Trade now
EN

How to add Expert Advisor (EA) on MT4/5?

📁 Step 1: Place the EA Files into the Correct Folder

1.Copy your EA files：File Check。

Locate your software files on your computer.

  • For MT4: EA files end in .ex4 or .mq4.
  • For MT5: EA files end in .ex5 or .mq5.

2.Open the Data Folder：Platform Navigation。

Open your MT4 or MT5 terminal. Click File in the top-left menu and select Open Data Folder. A system folder window will pop up automatically.

3.Paste the files：Directory Routing。

Navigate through the pop-up window directories and paste your files exactly as follows:

  • For MT4: Navigate to MQL4 > Experts, and paste your EA file here.
  • For MT5: Navigate to MQL5 > Experts (you can also place it inside the Advisors subfolder), and paste your EA file here.

4.Refresh the platform：Navigator Update。

Go back to your MT4/MT5 workspace. In the Navigator window on the left, find Expert Advisors. Right-click on it and select Refresh (or simply close and restart the platform). Your new EA will now appear in the list.

⚙️ Step 2: Attach the EA to a Chart & Configure

  • Prepare your chart: Open the chart of the financial instrument you want to trade (e.g., EURUSD-STD) and select your preferred strategy timeframe (e.g., H1, M15).

  • Attach the EA: In the Navigator window, drag and drop your EA directly onto the live chart, or double-click it.

  • Configure the settings (Crucial step): A properties configuration window will pop up.

    1. Go to the Common tab. You must check "Allow Live Trading" (In MT5, this is labeled as "Allow Algo Trading").

    2. Switch to the Inputs tab to adjust your custom strategy parameters (lot size, stop loss, take profit targets, etc.), then click OK.

⚡ Step 3: Turn on Automated Trading in the Toolbar

Even after successfully attaching the EA, it will not execute trades until global platform permissions are turned on.

  1. Look at the top toolbar of your terminal > Tools > Options > Expert Advisor. Make sure you check the all option.

  2. Look at the top toolbar of your terminal> Find the Auto Trading button (MT4) or Algo Trading button (MT5).

  3. If the button icon displays a red stop sign, click it to turn it green.

PlatformActive Status Indicators (Top-Right Corner of the Chart)
MT4You will see a smiley face 😊. If it shows a sad face 🙁, it means Live Trading parameters or the global Auto Trading button remains disabled.
MT5You will see a blue hat icon 🎩. If the icon is grey or white, Algo Trading permissions are currently deactivated for this specific EA.

Related articles