MT5 EA Installation Guide｜7 Steps to Quickly Start Automated Trading

2025-04-22
Learn Forex, Expert Advisor, Newbie

Not sure how to use EA in MT5? This tutorial fully explains the seven steps from downloading, installing, dragging onto the chart, setting parameters, enabling automated trading, to testing with a Demo Account, helping beginners easily activate their first automated trading program.

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This website uses AI-assisted translation. If you have any feedback or suggestions, feel free to contact us. We look forward to receiving your valuable feedback! [email protected]

How to Start Using Expert Advisor (EA) (MT5) ? (Solving the Problem of Not Knowing Where to Start)

You may have heard that Expert Advisor (EA) can help with automated trading, but for beginners, the first step is often the hardest: "How exactly do I get started?"
Don't worry, this article will teach you in simple steps how to install and activate your first EA on MetaTrader 5 (MT5), a commonly used trading platform.

Step 1: Obtain the EA File

First, you need to have the EA program file. You can download it from the MQL5 Market, EA development websites, or forex forums.

After downloading, you will usually get the following files:

.ex5 file: a compiled file that can be directly executed in MT5.
.mq5 file: source code, available for modification.

If it is a .zip compressed file, please unzip it first.

Step 2: Place the EA File into the MT5 Folder

Open the MT5 platform.
Click the "File" menu at the top left.
Select "Open Data Folder".
Enter the MQL5 folder.
Then enter the Experts folder.
Paste the .ex5 or .mq5 file into this folder.
Restart MT5, or right-click in the Navigator and select "Refresh".

Step 3: Add the EA to the Chart

Open "Navigator" on the left side of MT5 (you can press Ctrl+N to open it).
Expand "Expert Advisors" and find the EA you just placed.
Select a currency pair chart (e.g., EUR/USD).
Drag the EA onto the chart.

Step 4: Configure the Basic Options of the EA

After adding the EA to the chart, a settings window will appear. Please pay attention to the following items:

"Common" tab:
- Check "Allow Algo Trading", otherwise the EA cannot execute trades.
- If DLL functionality is needed, go to the toolbar, select "Tools" > "Options", and under "Expert Advisors" check "Allow DLL imports".

"Inputs" tab:
- You can adjust trading parameters such as lot size, stop loss, take profit, etc.
- If unfamiliar, you can use default values or refer to the EA documentation.

After configuration, click "OK".

Step 5: Enable MT5's Automated Trading Feature

Find the "Algo Trading" button on the toolbar.
Click to enable it (it will turn into a green play icon).

Step 6: Check if the EA is Running

If set correctly, the EA name and icon should appear at the top right of the chart, indicating the EA is running properly.
If not displayed, please go back and verify the previous settings.

Step 7: [A Must for Beginners!] Practice with a Demo Account First!

This is very important!

Do not trade with real money immediately.
Open a Demo Account to conduct tests.
Observe the EA's performance and risks in the Demo Account for at least several weeks.

How to Stop the EA?

Stop a single EA: Right-click the chart → "Expert List" → Remove, or simply close the chart.
Stop all EAs: Click the "Algo Trading" button on the toolbar to turn it red.
Note: Stopping the EA does not automatically close positions; please manually handle existing trades.

By following these steps, you can smoothly start using Expert Advisor (EA) on MT5.
Remember, patient testing and understanding of strategies is the first step to building stable trading!