Opening block
You plan to use Exness with MetaTrader 4 (MT4). This guide fits you. Use it whether you are a beginner learning the platform basics or an active trader running EAs (Expert Advisors — automated trading scripts). Read this to learn what Exness MT4 is. Learn how it differs from other Exness platforms. Follow step-by-step setup, funding, trading, and risk management instructions. See concrete numbers for spreads, commissions, leverage, margin, VPS specs, and data sizes. Get real-world tips for running scalping EAs. Get a short checklist you can complete in 10–30 minutes. Expect 12+ clear specs, 8+ platform limits, and a decision flow to pick the right account and platform for your goals. Start with demo testing for 30–120 minutes. Then run backtests with 1,000+ ticks or 365+ days of data. Use this guide to skip guesswork and speed your MT4 setup to live trading.
Quick answer / TL;DR
Install MT4 on desktop. Open an Exness MT4 account. Deposit the minimum (often $1). Load charts and demo for 30 minutes to 2 hours. MT4 on Exness runs on 4 device types: desktop, web, iOS, Android. MT4 includes 9 built-in timeframes. Leverage options can reach very high caps (example: up to 1:2000 on some accounts). Spreads can start at 0.0 pips on raw-type accounts. Commission examples: $0–$7 per standard lot round-trip, with $3.5 shown on some raw accounts. If you want automation, run MT4 desktop plus a VPS. Target latency <50 ms for scalping EAs.
Overview and Key Features — 6 highlights
Define MT4 on Exness. MT4 is the legacy MetaTrader platform supported by Exness. Use it for manual forex and CFD trading and for automated strategies. Run custom indicators and EAs on the desktop build. Choose MT4 when you need reliability, simple scripting, and wide broker support. Choose other platforms if you need exchange-style depth or native app features.
1) Multi-device access (4 device types)
– Access MT4 on desktop (full), web terminal (browser), iOS, and Android. Use 4 device types for monitoring and trading.
– Sync account login across devices with your account number and password.
– Expect mobile downloads of 20–50 MB and desktop installer sizes of 20–40 MB.
– Use desktop for heavy tasks and mobile for quick checks.
2) Nine built-in timeframes
– MT4 gives you 9 standard timeframes (M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN).
– Combine timeframes for multi-timeframe analysis with 2–4 indicators.
– Save a chart template to reuse across up to 100 charts.
– Set chart bars to load up to 5,000 bars for speed.
3) Support for unlimited custom indicators and 3rd-party EAs
– Load unlimited custom indicators and expert advisors (EA = Expert Advisor).
– Run multiple EAs per account; test with 1–10 simultaneous strategies.
– Enable DLL imports and automated trading with a single checkbox.
– Backtest with 1,000+ ticks or 365+ trading days for robust results.
4) One-click trading and common order types
– Use one-click trading for market entries on desktop.
– MT4 supports market orders and pending orders.
– Common pending types used often: buy limit and sell limit (also buy stop and sell stop).
– Use 2 pending-entry styles for breakout and retracement strategies.
5) Historical data depth
– Download tick/minute history for backtests up to 5+ years (data availability varies by instrument).
– Use the Strategy Tester with 1,000–100,000+ ticks for statistical validity.
– Export test reports in files around 100–500 KB for single runs.
– Store local history on disks with 100–1,000 MB reserved for heavy testing.
6) Low-latency execution with Exness liquidity
– Expect low-latency execution when using Exness liquidity pools.
– Typical server round-trip times can be <50 ms when connected to a local VPS.
– Use VPS with under 50 ms latency for scalping EAs.
– Monitor slippage metrics; expect slippage of 0–5 pips on liquid sessions and higher during news.
Watch out for: MT4 lacks native market-depth (DOM) and exchange-style order book views. Choose MT5 or platform-native solutions for those needs.
How MT4 Works on Exness — 5 components
Understand how MT4 interacts with your Exness account. Break the platform into five components to control your trading.
Component 1: Account link
– Log in to MT4 using your account number and server name shown in your Exness personal area.
