How to Install a Trading Robot in MetaTrader 4 and 5

Six steps, ten minutes. We go through MT4 and MT5 in order, and at the end you'll find what to do if the robot isn't trading.

What you'll need

• MetaTrader 4 or 5 installed, and an account with a broker. For the trial period you need a demo account, which you can open right inside the terminal.
• The robot file we send you on Telegram. It is tied to your account number, so you must log in to the terminal with that exact account.
• An internet connection and ten minutes.

Step 1. Open the terminal's data folder

In the terminal, click "File" → "Open Data Folder". A regular Windows folder opens. Don't look for the terminal in Program Files: every terminal has its own data folder, and if you have two terminals you need to put the file in the right one.

Step 2. Put the file into the Experts folder

In MT4 this is MQL4 → Experts, in MT5 it is MQL5 → Experts. A file made for MT4 won't work in MT5 and vice versa, so check which version you have. Just drag the file into that folder.

Step 3. Restart the terminal

Close MetaTrader and open it again. A faster way: press Ctrl+N to open the Navigator, right-click "Expert Advisors" and choose "Refresh". The robot will appear in the list.

Step 4. Allow algo trading

Go to "Tools" → "Options" → the "Expert Advisors" tab. Tick "Allow automated trading" (in MT5 it's called "Allow Algo Trading"). The wording differs slightly between versions, but the meaning is the same.

Then find the "AutoTrading" button on the top toolbar (MT4) or "Algo Trading" (MT5). It should turn green. A red or gray button means trading by Expert Advisors is disabled altogether.

Step 5. Drag the robot onto a chart

Open the chart of the instrument your robot was made for. You'll find which one in the robot's card on the site and in the instructions we send you. Then drag the robot from the Navigator onto the chart, or double-click it.

A settings window opens. On the "Common" tab, allow trading ("Allow live trading" in MT4, "Allow Algo Trading" in MT5). Leave the parameters alone unless we've told you otherwise. Click "OK".

Step 6. Check that the robot is running

Look at the top-right corner of the chart, next to the robot's name. In MT4 there's a smiley: a happy one means all is well, a sad one means trading is switched off. In MT5 an icon sits next to the name: if it's gray or crossed out, trading is disabled.

Another way to check: press Ctrl+T and open the "Experts" tab. It shows that the robot has loaded, and any error messages appear there.

Common mistakes

1. The file is in the wrong folder. MQL4 instead of MQL5, or just on the desktop. Sign: the robot isn't in the Navigator even after a refresh.
2. The AutoTrading button is red. Click it until it turns green.
3. The box in the robot's settings window isn't ticked. Sign: a sad smiley. Drag the robot onto the chart again and tick the box.
4. Wrong account. The file is tied to an account number. If you logged in with a different one, the robot won't start. Need a different account? Message us on Telegram and we'll re-link the license.
5. Wrong instrument. Some brokers name symbols differently, with a suffix like EURUSD.m or another name for gold. If the robot can't find the instrument, message us and we'll help.
6. The weekend. The market runs 24/5. On Saturday and Sunday there will be no trades, and that's normal.
7. No connection. The indicator in the bottom-right corner of the terminal should show that you're connected. If it says "No connection", the robot isn't trading.
8. Two robots on one account. Or the same robot running both at home and on a server. You'll get doubled trades. The rule: one robot, one account, one place to run it.
9. The terminal is closed or the computer went to sleep. The robot works only while the terminal is open. To stop worrying about it, give the robot its own server. More in the article "Why a Robot Needs a VPS and How to Choose One".

If it didn't work out

Click the Telegram button in the bottom-right corner of the site and send a screenshot of the chart with its top-right corner and of the "Experts" tab. A picture usually shows the problem right away. The video guide to the setup comes together with the robot file.