above or below these lines, this indicates a shift in momentum as the price begins to create new highs or lows during an established trend.
- When all three lines start sloping in one direction, this indicates that either an upward or downward trend has developed and you can follow it with confidence until you see signs that point to its weakening.
- When the lines diverge from each other or *cross over* one another, this indicates that market conditions are changing suddenly – usually reversing direction – which could be an ideal time for making trades when using this indicator correctly with your personal strategies and risk profile(s).
- Finally, when the alligator awakes (when the jaw, teeth & lips are well separated & starting to converge) traders should be cautious as volatility has increased & may look for opportunities in both directions while being mindful of protecting their open positions in order to secure any profits they may have already made in their existing trade(s).
Strategies for Trading with Alligator Indicator MT4
Alligator Indicator MT4 is an effective trend analysis indicator based on three moving averages. The indicator consists of three lines plotted by the specified number of periods, displaced by a specific period, as well as an element known as the jaw, teeth, and lips. These three elements help traders to visualize and trade a current market trend.
The Alligator Indicator MT4 can be used with various trading strategies including breakouts and trends. When used with breakouts, traders look for strong momentum in the direction of a new trend identifying stops for entry points and take-profits for exit points in the same direction. When used to identify trends, traders look at the Alligator’s main lines—jaw, teeth, and lips –crossing over each other when uptrends clash or downward trends reverse. In addition to trend identification entries can also be made when the price breaks either above or below one of the Alligator moving averages as confirmation of reversal points in a given market.
Combined with other technical indicators or oscillators such as MACD (Moving Average Convergence/Divergence) or stochastics help traders combine price action with momentum oscillators to identify good entry and exit points in market movements. When used correctly it helps improve trading accuracy within a given trading system by providing entry and exit signals for trades that seek profits from medium-term trading systems. Using the Alligator indicator along with other technical indicators will help improve the overall performance of your MT4 robot or manual trading strategy which in turn delivers solid returns from sustainable markets.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Alligator Indicator MT4
Using an indicator such as the Alligator Indicator MT4 is an important part of determining when to place a trade, but it’s important to understand that there are some common mistakes that can be made with it.
The first mistake that should be avoided is taking the Alligator Indicator too literally. This indicator provides historical data using three moving averages and can help traders to identify when trends are starting or changing. However, this still requires additional data to make an informed decision. It’s also important to remember that momentum can change direction quickly, so it’s essential to watch for signals from other indicators such as those available on MT4 in order to make a successful trade.
The second mistake is not understanding how different timeframes affect the accuracy of this indicator. As with all indicators, the Alligator Indicator MT4 works best if used over multiple time frames in order to measure momentum and find correlations between different charts. Short-term charts will give a view into market fluctuations while longer-term charts will help traders better understand overall price movement and confirm entry points.
Thirdly, experience with the Alligator Indicator MT4 is essential in order for traders to successfully use this indicator correctly. For example, long trades are generally easier than short trades because there is usually more space on the upside than on the downside when trading with this particular indicator. Additionally, traders must combine multiple trading techniques with careful market analysis in order to make profitable trades; blindly relying solely on technical analysis can quickly lead one astray! Finally, always remember risk management practices like diversifying and setting stop losses—don’t forget these key aspects of trading!
Tips for Optimizing Alligator Indicator MT4
The Alligator Indicator MT4 is an indicator that is used in technical analysis. It works by combining three different moving averages with various time frames to provide an insight into the market trend. The Alligator Indicator helps traders identify potential buying and selling opportunities. The indicator is composed of three lines: a blue line referred to as the jaw, a red line known as the teeth, and a green line known as the lips.
In order to get the most out of this indicator, there are certain tips and tricks that you can follow. Here are some key tips for optimizing your Alligator Indicator MT4:
- Set your Moving Averages appropriately: The jaws, teeth, and lips represent different time frames that need to be set according to your trading habits and style. Consider setting your Moving Averages with values such as 5, 8, and 13 in order to best capture price fluctuations in any given market.
- Experiment with different settings: One of the great benefits of using this indicator is that it allows you to experiment with various combinations of settings in order to see which ones work best on any given market or asset.
- Look for crossovers between lines: When two different lines from the Alligator Indicator cross ahead of each other it means that there is likely a shift in trend direction about to happen soon. Use this information along with other tools at your disposal to determine when there may be an opportunity for a buy or sell signal presented by this indicator in any given market context.
- Monitor Price Change Volatility: An increase in volatility accompanies major changes in trend direction, so use the Alligator Indicator alongside other methods such as oscillators or Fibonacci tools like retracements or extensions in order to verify these potential signals before acting on them with trades orders placed through your broker.
Alligator Indicator Settings

- Jaws Period: 13
- Jaws Shift: 8
- Teeth Period: 8
- Teeth Shift: 5
- Liqs Period: 5
- Lips Shift: 3
Alligator Indicator MT4 Free Download
Conclusion
An Alligator Indicator (AI) is a technical analysis tool that uses three smoothed moving averages, set at different periods, to measure the momentum of a security’s price. Overlaid on charts, it is used as an oscillator to help traders identify trends within shorter timeframes.
AI has become quite popular among traders and investors looking for an effective means of gauging the strength and direction of a forex underlying trend. By using separate windows for each line and various coloring options in MT4, the Alligator Indicator provides a visual representation of where a forex or currency pair might be headed next.
While no single indicator offers infallible prediction capability, when used in conjunction with other indicators such as trendlines and Fibonacci ratios, the Alligator can provide viable insight into future market direction. In addition, adding multiple time frames can offer more precise entry points by allowing traders to filter out market noise and focus on larger moves.
Overall, while utilizing AI calls for careful consideration of current market conditions and technology trends before entering any position with stop limits placed securely above risk tolerance levels, it remains an extremely useful tool that can help investors make informed trading decisions.