How to Trade Automatically on MetaTrader 4 Using Robots

Trading is exciting, but it’s also time-consuming, stressful, and sometimes exhausting. That’s why many forex fans are starting to experiment with MT4 robots – algorithmic bots that work within the MetaTrader 4 environment to streamline trading strategies.

An MT4 automated trading robot does a lot more than just put trading decisions on autopilot. It can act as a personal assistant, operating around the clock, reacting to market changes, and boosting profits, all without the limitations of human emotions.

While an MT4 trading bot will never be a guaranteed money-making machine – it could be a great option if you want to make trading more data-driven, strategic, and efficient.

Here’s how you can set up your own strategy for automated trading on MT4.

What Are MT4 Trading Robots (Expert Advisors)?

Trading bots, sometimes called algorithmic bots, or “Expert Advisors” are software programs that automate trading activities for humans. They operate on platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4), following the specific rules set by you (the user), to enter and exit trades.

EAs leverage historical data, technical analysis, and other data insights to identify opportunities that match the rules you’ve set. When they find an opportunity, they jump in instantly, within a fraction of a second. In fact, some studies suggest that automated systems can boost trade execution times by 50% – that matters in a fast-paced market.

MT4 robots are the bots specifically designed for MetaTrader 4 – one of the most popular online trading platforms for CFD and Forex trading. It’s designed to support automatic trading solutions, and gives users plenty of tools for analyzing markets too.

The Advantages of Using Expert Advisors

Installing an MT4 robot doesn’t guarantee that all of your trades are going to be successful – nothing does that. But bots do give you a great way to upgrade various trading strategies, with

• Emotion-Free Execution: Human beings make bad decisions based on emotion. Greed and fear can cause us to act out of character, ignoring the rules we’ve already set for ourselves. But trading robots always follow the plan. They don’t hesitate or panic, so they’re more likely to deliver consistent results.
• Always-On Performance: Bots don’t eat, sleep, or take breaks. They focus entirely on the task they’re given. EAs can monitor the markets constantly, making sure that you never miss an opportunity to make some extra cash. They also perform a lot faster than most traders – so there’s less risk of slippage when you do place a trade.
• Backtesting Capabilities: With MT4, you can test your EA against historical data. That’s a process known as backtesting, and it helps you identify how well your strategy would have performed against similar market conditions. The more you learn, the more you can tweak your approach (but be careful about over-tuning).

Just remember there are risks too, like lack of adaptability (when robots follow very specific rules), and system vulnerabilities. But if you can navigate those, bots could become your best friend.

Setting Up MetaTrader 4 for Algorithmic Trading

So, how do beginners get started with automated trading on MT4? It’s reasonably straightforward. The first thing you’ll need to do is create an MT4 account, and actually install the software on whatever device you want to use (desktop and mobile devices are supported).

Register with a forex broker, then head to the MetaTrader website to sign up, and access the software. Make sure you’re on the official website (there are scammers out there). Choose the version of the software you want based on your operating system, and hit download.

Once you have the file, double click on it to start the installation. You should see a set-up wizard appear that will guide you through the basic instructions you need to follow. Once the download is done, MT4 should launch automatically. When it does:

Open a Demo or Live Account

It’s usually a good idea to start with a demo account if you’re new – particularly if you’re trying out an MT4 trading bot for the first time. If you’ve used the platform before, or you’re confident in your bot, you can skip straight to going live. To open your account:

• Open the application (if it isn’t open already)
• Go to the File menu, and choose Open an Account
• Pick a server provided by your broker.
• Choose an account type (demo for testing strategies without risking real money, or live if you want to dive straight in).
• Fill in your personal details, such as your contact information and name.
• Finalize the setup and wait for your login credentials.

Navigating the MT4 Interface

Take a little time with this step if you’re new to MT4. There are various features on this platform that can help with your strategy. For instance:

• Market Watch: On the left-hand side of your dashboard, the Market Watch feature will show you a list of trading instruments alongside bid and ask prices. Right click on the symbols to open price charts, view specs, or place orders.
• Navigator: Underneath the Market Watch feature, the Navigator gives you quick access to all of your accounts, indicators, and Expert Advisors. You’ll need to use this to manage your trading tools and scripts.
• Terminal: At the bottom of the page, the terminal window gives you access to tabs for trading, account history insights, alerts, mailboxes, experts, and your journal.

Finding and Installing an MT4 Trading Bot

Now you have your account, and hopefully, you’re feeling confident with the platform it’s time to find your bot. There are a lot of great options out there. The right one for you will depend on your trading strategy, risk level, and specific needs. For instance, you can find bots that are ideal for trend following, or gold trading techniques.

Always choose a reliable source when buying a bot. You can check out:

• The MQL5 Market: The official online store for MT4 and MT5 trading bots. You’ll find a bunch of free and premium options here, as well as user reviews and ratings to guide you.
• Trading Forums: Communities like Forex Factory are excellent hubs for traders to share their experiences with various EAs. You can read real-world reviews and even pick up insider tips on the best performing robots (and how to use them).
• Custom Development: If you have a specific idea in mind, you could always hire a developer. Find one that specializes in MLQ4 – the scripting language for MT4.

