How to Place Trading Robots on MT4 and MT5 – Step-by-Step Beginner Guide

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December 10, 2025

On October 19, 2025

If you trade forex or other instruments using the platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), you may have heard about trading robots (also called Expert Advisors – EAs). These automated trading bots can open and close trades for you, based on rules you define.

In this article you will learn how to place trading robots on MT4 and MT5, in clear simple steps, so you can get started safely. We’ll cover installation, setup, testing, and good practices.

Step 1: Prepare your environment

Before you install an EA, you need to make sure a few things are ready:

Make sure your broker supports MT4 or MT5 (or both).
Download and install the correct version of the platform: MT4 for the older version, MT5 for the newer one.
Make sure your account (demo or live) is logged in and working, with data feed visible.
Ensure you have the EA (robot) file in a compatible format. For MT4 the files are typically .mq4 or .ex4. For MT5 they are .mq5 or .ex5.
Confirm you have permission for “automated trading” and that the EA is sourced from a trusted place.

Step 2: Install trading robot on MT4

Here’s how to install a trading robot (EA) on MT4:

Open MT4.
In the top menu, go to File → Open Data Folder.
In the folder that opens, go into MQL4 → Experts.
Copy your EA file (.mq4 or .ex4) into the Experts folder.
Close and restart MT4, or refresh the Navigator panel so that MT4 recognises the new EA.
In MT4, open the Navigator panel (Ctrl + N). Expand “Expert Advisors”. You should see your EA listed.
Drag the EA from the Navigator and drop it onto a chart (your chosen symbol/timeframe).
In the EA’s settings window, configure risk parameters, lot size, stop loss / take profit etc as required.
Enable automated trading: make sure the “AutoTrading” button is green in the toolbar, and that in Tools → Options → Expert Advisors the boxes such as “Allow live trading” are checked.

Good job — your trading robot is now placed on MT4.

Step 3: Install trading robot on MT5

The process for MT5 is very similar but with some differences in folders and file formats. Follow these steps:

Open MT5.
Go to File → Open Data Folder.
In the folder, navigate to MQL5 → Experts.
Paste your EA file (.mq5 or .ex5) into that “Experts” folder.
Restart MT5, or at least refresh the Navigator panel to allow it to pick up the new EA.
In the Navigator panel under “Expert Advisors”, locate your EA.
Drag it onto the chart of your choice (symbol + timeframe).
Configure its settings (lots, risk, strategy parameters).
Enable Auto Trading (or “Algo Trading”) so that the robot can trade automatically. Also check Tools → Options → Expert Advisors for the necessary permissions.

Now you have your trading robot placed on MT5.

Step 4: Test your trading robot

You should never jump straight into live trading with a robot without testing. Here’s what to do:

Demo account first: Use a demo account (on MT4 or MT5) so you can test the robot without risking real money. This is strongly recommended.
Back-testing: Use the platform’s built-in Strategy Tester to run your EA over historical data. Look for profitability, drawdown, trade count, etc.
Forward testing: Then use it in real-time but still on a demo or small live account. Monitor how it behaves in live market conditions.
Check conditions: Make sure your robot is compatible with your broker’s execution model (spread, commission, slippage) and symbol list.
Monitor performance: Keep an eye on open trades, history, and performance metrics. Adjust parameters if needed.

Step 5: Best practices & troubleshooting

Here are some good practices and what to do if things go wrong:

Good practices

Use a VPS (Virtual Private Server) if you want 24/7 operation and minimal interruptions (especially useful if you trade overnight).
Use strong risk management: limit lot size, define stop-loss/take-profit, don’t over-leverage.
Keep your platform and EA updated: sometimes new builds of MT4/MT5 or updates to the EA code matter.
Monitor your EA regularly: even automated trading needs oversight.
Use trusted sources for EAs: avoid “too good to be true” promises.

Troubleshooting

EA not showing up: check you put the file in the correct Experts folder and restarted the platform.
EA attached but no trades: check AutoTrading is enabled (green), and the smiley face icon is visible on the chart (MT4) or EA shows “Running”.
Errors in Experts or Journal tab: look there for initialization errors, “Invalid Trade”, “Common error”, etc.
Trade execution issues: check your account type, margin, broker restrictions, symbol names.
Performance poor: revisit your back-testing and forward testing results; maybe the robot isn’t suitable for current market conditions.

Step 6: Summary

You now know how to place trading robots on MT4 and MT5: install in correct folder, enable auto-trading, attach to chart.
You learned that MT4 uses .mq4/.ex4 files in MQL4\Experts; MT5 uses .mq5/.ex5 files in MQL5\Experts.
You should always test first on a demo account, back-test and forward-test your Expert Advisor (EA).
Follow best practices: risk management, updates, oversight, VPS if needed.
Troubleshoot common issues like missing files, auto-trading disabled, or platform errors.

Conclusion

Automation can be a powerful tool: trading robots on MT4 and MT5 allow you to trade without constant manual work, react quickly to market conditions and execute strategies with discipline. However, remember: there is no guarantee of profit. You still need to choose the right EA, test it properly, monitor it and use good risk control.

If you follow how to place trading robots on MT4 and MT5 the steps above, you’ll be in a good position to start exploring automated trading. Take it slow, start with a demo, and once comfortable you can move to live trading.