What a take-profit does
A take-profit is an order that automatically closes your trade once the price reaches a level you choose in your favour. It locks in a gain without you having to sit and watch the screen, and it takes the emotional decision of "when to sell" out of the heat of the moment.
Setting a take-profit in advance, while you are calm, is one of the simplest ways to trade with a plan instead of reacting to every wiggle. It also lets you define your reward before you enter, which you can weigh against your risk.
The numbered steps
Step 1: Decide your target price before or as you enter the trade. A common approach is to base it on a chart level — a previous high, a round number, or a distance that is a sensible multiple of your stop-loss distance.
Step 2: If you are opening a new trade, type the target into the "Take Profit" field of the order window before clicking Buy or Sell. For a buy, the take-profit must sit above the current price; for a sell, below it.
Step 3: To add or change a take-profit on an already-open trade, open the Terminal (Ctrl+T), double-click the "T/P" cell of the position, enter your target price, and click "Modify".
Step 4: Confirm that the take-profit line appears on your chart at the right level and on the correct side of the price. When the market touches it, the trade closes automatically and the profit is added to your balance.
Where to put the target
A take-profit that is too close gets hit constantly for tiny gains that barely cover costs; one that is too far away rarely gets reached. Many beginners find it helpful to relate the target to their stop distance — for example aiming for a reward at least as large as the amount risked — but there is no universally correct ratio.
Chart structure often matters more than a fixed formula. Placing a target just before an obvious level where the price has previously stalled tends to work better than placing it just beyond, where the market may turn around before reaching you.
An honest risk note
A take-profit only closes you at your target if the market actually reaches it. Prices frequently come close and then reverse, so a fixed target will sometimes leave gains on the table and sometimes miss entirely. It is a tool for consistency, not a promise of profit.
A take-profit is not a substitute for a stop-loss. The take-profit protects your upside plan; only a stop-loss limits your downside. Every trade should have both.