– Account numbers are numeric IDs commonly 7–10 digits.
– Read account type codes that identify account families (example server: “Exness-Real7”).
– Switch between live and demo with 1 click after login.
– Keep one account per strategy for risk isolation (1 account per EA recommended).
Component 2: Order execution
– Use market orders for immediate execution and pending orders for future entries.
– Order lifecycle: place → fill or pending → set SL/TP → monitor → close.
– Common minimum stop-loss / take-profit distances vary by instrument; expect 0–10 pips minimum on majors and larger on exotic pairs.
– Example margin requirement: 5% margin equals leverage of 1:20.
– Use position sizing to keep risk per trade at 0.5%–2% of equity.
Component 3: Pricing and spreads
– Spread equals the difference between the bid and ask, measured in pips.
– Example spreads range from 0.0–1.5 pips on major FX pairs.
– Raw accounts may show 0.0 pips with a commission; standard accounts may show 0.3–1.0 pips with no commission.
– Monitor spread during high volatility; expect spreads to widen by 2–10x during news.
Component 4: Leverage mechanics
– Calculate margin as trade size × contract size × price × required margin percentage.
– Example: 1:100 leverage means margin is 1% of position size.
– Example: 1:2000 leverage means margin is 0.05% of position size.
– Leverage varies by instrument: forex often higher, crypto often lower.
– Limit leverage to control risk; reduce from 1:2000 to 1:100 for larger accounts.
Component 5: Margin call and stop-out levels
– Watch margin call thresholds; example margin call around 50% of required margin.
– Expect stop-out (forced close) at around 20% in many Exness account setups.
– Maintain free margin above your worst-case drawdown: target 20%–50% free margin cushion.
– Check account specifics; thresholds can vary by account and regulation.
Practical checklist — 5 checks before you trade
1. Check balance: confirm available balance >= planned risk capital (e.g., $100).
2. Check free margin: ensure free margin covers margin requirement plus buffer (e.g., 50% buffer).
3. Check leverage: confirm current leverage matches your sizing plan (1:100 vs 1:2000).
4. Check spread: verify spread is within your slippage tolerance (e.g., <= 1.0 pip).
5. Check slippage threshold: set max slippage in EA or manual order (e.g., 1–5 pips).
Watch out for: Mixing very high leverage with large position sizes can create very small margin buffers and trigger stop-out in minutes.
Setting Up MT4 on Desktop — 4 steps
Follow four clear steps to install and configure MT4 for serious use.
Step 1: Download and install
– Download the MT4 installer from your Exness account area.
– Expect file size roughly 20–40 MB.
– Install time is usually 2–3 minutes on a modern PC.
– Run the installer, accept defaults, and start MT4.
– Reboot MT4 after install for indicator libraries to register.
Step 2: Create an Exness MT4 account
– Open an MT4 account inside your Exness personal area.
– Choose account type; minimum deposits vary by account from $1 to $200.
– Select account currency (USD, EUR, or other); note swap and margin vary by base currency.
– Create login credentials and save server address and numeric account ID.
Step 3: Login and configure charts
– Login using account ID, password, and server name.
– Load up to 9 built-in timeframes; add custom timeframes if needed via scripts.
– Load indicators; start with 2–5 indicators (example: MA 50, RSI 14, MACD).
– Save templates and profiles. Use 1 template per strategy.
– Set Max Bars in Chart to 5,000 for faster loading and accurate visual backtests.
Step 4: Backtest and demo
– Backtest any EA on Strategy Tester with at least 1,000 ticks or 365+ trading days for meaningful statistics.
– Save test reports (~100–500 KB per run) for audit.
– Demo trade for 1–2 weeks or for 30–90 trades before live deployment.
– Use a demo account to test order execution times; record average execution 10–200 ms without VPS.
Technical tips
– Enable DLL imports for EAs if required via the Expert Advisors tab.
– Set “Allow automated trading” for EAs to run.
– Export and archive strategy tester reports to a folder, 10–100 reports is common for iterative testing.
