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Step by step · MT4, MT5 and TradingView · Updated November 2026

How to Install EAs and Indicators in MT4 and MT5

From the download to a working chart in about two minutes, then what to check when an EA is on the chart but not trading. TradingView scripts are covered too. Pick your platform once and every step, folder name and picture below matches your screen.

Show steps for
Not sure? A file ending in .ex4 is for MT4, .ex5 is for MT5. A TradingView script opens on tradingview.com.

A free account

Log into TradingView. The free plan is enough to add our scripts; it only limits how many indicators fit on one chart.

Nothing to download

The script stays on TradingView. You add it to your account once and it's there in the browser, the desktop app and the phone app.

It shows, you trade

A TradingView script draws on the chart and can send alerts. It doesn't place trades by itself; for that, use an EA in MT4 or MT5.

Use a computer

EAs and custom indicators run in MetaTrader on a Windows PC or a Mac. The phone apps and the web terminal can't run them. To keep an EA trading while your computer is off, run MetaTrader on a VPS.

Match the platform

.ex4 and .mq4 files work only in MT4. .ex5 and .mq5 work only in MT5. Renaming a file doesn't convert it.

Unzip first

MetaTrader can't read a .zip. Right-click the download, choose Extract All, and work from the folder it makes.

1

Install an EA or indicator

The same five steps for both. The only difference is the folder: EAs go in Experts, indicators go in Indicators.

  1. Open the data folder

    In MetaTrader, click File, then Open Data Folder (or press Ctrl+Shift+D). A folder window opens. This is where MetaTrader keeps its EAs and indicators.

    Double-clicking the .ex4.ex5 file won't install it. Windows doesn't know what to do with it; MetaTrader only loads it from this folder.

    File ViewInsertChartsToolsWindowHelp New Chart Profiles Save As Picture... Open Data Folder Ctrl+Shift+D Login to Trade Account Exit

  2. Open MQL4MQL5, then the right folder

    Double-click MQL4MQL5. For an EA, open Experts. For an indicator, open Indicators.

    ‹ › … › MetaQuotes › Terminal › … › MQL4MQL5 Experts Files Images Include Indicators Libraries PresetsProfiles Scripts EAs go here Indicators go here

  3. Copy the file in

    Copy the .ex4.ex5 file from your unzipped download into that folder. Other files in the zip: see Which folder.

    Is the file you have a .mq4.mq5? That's the source code. Put it in the same folder, open it in MetaEditor (F4) and click Compile.

    Your download Your EA.ex4.ex5 Your EA.set Read me.txt Copy MQL4MQL5 › Experts MACD Sample.ex4 Advisors Your EA.ex4.ex5 Moving Average.ex4 Examples

  4. Refresh the Navigator

    Back in MetaTrader, open the Navigator (Ctrl+N). Right-click Expert Advisors (or Indicators) and click Refresh. Your file appears in the list. No restart needed.

    Navigator× MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5 Accounts Indicators Expert Advisors Your EA Scripts Services Refresh Right-click, then Refresh

  5. Drag it onto a chart

    Open a chart of the pair and timeframe the EA was made for (the download post says which). Drag the EA from the Navigator onto the chart. A settings window opens: check the Inputs, especially the lot size, then click OK.

    Before it can trade, an EA needs auto trading switched on, and most need DLL imports allowed too. That's the next part: Turn it on.

    Expert Advisors Your EA EURUSD,H1 Your EA

Indicators: the same steps, with the Indicators folder in step 2 and the Indicators list in the Navigator. An indicator never trades, so it doesn't need the auto trading switches, but most need DLL imports allowed, the same as an EA (part 3, A and C).

2

Which folder does each file go in?

Every path starts in the data folder (File › Open Data Folder).

FileWhat it isPut it in
.ex4.mq4.ex5.mq5An EA (expert advisor, trades for you)MQL4\ExpertsMQL5\Experts
.ex4.mq4.ex5.mq5An indicator (draws on the chart)MQL4\IndicatorsMQL5\Indicators
.dllA helper library. Only some downloads include one; DLL imports need allowing either way (part 3).MQL4\LibrariesMQL5\Libraries
.setSaved EA settings. No need to copy it: load it from the EA's Inputs tab (part 6).anywhere (or MQL4\Presets)anywhere
.tplA chart template: colours plus the indicators on it.templates (next to MQL4, not inside it)MQL5\Profiles\Templates
.mqhSource code other files include. Only matters if you compile.MQL4\IncludeMQL5\Include

EA or indicator? The download post says. Some EAs read an indicator to trade; if the zip has both, each goes in its own folder. And if the zip already has an MQL4MQL5 folder inside, copy that folder into the data folder and every file lands in the right place.

