Install Expert Advisor (EA)

PC Install Expert Advisor (EA)

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To use a third-party Expert Advisor (EA), you must first install it on MetaTrader4 (MT4) / MetaTrader5 (MT5). Save the Expert Advisor (EA) files to the "Experts" folder of MT4/MT5, and restart MT4/MT5 to complete the installation.

Here we will look at how to install an Expert Advisor (EA) on MT4/MT5.

Switch between MT4/MT5 tabs to check the steps for each.

Step 1

Click "File" in the menu and select "Open Data Folder".

Step 2

Open the "MQL4" folder.

Step 3

Open the "Experts" folder.

Step 4

Save the Expert Advisor (EA) you wish to install in the "Experts" folder. The file extension of the Expert Advisor (EA) will be either ".ex4" or ".mq4".

MQ4 files need compilation

Files with the "mq4" extension are EA source code files. While these files can also be stored in the folder, they cannot be used unless converted into an "ex4" file by a process called "compilation". Double-clicking on the file name will automatically launch the MetaEditor, an editing software for MQ4 files, and then you can compile the file.

Note that if you put the MQ4 file in the folder as it is and click the "Refresh" button as in step 5 on this page, the compilation will be performed automatically. However, with this method, any error messages will not be shown in case the compilation fails, so we recommend using MetaEditor to compile the file.

Step 5

Right-click on "Expert Advisors" in the Navigator and click "Refresh".

Step 6

Once the Expert Advisor (EA) is installed, you will see its name in the Navigator.

Step 1

Click "File" in the menu and select "Open Data Folder".

Step 2

Open the "MQL5" folder.

Step 3

Open the "Experts" folder.

Step 4

Save the Expert Advisor (EA) you wish to install in the "Experts" folder. The file extension of the Expert Advisor (EA) is ".ex5".

MQ5 files need compilation

Files with the "mq5" extension are EA source code files. While these files can also be stored in the folder, they cannot be used unless converted into an "ex5" file by a process called "compilation". Double-clicking on the file name will automatically launch the MetaEditor, an editing software for MQ5 files, and then you can compile the file.