How to Enable Algorithmic Trading in MT5
An EA in MetaTrader 5 needs permission in three places: the terminal options, the EA's own settings and the Algo Trading button. Where each one is, and what turns them off.
By the AURAX teamPublished 3 min read
On this page (4)
An EA in MT5 trades only when algorithmic trading is allowed in three places at once: the terminal-wide option (Tools → Options → Expert Advisors → Allow algorithmic trading), the EA's own setting (Allow Algo Trading on its Common tab), and the Algo Trading button in the toolbar. If any one is off, the EA can run and log messages but cannot open or close a single trade.
| Switch | Where | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Allow algorithmic trading | Tools → Options → Expert Advisors | Terminal default |
| Allow Algo Trading | EA settings (F7 on the chart) → Common tab | This EA on this chart |
| Algo Trading button | Main toolbar (Ctrl+E) | Every EA in the terminal, right now |
Part of the MT5 Expert Advisor guide.
Step by step
Terminal options
Tools → Options → Expert Advisors. Tick Allow algorithmic trading. While you are there, read the options under it (next section) — several of them switch algo trading off automatically.
The EA's own permission
On the chart running the EA, press F7 (or right-click → Expert list → Properties). On the Common tab, tick Allow Algo Trading. Click OK.
The toolbar button
Click Algo Trading in the toolbar, or press Ctrl+E. It is on when it is highlighted.
Check the chart
The EA's name in the chart's top-right corner shows an icon that changes when trading is allowed. The Experts tab should show no "algo trading disabled" messages.
What turns algo trading off
The terminal options include safety switches that disable algo trading on certain events. They are sensible defaults for a desktop, and a common reason an EA silently stops on a server:
- Disable algorithmic trading when the account has been changed — logging in to another account.
- … when the profile has been changed — switching chart profiles.
- … when the chart symbol or period has been changed — changing the timeframe of the EA's chart.
- Pressing Ctrl+E by accident, which toggles the toolbar button for every EA at once.
The account itself can also forbid automated trading. If the Journal says trading is disabled for the account, or you logged in with the investor (read-only) password, no local setting will help — log in with the trading password, or ask the broker.
Other permissions an EA may need
| Permission | Where | Needed when |
|---|---|---|
| Allow WebRequest for listed URL | Tools → Options → Expert Advisors | The EA talks to a server (licence, portal, signals) |
| Allow DLL imports | Options, and the EA's Dependencies tab | The EA calls external libraries — only enable for code you trust |
Diagnosing an EA that will not trade
| Where to look | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Algo Trading button | Whether any EA can trade at all |
| Chart corner icon | Whether this EA is allowed |
| Experts tab | The EA's own log — its reasons for not trading, and errors like invalid volume |
| Journal tab | The terminal's side — connection, login, "trade disabled" from the server |
| Market Watch → Specification | Whether the market is open now and the minimum lot |
Work down that list in order. Most "broken EA" reports are one of the switches in this article, a market that is closed, or a volume below the broker's minimum.
Sources
- Algorithmic trading, trading robots — MetaQuotes — MetaTrader 5 Help