Once you have the strategy, the next step is to deploy it live in the trading platform. This guide provides simple, step-by-step instructions to help you set up and run your trading strategies in MT5.
Step 1: Copy Indicators to the MT5 Folder
- Locate Indicator Files: Find the
.mq5
files for the indicators you need to use. You can download these files here. - Open MetaTrader: Launch your MetaTrader platform (MT4 or MT5).
- Open Data Folder:
- In MetaTrader, go to
File
>Open Data Folder
.
- In MetaTrader, go to
- Navigate to Indicators Folder:
- In the Data Folder window, navigate to
MQL4
(for MT4) orMQL5
(for MT5), then open theIndicators
folder.
- In the Data Folder window, navigate to
- Copy Indicator Files:
- Copy the
.mq5
indicator files to theIndicators
folder.
- Copy the
Step 2: Copy the Strategy to the MT5 Folder
- Locate EA Strategy Files: Find the
.mq5
files for the EA strategy you want to use. - Open MetaTrader Data Folder:
- Follow the same steps as above to open the Data Folder.
- Navigate to Experts Folder:
- In the Data Folder window, go to
MQL4
(for MT4) orMQL5
(for MT5), then open theExperts
folder.
- In the Data Folder window, go to
- Copy EA Files:
- Copy the
.mq5
EA files to theExperts
folder.
- Copy the
Step 3: Compile the Strategy and Indicators
- Open MetaEditor:
- In MetaTrader, go to
Tools
>MetaQuotes Language Editor
or simply pressF4
.
- In MetaTrader, go to
- Compile Indicator Files:
- In MetaEditor, navigate to the
Indicators
folder, select all.mq5
indicator files, and click theCompile
button (or pressF7
). Ensure there are no errors in the compilation.
- In MetaEditor, navigate to the
3. Compile EA Strategy File:
- Open the
.mq5
file of your EA strategy and click theCompile
button (or pressF7
). Again, ensure there are no errors in the compilation.
4. After compilation, there will be both .mq5
and .ex5
files in the respective folders.
Step 4: Refresh MetaTrader 5
- Refresh Navigator:
- Go back to MetaTrader 5.
- In the
Navigator
window, right-click and selectRefresh
to update the list of available indicators and EAs.
Step 5: Enable Auto Trading
- Enable Auto Trading Globally:
- In MetaTrader, ensure that the
Auto Trading
button on the main toolbar is enabled. The button should be green. If it’s red, click it to enable auto trading.
- In MetaTrader, ensure that the
- Configure Auto Trading Settings:
- Go to
Tools
>Options
(or pressCtrl+O
), and then navigate to theExpert Advisors
tab. - Check the options
Allow automated trading
andAllow DLL imports
. Make sure to configure any additional settings according to your preferences.
- Go to
Step 6: Insert the Strategy into the Chart
- Open the Desired Chart:
- Open a chart for the currency pair or financial instrument you want the EA to trade on.
- Add the EA to the Chart:
- In the
Navigator
window, underExpert Advisors
, find your EA. - Drag and drop the EA onto the chart, or right-click on the EA and select
Attach to a chart
.
- In the
Warning
If the strategy name contains DE_15...
, it means the strategy is designed for the DAX40 symbol and the M15 timeframe. Ensure that your chart is set to the correct timeframe.
3. Configure EA Settings:
- A settings window will pop up where you can configure the parameters of your EA. Adjust the settings according to your strategy’s requirements.
- Ensure that the
Allow live trading
option is checked in theCommon
tab. - Don’t forget to set the lot size – trade volume based on your account size.
4. Confirm and Start:
- Click
OK
to apply the settings. The EA should now be active on the chart. - You should see a smiley face icon in the top right corner of the chart if the EA is running correctly. If there’s a sad face, recheck your settings and auto trading status.