Start Challenge

QATS HELP CENTER · TRADING

Use and change terminal hotkeys

Default Shift shortcuts for buy, sell, close, reverse and flatten, and how to reassign them.

2 min read3 sectionsIllustrated guide
Open Trading terminal All guides
Before you start

Open Layout → Features → Hotkeys and read the list before trading. Hotkeys are on as soon as the terminal opens.

ON THIS SCREENFind the highlighted controls Click to enlarge
What to look for

Select a numbered step to zoom straight to that control.

Illustrative QATS screen from a test account. Your plan, balances and available actions may differ.
01 / 03

Know the default keys

Hotkeys work in the terminal as soon as it opens. There is no separate switch, so learn them before you trade.

  • Shift+B buys at market and Shift+S sells at market, with the ticket’s size and TP/SL preset.
  • Shift+C closes the position and Shift+R reverses it.
  • Shift+X flattens all positions and Shift+Z cancels all entry orders; position stops and targets stay.
  • Shift+↑ and Shift+↓ change the size by one step. Shift+L arms or locks the ladder.
02 / 03

Change or clear a key

  1. Open Layout (the sliders icon in the terminal bar) → Features → Hotkeys.

  2. Click the key next to an action. When it reads Press keys…, press the new combination. Esc keeps the old key.

  3. Press Backspace or Delete instead to clear it; the action then reads Not set.

  4. A combination already used by another action moves to the new one. Default hotkeys restores the whole list.

03 / 03

Use hotkeys safely

  • Hotkeys are ignored while you type in a field, such as the size or a price.
  • Entries from a hotkey go through Order confirmation when it is on. Close, flatten and cancel never ask: Shift+X flattens at once.
  • Clear the keys you do not want, especially Shift+X, if you share the keyboard or type in other windows nearby.
  • Hotkey settings are kept in this browser. Check them again on another computer.

The QATS Trade Chrome extension has its own shortcuts, Alt+Shift+B and Alt+Shift+S, which are off until you turn them on in its settings.

WHEN YOU NEED A HAND

Common questions

How do I turn hotkeys off?

There is no single switch. Clear each key you do not want with Backspace or Delete in Layout → Features → Hotkeys; it then reads Not set.

Does Shift+X ask before flattening?

No. Flatten, close and cancel act at once. Only entries go through Order confirmation when it is on.

CHECK YOUR RESULT

You’re done when…

You know which keys trade, close and flatten, and you have cleared or changed the ones you do not want.

If this does not match what you see, use Common questions above or contact support with the page and account details.
NEXT STEP

Continue in QATS

Open the relevant screen to follow the steps in this guide.

Open Trading terminal
KEEP EXPLORING

Related guides

All topics
TradingSet up your terminal workspaceChoose chart panes, ticket placement, panels, and confirmations.TradingClose part or all of a positionUse Market close, Limit close, and Reverse deliberately.TradingRead the order book and Price LadderPrice, visible size, tick step, and the click-to-trade switch.
Still need help?

Tell us where you got stuck. Never share passwords or access keys.