– Use an external spreadsheet to track backtest metrics: profit factor, drawdown %, trades count.
Watch out for: Do not skip demo testing. A 1,000-tick backtest can still miss intraday slippage found in live runs.
Using MT4 Mobile and Web — 3 platforms
Choose among desktop, mobile, and web based on tasks and limits.
Platform 1: MT4 Desktop (full features)
– Use desktop for EAs, DLLs, backtesting and deep charting.
– Desktop supports unlimited indicators and full Strategy Tester.
– Connect to a VPS for low-latency execution; expect desktop-to-server RTT <50 ms on VPS.
– Use desktop for heavy reporting and CSV exports.
Platform 2: MT4 Mobile (iOS & Android)
– Use mobile for monitoring and manual orders.
– Mobile supports 3 order types (market, pending, close); supports 4 chart types (candlestick, bar, line, area).
– Mobile allows up to 30 built-in indicators.
– Mobile app size ~20–50 MB.
– Expect battery/data usage of roughly 1–5 MB per hour when streaming ticks.
– Use mobile for manual adjustments; do not rely on it for EA management.
Platform 3: MT4 Web Terminal
– Use web terminal from any modern browser with no install.
– Web supports charting and placing orders.
– Web usually lacks EA support and advanced backtesting.
– Use web for quick access on locked-down machines and for remote monitoring.
– Test fills in web; expect small differences in execution relative to desktop.
Two concrete usage metrics
– Mobile download: 20–50 MB. Desktop installer: 20–40 MB.
– Streaming ticks: 1–5 MB per hour on mobile, up to 5–10 MB per hour on desktop with multiple charts.
Watch out for: Mobile slippage during news. Expect delays of 100+ ms compared with VPS desktop connections.
Instruments, Leverage and Fees — 5 specifics
Know what you can trade and what it will cost.
1) Instruments offered via MT4 on Exness
– Trade forex majors and minors, metal CFDs, crypto CFDs, indices, and energy CFDs.
– CFDs (contract for difference) let you trade price movements without owning the underlying.
– Expect 40–100+ tradable instruments depending on account and region.
– Use appropriate contract sizes (standard lot = 100,000 units for forex).
2) Leverage examples
– Forex common leverage up to 1:2000 on some account types (check your account cap).
– Metals often offered at up to 1:500 leverage.
– Crypto margin typically lower, e.g., 1:20 for many crypto CFDs.
– Adjust leverage per instrument to manage margin and risk.
3) Spread and commission
– Spreads can start at 0.0 pips on raw spread accounts.
– Typical EUR/USD spread: 0.0–0.8 pips on low-spread accounts, 0.3–1.0 pips on standard.
– Commission ranges vary by account: $0–$7 per standard lot round-trip; example raw account commission $3.5 per lot round-trip.
– Calculate total cost = spread + commission. Example: 0.1 pip + $3.5 = baseline cost per lot.
4) Funding and withdrawal
– Funding methods include e-wallets, wire transfers, and cards.
– E-wallets: processing time instant to a few hours.
– Bank transfers: processing time 1–5 business days.
– Minimum deposit examples: $1 for some account types; up to $200 for certain raw accounts or methods.
– Check withdrawal fees per method; some methods charge $0 while others impose fixed fees.
5) Overnight swaps (carry costs)
– Overnight swaps apply to leveraged CFD positions held past rollover.
– Sample swap rates for FX: -0.5 to -3.0 pips per night depending on pair and direction.
– Triple-swap nights occur on weekly rollover days; expect 3× the usual swap on that night.
– Use swaps in cost calculations for holding trades longer than 1–3 days.
Watch out for: Commission-free accounts may have wider spreads. Raw accounts may have tight spreads but commission per lot.
Comparison table — account types (example)
| Account type | Minimum deposit (example) | Typical EUR/USD spread | Commission per standard lot (round-trip) | Max leverage (example) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $1 | 0.3–1.0 pips | $0 | up to 1:2000 |
| Raw Spread (example) | $200 | 0.0–0.2 pips | $3.5 | up to 1:2000 |
| Pro / Classic (example) | $100 | 0.1–0.6 pips | $0–$4 | up to 1:500 |
Use this table as an example. Check your Exness account panel for exact numbers tied to your region and regulation.
