How to run an MT5 Expert Advisor 24/5 on a VPS
An Expert Advisor only trades while MetaTrader is running. Close your laptop and it stops. A VPS (virtual private server) is a computer in a data centre that keeps MetaTrader running 24 hours a day, five days a week.
Option 1: the built-in MQL5 VPS
MetaTrader 5 has its own VPS service. It costs a few euros a month per account and copies your charts, robots and settings to a server close to your broker.
- Set up your robot on your own computer first, including any allowed web addresses under
Tools › Options › Expert Advisors. - In the Navigator, right-click your account and choose Register a Virtual Server.
- Pick the plan and choose Migrate experts and indicators.
- Check the VPS journal for the robot's start message.
Option 2: your own Windows VPS
A Windows server from a VPS provider lets you run several MetaTrader installations, each logged into a different account. It's cheaper with many accounts, but you manage updates and restarts yourself.
Mistakes to avoid
- Two copies trading at once. After migrating to the MQL5 VPS, switch off Algo Trading on your own computer, or both copies place orders.
- Changing settings locally afterwards. Changes on your computer are not sent to the VPS until you migrate again.
- Forgetting web permissions. If your robot checks a licence online, allow its address before migrating.
- Wrong account after switching. The MQL5 VPS is linked to one account. Moving from demo to live means migrating again from the live account.
Installing Dexter Byte? The install guide covers the VPS step too.
This article is general education, not financial advice. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of loss.