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Install Guide · MT4

How to Install an EA
in MetaTrader 4

Getting your Expert Advisor running in MT4 takes under 5 minutes. You need to place the .ex4 file in the right folder and restart the platform — that's it.

⏱ 3 min read📂 MT4 · MQL4 · Experts🟢 Works on all MT4 builds

Before You Start

Make sure you have the .ex4 file (the compiled Expert Advisor) ready. This is what you download after purchasing — not a .set file, not a .mq4 source file. The .ex4 is what MT4 actually runs.

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Also need a set file? After installing the EA, you'll want to load the optimised settings for your pair. See the Set File guide for the next step.

Watch: Video Tutorial

Prefer to follow along visually? This walkthrough covers the full installation process step by step.

Step-by-Step Installation

1
Open MT4 and go to File → Open Data Folder
With MT4 running, click File in the top menu bar, then select Open Data Folder. A Windows Explorer window will open showing MT4's data directory.
2
Navigate to MQL4 → Experts
Inside the data folder, open the MQL4 folder, then open Experts. This is the only folder MT4 will read EAs from.
…\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\[ID]\MQL4\Experts\
3
Copy your .ex4 file into the Experts folder
Drag and drop (or paste) your .ex4 file into this folder. If you received multiple files, only the .ex4 goes here — set files go in MQL4\presets.
4
Restart MetaTrader 4
Close and reopen MT4 completely. The EA will now appear in the Navigator panel under Expert Advisors. You can also right-click the Expert Advisors section and choose Refresh without restarting.
5
Drag the EA onto a chart
Open the correct chart (pair + timeframe as specified in the set files). Drag the EA from the Navigator onto the chart. The settings dialog will open — load your set file here, check Allow live trading in the Common tab, and click OK. A smiley face in the top-right corner confirms it's running.
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AutoTrading must be ON. The green "AutoTrading" button in the MT4 toolbar must be active (green, not red). If it's red, the EA will load but will not place any trades.

Troubleshooting

EA not showing in Navigator

Double-check the file is in MQL4\Experts — not in the root data folder, not in MQL4\Indicators. Right-click Expert Advisors in Navigator and click Refresh. If it still doesn't appear, fully restart MT4.

Smiley face shows but no trades

Check that AutoTrading is enabled (green button in toolbar), that the EA's "Allow live trading" checkbox was ticked when you attached it, and that your broker is connected. Some EAs also only trade during certain sessions — check the set file documentation.

EA shows a sad face

A sad face usually means a DLL is blocked or live trading permission is missing. Go to Tools → Options → Expert Advisors and make sure "Allow DLL imports" and "Allow live trading" are both checked.

Ready to run your EA?

Every EA comes with set files, documentation, and direct Telegram support from the developer.

Up next

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