A robot (or Expert Advisor) is a program that executes trades on your behalf according to programmed rules. Installing it is easy, but there are two buttons that, if you miss them, will leave you watching a robot that just sits there — with no idea why.
The steps
- Open MetaTrader 5.
- File → Open Data Folder.
- Go into MQL5 → Experts. A robot goes into Experts — not Indicators. This is the most common mistake.
- Paste the robot file (ex5 or mq5).
- Close the platform and open it again.
- In Navigator, open Expert Advisors and you will find the robot.
- Drag it onto the chart — onto the symbol and timeframe it was designed for, not any chart.
The two buttons that stop everything
1. The "Algo Trading" button in the top toolbar
It must be enabled (it turns green). If it is red, the robot is installed but forbidden from placing any trade.
2. The "Allow Algo Trading" box in the settings window
When you drag the robot onto the chart, a window appears. Go to the Common tab and make sure the box is ticked. Then OK.
When it is running properly you will see a smiling face 🙂 in the top corner of the chart. A frowning face ☹️ means one of the two buttons is off.
Check these four before you run it
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Symbol | A robot built for gold (XAUUSD) can lose consistently on another pair — the price behaviour is completely different. |
| Timeframe | An M1 robot works with one-minute movement. Run it on H1 and the whole logic breaks. |
| Minimum deposit | Many robots (especially grid robots) need enough balance to carry several open trades. Less balance than required = a wiped account. |
| Lot size | The default setting does not suit every account. Reduce it to the smallest value first and raise it after you have seen how it behaves. |
Every robot in our library lists these four in the specs table on its page.
Why most people recommend a VPS
The robot only works while the platform is running and the internet is connected. Shut down the computer or lose the connection during an open trade — the robot stops and the trade is out of its control.
A VPS is a remote server that stays on 24 hours a day; you install the platform on it and forget about it. Not mandatory, but if the robot trades on a small timeframe or at night it becomes a practical necessity.
The plain truth about risk
A robot executes rules; it does not understand the market. Any robot — whatever it is — can lose, and can lose a lot on a strong news day. There is no "guaranteed" robot.
The rule that never bends: test it on a demo account for at least two weeks, and watch it on quiet days and on turbulent days. If you move to a real account, start with the smallest possible size and an amount you can afford to lose entirely. This is not investment advice — it is basic protection.