Fix Indicator Accuracy: Set Minimum Bars to Load
Watched a moving average sit in the wrong place, then snap into position the moment you scrolled back? Your chart just didn't load enough price history. Here's the one setting that fixes it, plus a template so it sticks.
Ever dropped a 200-period moving average onto a chart, watched it sit in the wrong place, then seen it snap into position the second you scrolled back? Or noticed VWAP and your EMAs shift every time you flip between chart tabs? The indicator isn't broken. Your chart just didn't load enough price history for it to calculate against. The fix is one setting, plus a template so it sticks.
Why Your Indicators Calculate Wrong
An indicator can only do math on the bars that are actually loaded on the chart. When you open a fresh chart tab, only a small slice of recent history loads by default, and studies with a long lookback get shortchanged.
Say you're running a 200-period moving average but the chart only pulled in 100 bars. It draws off a partial window and reads wrong. Scroll back, more bars stream in, the average recalculates, and it jumps to a new level. Session-anchored VWAP is even touchier, since it needs every bar back to the session open. Loading more bars up front gives those calculations the runway they need.
Fix It: Raise Minimum Bars to Load, Step by Step
Open the Chart Settings
Open the chart you're working on and go into its settings. On the chart toolbar, look for the settings (gear) icon, which opens the chart settings or Chart Editor panel. That's where the data and appearance options live.
Find Minimum Number of Bars to Load
In the chart settings, find the field labeled Minimum Number of Bars to Load (some builds shorten it to Minimum Bars to Load). Out of the box it's set to 100 bars, and that's the root of the problem for anything with a lookback longer than about 100 periods.
Raise the Value to Cover Your Indicators
Set the number high enough to comfortably clear the longest lookback on the chart. If your heaviest study is a 200-period average, don't set 200 exactly, give it room. A value in the 1,000 to 2,000 range covers most setups, and long-period studies or session VWAP do better higher still. The field accepts values well into the thousands, so err on the generous side. More bars adds a little load time, a fair trade for numbers you can trust.
Apply and Check the Indicator
Apply the change and watch the indicator settle. A moving average that was floating in the wrong spot should snap to where it belongs, and it shouldn't jump anymore when you scroll back through history. If it still shifts, you haven't cleared the longest lookback yet, so bump the bar count higher and check again.
Save It as a Chart Template
Here's the part most people miss: fixing one chart does nothing for the next one. Every new chart tab reopens at the default 100 bars. Save your configured chart as a template (through the chart's save or manage templates option) and set it as your default. Now every new chart inherits the higher bar count, and your indicators load correctly from the first candle instead of you fixing them one tab at a time.
How Many Bars Do You Actually Need?
Match the setting to the longest period across every indicator on the chart, then add a buffer. Rough starting points:
| Your longest indicator lookback | Bars to load (with buffer) |
|---|---|
| Short studies (RSI, EMAs up to ~50) | 500+ |
| 100 to 200-period moving averages | 1,000 to 2,000 |
| Session VWAP or long-lookback studies | 2,000+ |
These aren't hard rules, just a safe floor. When in doubt, set it higher than you think you need.
Signs You're Hitting This
- A long moving average sits in the wrong place until you scroll back to load more history.
- Indicators jump or redraw when you load older bars or switch between chart tabs.
- VWAP looks different from what another platform shows for the same session.
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Start Your Free 5-Day TrialFrequently Asked Questions
Because it recalculates as more history loads. With too few bars on the chart it draws off a partial window; once older bars stream in, it recomputes on the full data set and shifts. Raising Minimum Number of Bars to Load preloads enough history so it's right from the start.
New chart tabs open with the setting at 100 bars. That's fine for short studies but not enough for anything with a longer lookback.
The field accepts values well into the thousands. The platform caps it at a maximum, so if your entry gets clamped, confirm the current ceiling in your chart settings and set it just below that.
No. Change it once, save the chart as a template, and make that template your default. Every new chart tab then opens with your bar count already applied.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or trading advice. Trading futures and other leveraged products carries a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. PickMyTrade is an independent third-party automation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tradovate, Inc. "Tradovate" and all related names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Platform features and steps change over time, so always confirm the current process in the official Tradovate platform and documentation before acting.