# Simple Breakout Tool Scans

> Free ThinkOrSwim scanner that catches price breakouts using volume spikes and 20-day moving average thresholds. Works on stocks like TSLA, SPY.

Page: https://tosindicators.com/scans/simple-breakout-tool-scans  
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkTUKGb7Vnc  
Section: Scans  
Skill: Beginner  
Access: pro  
Updated: 2026-01-09

## Questions

### How to set up breakout alerts for SPY in ThinkOrSwim?

In Scan tab, select 'Price Cross Above' filter with SPY and set 1.5% threshold from 20-day MA. Enable volume confirmation >150% 50-day average and mobile push notifications.

### What are optimal volume settings for day trading breakouts?

Use 200% relative volume minimum with 15-minute intervals. Combine with 14-period ATR >1.5 for reliable intraday moves in stocks like NVDA or TSLA.

### Can I combine multiple timeframe analysis with this tool?

Yes, enable multi-timeframe sync in settings. Scan 15-min breaks while verifying daily chart positions above 50 EMA. Align entries with weekly trend direction.

### How to avoid false breakout signals during low volatility?

Activate the 'Volatility Filter' requiring 1.8x average true range. Exclude stocks with

### Best practices for backtesting breakout strategies?

Test parameters across 3 market regimes (bull/bear/neutral). Optimize for 60%+ win rate with 2:1 reward-risk. Focus on 2020-2023 data including crash/recovery cycles.

## Related

- [How to Identify and Trade False Breakouts](https://tosindicators.com/research/false-breakouts)
- [Best Volume Indicators for ThinkorSwim: Relative Volume, VWAP, and OBV](https://tosindicators.com/research/best-volume-indicators-thinkorswim-relative-volume-vwap-obv)
- [How to Spot Sector Rotations: A Trading Guide for Every Market Cycle](https://tosindicators.com/research/how-to-spot-sector-rotations-trading-guide)
- [Fair Value Gap Part 2: Retest Scan + FVG Column](https://tosindicators.com/scans/fair-value-gap-scanner)
- [How to Scan for False Breakouts in ThinkOrSwim](https://tosindicators.com/scans/false-breakout-scanner)
- [Average True Range Scans for ThinkorSwim](https://tosindicators.com/scans/average-true-range)