3

Turn on auto trading and DLL imports

Most EAs and indicators call DLLs that are already part of Windows, for things like their on-chart panel. So they need DLL imports allowed even when the download has no .dll file. Step A is once per MetaTrader. B and C are for every EA you add, and D tells you it worked.

AOnce: the Options window

Click Tools › Options (Ctrl+O), open the Expert Advisors tab and tick Allow automated tradingAllow algorithmic trading and Allow DLL imports. Click OK. MetaTrader remembers it.

Options× Trade Expert Advisors Allow automated tradingAllow algorithmic trading Allow DLL imports (potentially…)

BThe toolbar button

Click AutoTradingAlgo Trading in the toolbar, or press Ctrl+E. The icon shows a green triangle when it's on and a red dot when it's off.It shows a green triangle and stays pressed in when it's on, a red square when it's off.

OFF AutoTrading Algo Trading ON AutoTrading Algo Trading

CThe EA's own boxes

In the window that opens when you drop the EA on the chart, go to the Common tab and tick Allow live trading and Allow DLL imports. To open it again later, click the chart and press F7.

In the window that opens when you drop the EA on the chart, tick Allow Algo Trading on the Common tab, then Allow DLL imports on the Dependencies tab. To open it again later, right-click the chart and open the EA's properties.

Your EA× About Common Inputs Common InputsDependencies Allow live tradingAllow Algo Trading Allow DLL imports DLL imports: on the Dependencies tab OK Cancel

DCheck the chart corner

The EA's name sits in the chart's top-right corner. A smiling face means it can trade. A sad face means the toolbar button (B) or the EA's trading box (C) is off.A blue cap means it can trade. A grey cap means the toolbar button (B) or the EA's trading box (C) is off.

Your EA Can trade Your EA Can't trade

MetaTrader can switch the toolbar button off by itself, for example when you log into another account. If an EA stopped trading after you changed something, look at the button first.

A DLL can do anything a program on your computer can. Allow it for EAs and indicators you trust, and if your antivirus flags a DLL, don't override it for a file you're not sure about.

4

Installed, but not trading?

This is the question we get most in the comments. Go down the list and tick each one off; the cause is almost always in here.

Read the Experts tab

Open the TerminalToolbox at the bottom of the screen (Ctrl+T) and click the Experts tab. Every message your EA prints shows up here, newest at the bottom.

Look for the lines below. Each one tells you exactly what to fix.

TerminalToolbox TimeMessage 12:04:51 Your EA EURUSD,H1: loaded successfullyexpert Your EA (EURUSD,H1) loaded successfully 12:04:52 Your EA EURUSD,H1: dll calls are not allowedYour EA (EURUSD,H1) DLL loading is not allowed 12:04:52 Your EA EURUSD,H1: initializedYour EA (EURUSD,H1) initialized TradeExposure Account HistoryHistory Experts Journal
If you seeIt meansDo this
dll calls are not allowedDLL loading is not allowedThe EA needs a DLL and you haven't allowed it.Allow DLL imports (part 3A and 3C).
cannot load / is not loaded + a .dll nameThe .dll isn't where MetaTrader looks for it.Copy it into MQL4\LibrariesMQL5\Libraries.
AutoTrading disabled by clientAlgo Trading disabled at the client terminalAuto trading is switched off: the toolbar button or the EA's own box.Turn both on (part 3B and 3C).
Trade is disabledThis account or symbol can't trade right now: a read-only symbol name, a closed market, or you logged in with the investor (read-only) password.Use the tradable symbol, log in with your main password, or wait for the market to open.
Market is closedWeekend or the symbol's break.Nothing to fix. It trades when the market opens.
Invalid volumeThe lot size is below your broker's minimum or not a size they accept.Change the lot input (often Lots or Risk).
Not enough moneyThe lot size is too big for the balance.Lower the lot size or the risk.
Invalid stopsStop loss or take profit is too close to the price for this broker.Raise the SL or TP distance in the inputs.
WebRequest / error 40604014The EA wants to read from the web and the address isn't allowed.Add the address (part 5).
5

Allow WebRequest for news and online EAs

EAs that read news or signals from the internet need each web address allowed. The download post or the EA's own message lists them.

