How to Install MetaTrader 5 on Windows (2026 step-by-step)

Instruções passo a passo

1. Passo 1: Download the broker's MetaTrader 5 installer

   Open the website of the broker where you have (or plan to have) an account and find the MT5 download link, usually under 'Platforms' or 'Downloads'. Always prefer the broker-branded installer over the generic build from metaquotes.net.

   Why this matters: the broker-branded installer ships with the broker's server list pre-configured, so you skip the manual server lookup step at first login. It is also signed against the broker's licensing keys, which prevents the 'Account is unavailable on this server' error that frequently confuses first-time users who downloaded the generic build.

   The file you receive is called something like mt5setup.exe and weighs 5–15 MB. Save it somewhere obvious like Desktop or Downloads. Do not rename the file.

2. Passo 2: Run the installer as Administrator

   Right-click mt5setup.exe and choose 'Run as administrator'. Windows will pop a UAC prompt; click Yes. Administrator rights are required because MT5 writes to %ProgramFiles% and registers protocol handlers (the metatrader5:// URL scheme used for one-click broker logins).

   If you do not have Administrator rights on the machine, install to a user-writable directory like C:\Users\<yourname>\MT5\. The terminal works fine outside Program Files; the only thing you lose is the URL handler, which is rarely used in practice.

   The installer wizard asks four things: (1) accept the licence, (2) pick the install path, (3) confirm the Start Menu folder, and (4) click Install. Do not check 'Open MetaTrader 5 on Windows startup' — autostart causes problems later when you migrate to a VPS.

3. Passo 3: Launch MT5 and pick your broker's server

   Click Finish to launch the terminal. On first run MT5 shows the 'Open an Account' dialog. If your installer was broker-branded, your broker's server (e.g. ICMarkets-Demo, Pepperstone-Live05) is already in the list — type the broker name into the search box and select the correct server.

   There are usually multiple servers per broker, numbered like Demo, Live01, Live02, Live03. Match the server name printed on your broker account confirmation email. Picking the wrong server is the most common cause of the 'Invalid account' error on first login; the credentials are tied to a specific server, not the broker as a whole.

   For a brand-new trader who does not have an account yet, choose 'Open a new demo account' instead, fill in the form, and MT5 will create demo credentials for you on the spot.

4. Passo 4: Log in with your trading credentials

   Enter the 8-digit Login number and the master password from your broker's confirmation email. The 'Save account information' checkbox stores the credentials in MT5's protected config (terminal.ini) so you don't have to retype them next launch.

   If you only have an investor password (read-only), check 'Investor password' and use that. Investor mode lets you watch the account but blocks order placement — useful for monitoring an EA running on someone else's terminal, but blocks any EA from trading on this login.

   A successful login flashes the status bar at the bottom right with the ping number in milliseconds (e.g. '12 ms'). If you see '4001 — No connection' or 'Invalid account', the issue is one of: wrong server, wrong password, broker server down, or your firewall blocking MT5 outbound on ports 443/444.

5. Passo 5: Verify the data feed in Market Watch

   Open View → Market Watch (Ctrl+M). You should see a list of symbols with live bid/ask prices updating every second during market hours. If your broker delivers a curated feed, right-click any symbol → Show All to expose every instrument.

   For EA users, the critical check is the symbol your EA expects to trade. EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY are universal. XAUUSD might be called GOLD, XAU/USD, or GLDUSD depending on the broker. If you cannot find the symbol you need, contact the broker — you may need a different account type (e.g. ECN vs Standard).

   Open any chart by double-clicking the symbol. If prices update on the chart and the connection ping is green, your install is complete and ready for an EA.

6. Passo 6: Locate your data folder (you will need it later)

   MT5 stores Expert Advisors, indicators, scripts, and preset files in a per-installation 'data folder' separate from the Program Files install path. File → Open Data Folder reveals it. The path looks like C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\<unique-hash>\.

   Note this path; every time you install an EA you will drop the .ex5 file into MQL5\Experts\ inside the data folder. Preset .set files go in MQL5\Presets\. Custom indicators go in MQL5\Indicators\.

   If you ever run multiple MT5 installations side-by-side (e.g. one per broker), each one gets a different data folder hash. The path inside Roaming is how you tell them apart.

Erros comuns a evitar

• ✗ Downloading the generic installer from metatrader5.comSolução: Use your broker's branded installer so the server list is pre-loaded and the binary is signed against their licence.
• ✗ Installing under a Microsoft account redirected to OneDriveSolução: Pick a local path like C:\MT5\ — OneDrive sync corrupts MT5's tick history files because they are mmap'd.
• ✗ Picking the wrong server (Live01 vs Live03)Solução: Server name is printed in the broker's account confirmation email. Wrong server = 'Invalid account' error regardless of correct credentials.
• ✗ Logging in with the investor password by accidentSolução: Investor mode is read-only; an EA cannot place trades. Use the master password unless you specifically want monitoring-only access.
• ✗ Antivirus quarantining mt5setup.exeSolução: Add the installer and the install directory to your antivirus exclusion list. MT5's tick streaming is sometimes flagged as 'suspicious network behaviour' by Norton and Kaspersky.
• ✗ Running MT5 with Windows scaling > 100%Solução: On 4K displays at 150% scaling, MT5's toolbar icons render blurry. Either set scaling to 100% or right-click terminal.exe → Properties → Compatibility → High DPI settings → check 'Override high DPI scaling'.

Perguntas frequentes