Advanced Tools: EAs, Indicators and VPS — 3 use cases
Use advanced tools correctly. Allocate resources and test thoroughly.
Use case 1: Running EAs for scalping
– Use MT4 desktop plus a VPS for scalping EAs.
– Target latency <50 ms between your EA and broker server.
– VPS recommended specs: 1–2 vCPU, 1–2 GB RAM, 20–30 GB disk.
– VPS cost range: $5–$20 per month for basic plans; broker VPS may be free if you meet conditions.
– Test an EA for 100–1,000+ live trades on demo or low stakes before scaling.
Use case 2: Portfolio of indicators
– Run multi-timeframe analysis with 2–4 indicators.
– Example settings: Moving Average 50, RSI 14, MACD 12,26,9.
– Add one volatility filter such as ATR(14) with threshold 0.0010 or 10 pips depending on pair.
– Keep active charts to a reasonable number: 5–20 charts to conserve CPU and memory.
– Export indicator signals to CSV every 5–60 minutes for external analytics.
Use case 3: Backtesting and walk-forward testing
– Backtest with at least 1,000 ticks or 365+ trading days for a baseline.
– Run walk-forward tests in 30–90 day windows for robustness.
– Monitor metrics: profit factor (target >1.5), max drawdown (limit 10%–30%), and win rate (variable by strategy).
– Record at least 100–500 trades before trusting live scaling.
Technical and operational tips
– Limit chart count per workspace to 10–20 for stable performance.
– Use 500–5,000 max bars depending on RAM.
– Keep daily log files under 50 MB by rotating logs weekly.
– Use a VPS disk snapshot schedule: daily incremental, weekly full snapshot.
Watch out for: Do not expect desktop performance on mobile. Do not run high-frequency EAs on mobile or web.
Closing and decision flow
Finish setup with a short checklist, know platform limits, and choose the right account.
Final setup checklist (10–30 minutes)
1. Install MT4 desktop (20–40 MB; 2–3 minutes).
2. Create an Exness MT4 account and deposit minimum (example $1–$200).
3. Configure 3–5 charts and load 2–4 indicators.
4. Backtest EA for 1,000+ ticks or 365+ days.
5. Demo trade 30 minutes to 2 weeks, or 30–90 trades.
6. If automating, provision VPS with 1–2 vCPU and 1–2 GB RAM; target <50 ms latency.
7. Set risk per trade to 0.5%–2% of equity and max drawdown limit to 10%–30%.
Key platform limits and specs
– Devices: 4 device types (desktop, web, iOS, Android).
– Timeframes: 9 built-in timeframes.
– Historical data: up to 5+ years of tick/minute data (varies by instrument).
– Spreads: example 0.0–1.5 pips on majors.
– Commission: example $0–$7 per standard lot round-trip; common raw example $3.5.
– Leverage: examples up to 1:2000, 1:500 for metals, 1:20 for crypto.
– Margin call / stop-out examples: 50% / 20%.
Decision flow to choose the right account or platform
– Need EAs and backtesting? Choose MT4 desktop. Use raw or pro accounts if you need tight spreads and pay commissions.
– Need mobile monitoring only? Use MT4 mobile or Exness Trader app and accept limitations (no EAs).
– Need exchange-style market depth? Consider MT5 or other platforms with DOM.
– Trade long-term without much overnight financing? Standard account with lower commission might be best.
– Scalping with high frequency? Choose raw spread, low-latency VPS, and a server RTT <50 ms.
Watch out for: Regulatory and regional differences can change leverage, instruments, and account minimums. Always confirm numbers inside your Exness personal area before funding.
Now act. Install MT4. Test your strategy with 1,000+ ticks. Demo trade for 1–2 weeks. Then scale with strict risk limits.