  1. Open Tools › Options (Ctrl+O), tab Expert Advisors, the same window as part 3A.
  2. Tick Allow WebRequest for listed URL.
  3. Double-click the line add new URL under it and type each address the EA asks for, for example https://nfs.faireconomy.media for news filters.
  4. Click OK. No restart needed.
Options× ServerChartsTrade Expert Advisors Notifications Allow automated tradingAllow algorithmic trading Disable automated trading when the account has been changedDisable algorithmic trading when the account has been changed Disable automated trading when the profile has been changedDisable algorithmic trading when the profile has been changed Disable … when the charts symbol or period has been changed Allow DLL imports (potentially dangerous, enable only for trusted applications) Allow WebRequest for listed URL: https://nfs.faireconomy.media + add new URL like 'https://www.mql5.com'
6

Load a set file

A .set file holds an EA's settings. You don't need to copy it anywhere: open the EA's settings window, go to Inputs, click Load and pick the file. Check the lot size before you click OK.

Free set files for MT4 and MT5
7

Backtest it before it trades

Run the EA on past prices first, then on a demo account, before real money.

  1. View › Strategy Tester.
  2. Pick the EA, the symbol and the period. Model: Every tick.
  3. Click Start, then read the Results and Report tabs.
  4. Short on history? Tools › History Center (F2) downloads more.
  1. View › Strategy Tester (Ctrl+R).
  2. Pick the EA, the symbol, the timeframe and the dates. Model: Every tick based on real ticks.
  3. Click Start, then read the Backtest and Graph tabs.
  4. MT5 downloads the price history by itself.

An EA that opens no trades in the tester has the same causes as on a chart: wrong pair or timeframe, lot size, or a DLL it needs. The tester's Journal tab shows the messages.

1

Add a TradingView script

Four steps, once per script. After that it's in your account on every device.

  1. Open it on TradingView

    On the download post, click Open on TradingView. The script's own page opens on tradingview.com. Log in if it asks; a free account is enough.

    Your Script Open on TradingView tradingview.com/script/… Your Script

  2. Add it to your favorites

    On that page, click Add to favorites. That saves the script to your TradingView account.

    tradingview.com/script/… Your Script Add to favorites

  3. Put it on a chart

    Open any chart and click Indicators in the top bar (or press /). Choose Favorites on the left and click the script. It's on the chart.

    EURUSD1h fxIndicators Search Favorites Your Script

  4. Change its settings

    Hover over the script's name at the top left of the chart and click the gear icon. Inputs holds its settings, Style its colours.

    Your Script …× Your Script InputsStyleVisibility

Got the code instead of a link? Some scripts come as code (a .txt or .pine file). Open Pine Editor at the bottom of the chart, replace what's there with the code and click Add to chart. Save it when TradingView asks, and it stays in your account with your other scripts.

2

Alerts, and when it doesn't show

Get alerts

Right-click the chart and choose Add alert (or press Alt+A). Under Condition, pick the script and the signal you want, then Create. Alerts reach the TradingView phone app too.

Asked to upgrade?

The free plan caps how many indicators one chart can hold. Remove one you don't use and add the script again.

Nothing on the chart?

Check you're on the pair and timeframe the script was made for, and that its eye icon isn't switched off. Reloading the page fixes most other glitches.

83

Questions

Does it work on the TradingView phone app?
Yes. Once the script is in your favorites, it's in the app's indicator list too, on the same account.
Do I need a paid TradingView plan?
No. Our scripts run on the free plan. Paid plans add more indicators per chart and more alerts.
Can a TradingView script trade for me?
No. It draws signals and sends alerts; you place the trade with your broker. If you want trades placed for you, use an EA in MT4 or MT5.
Is there an MT4 or MT5 version?
Sometimes. When a script also comes for MetaTrader, the download post links that version.
Can I run an EA on my phone?
No. The MetaTrader phone apps and the web terminal can't run EAs or custom indicators. Use MetaTrader on a computer. To keep an EA running when your computer is off, put MetaTrader on a VPS; your phone app can still watch the same account.
Does it work on a Mac?
MetaTrader 5 has a Mac app that runs EAs and indicators the same way, and File › Open Data Folder works the same. For MT4, use your broker's Mac download if they offer one.
Can I use an MT4 EA in MT5?
No. An .ex4 file runs only in MT4 and an .ex5 only in MT5, and renaming doesn't change that. If the post has an MT5 version, it's a separate download.
Do I need to restart MetaTrader after copying a file?
No. Right-click the list in the Navigator and click Refresh. Restarting works too.
It works on demo but not on my live account. Why?
Usually one of three things: the live account's symbol names have a suffix the EA isn't on, the lot size is below the live account's minimum, or the toolbar button switched off when you changed accounts. The Experts tab says which.
Is it safe to allow DLL imports?
Most EAs and indicators here need it, so it has to be on for them to work. A DLL runs with the same access as any program on your computer, so allow it for files from sources you trust.

Still stuck? Ask in the comments on the download post: other readers use the same file. Bought it here? Open a support ticket from your account.

Browse EAs TradingView scripts Support ticket