Installing an EA on MT4

Once you’ve got your EA file (usually one with a .ex4 or .mq4 extension), the installation process is simple. Find the file on your system, and download or copy it to your computer. Then, log into the MT4 platform, and click on the File tab:

• Select Open Data Folder
• In the window that appears, click on the MQL4 folder, and click on Experts.
• Copy and paste your file into the Experts folder.

After that, refresh the platform, or simply right-click on Expert Advisors in your Navigator and hit “Refresh”. If everything installs properly, you’ll see a settings window pop-up, where you can adjust your bot’s algorithms. Make sure you enable options for things like “live trading” and “DLL imports”.

Drag and drop your EA onto the chart of the instrument you want to trade, and click on the “Autotrading” button to enable it.

Configuring and Testing Your MT4 Robot

This is probably the most important step. Once you have your EA installed, you need to customize it, and make sure it actually works. You can adjust the properties of your bot by visiting the Navigator panel, clicking on the Expert Advisors option, and right-clicking your bot. Select Properties. 

You should see a window that allows you to set specific parameters for things like lot size, risk level, and trading hours. Make sure all of these settings align with your specific risk management efforts, strategy, and the current market conditions.

Backtesting Your Robot

One of the best things about MT4 trading robots, is they’re easy to backtest. There’s a built in “Strategy Tester” (you can find this in the View tab), that’s great for examining how your robot would have performed in historical conditions.

Open the Strategy Tester (you can use the CTRL+R shortcut on a PC), then:

• Select your MT4 trading bot from the menu.
• Choose the instrument you want to trade, and a time frame.
• Pick a modelling mode (Every tick is usually a good option for accuracy)
• Adjust your testing parameters within Expert Properties
• Click Start to run your backtest

Check the results on the Results and Graph tabs.

Optimizing Your Results

Now you’ve done some backtesting, you might decide you want to tweak your EA’s parameters even further. MetaTrader 4 can help with this. Check the Optimization box in the Strategy Tester, and this will allow for variations during tests.

In the Inputs tab, define a range for all of your parameters, and specify a start, step, and stop value. In the Testing tab, you should be able to pick what you want to optimize. For instance, you can focus on profit factor, or balance maximization.

Run the optimization test, and check the results.

Launching and Monitoring Your Expert Advisor

After a decent amount of testing, you’re ready to go live. The most important first step here is to activate the AutoTrading mode – you should see a button for this in the MT4 toolbar. If a green “play” icon pops up, you know the feature is active.

Verify your EA’s permissions again (make sure it allows for live trading and DLL imports). Once your bot is working, don’t just leave it to the job.

Even the best MT4 robots need supervision:

• Conduct Regular Performance Reviews: Monitor everything through the Terminal window’s Trade and Account History tabs. Keep a close eye on your metrics – particularly things like profit/loss, trade duration, and drawdown.
• Periodically adjust: Based on what you learn, make small tweaks to your settings, such as lot size or trading hours. Always review your bot parameters after major market changes.
• Manage Risks: Define clear stop loss and take profit levels for every trade (Within the EA settings), and avoid over-optimization. Remember, just because a bot performs well on a historical test, doesn’t mean it will thrive in a live market.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

As mentioned above, automated trading is great, but it’s not without its risks. It’s easy for beginners to make mistakes, and even seasoned pros slip up at times. The main things we recommend watching out for include:

Using Untested EAs

Don’t just trust every bot. Deploying a new EA without testing it is a recipe for disaster. Remember, an MT4 bot might perform well in historical settings, but can struggle in live market conditions. Use backtesting to validate performance, but remember to consider forward testing too, using demo accounts to evaluate the system’s real-time performance without risk.

Every time you make a change to your bot’s settings, or the market shifts, test again. It’s the only way to make sure you’re really setting yourself up for success.

Automation without Supervision

It’s tempting to leave your bot to run on its own while you focus on other things. You should be able to do that to some extent – but remember that bots aren’t perfect. They can make mistakes, particularly as market conditions evolve. Periodic human oversight is critical to ensuring you’re adapting to shifts and trends quickly.

Focus on staying up to date with the latest market news and economic indicators, and know when to step in and replace your bot when necessary.

Ignoring Broker Restrictions

Brokers regularly have specific rules you need to follow with trading strategies. They might impose limitations on hedging and scalping for instance. If your EA violates those rules, you could face penalties, or have your account suspended.

Make sure you read through your broker’s terms of service carefully, and configure your EA based on those guidelines.

Let Robots Do the Heavy Lifting

Automated trading isn’t just for tech wizards or hedge funds anymore. MT4 robots are becoming increasingly beginner-friendly and accessible – meaning everyone has the chance to tap into the benefits of algorithmic trading.

Now you know how to trade with bots on MetaTrader 4, make sure you start out slow, with a demo account, and plenty of testing. Once you’re ready to go live, show caution, never invest what you can’t afford to lose, and always keep an eye on your bot, and the markets.

If you’re ready to jump in, Pivozon offers one of the world’s leading XAU/USD trading bots delivering precision, efficiency, and speed, with minimal risk.