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MQL5 & Expert Advisors

From zero to your first automated strategy.

Go from beginner to building and deploying your own Expert Advisors. Step-by-step guides cover MQL5 programming, MT5 Strategy Tester validation, forex VPS hosting, risk rules, and live deployment — with examples you can run in MetaTrader 5.

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Step-by-Step Tutorials

48 guides

All
Getting started
Playbooks
How-to
Technical
Advanced
Tools & compare
Getting started

What Is an Expert Advisor (EA) in MT5? Beginner Guide + EA Structure

New to EAs? Learn what Expert Advisors are, how they work in MetaTrader 5, and why they're essential for automated trading. Covers EA architecture (OnInit, OnTick, OnDeinit) and how to deploy them.

Getting started

How to Create and Edit an MT5 Expert Advisor (2026): Wizard, Code, or No-Code

Create or edit an Expert Advisor in MetaTrader 5: MQL5 Wizard, MetaEditor coding, or no-code export. Compile, test in Strategy Tester, and attach to a chart with clear steps.

How-to

MT5 Prop Firm EA Rules: Daily Loss, News, Lots (2026)

Build a prop-firm-ready MT5 Expert Advisor: daily and max loss guards, high-impact news filter, and risk-based lot caps. FTMO-style checklist with MQL5 patterns and official references.

How-to

Can ChatGPT Write an MT5 EA? Limits & Fixes (2026)

Honest guide: what ChatGPT gets right in MQL5, where AI EA code fails (10016, lots, restarts), a safety prompt template, and better paths — Wizard, no-code, or hand-coded.

Getting started

MQL5 Setup for MetaTrader 5: MetaEditor, Folders, First Compile

Get ready to code: install MetaTrader 5 and MetaEditor, set up your dev environment, compile your first EA, and run it in Strategy Tester — all in one guide.

Technical

MQL5 Reference for MT5: iMA, iRSI, CopyBuffer, OrderSend

Your go-to MQL5 cheat sheet: data types, operators, loops, arrays, technical indicators, OrderSend, risk management, multi-timeframe logic, and market filters. Based on official docs.

How-to

Build Your First MT5 EA (MQL5): Step-by-Step Crossover Example

Hands-on: build a Moving Average crossover EA from scratch. From idea to code, then test in Strategy Tester. Clear entry/exit rules and logic you can extend.

Technical

EA Risk Management for MT5: Position Sizing, SL/TP, Trailing Stops

Protect your capital: position sizing (fixed, ATR-based, %), Stop Loss, Take Profit, trailing stops, and account-level rules. Best practices so your EA trades safely.

Advanced

Advanced MQL5 EA for MT5: Multi-Timeframe + Market Filters

Level up your EA: add multi-timeframe analysis, London/NY session filters, time windows, and ATR/spread filters. Fewer false signals, better performance.

How-to

Deploy and Maintain Your MT5 EA: Demo to Live + VPS Checklist

Take your EA live: compile, backtest, then deploy to Demo and Live. VPS setup, broker connection, logging, debugging, and ongoing maintenance — no guesswork.

How-to

XAUUSD Gold EA in MQL5 (2026) | ATR, Spread Filter, Session Rules

Build a practical Gold (XAUUSD) Expert Advisor for MetaTrader 5: spread limits, session filters, ATR-based stops, and robust execution logic with clear MQL5 steps.

How-to

MT5 Strategy Tester Guide (2026) | Backtest, Optimize, Forward Test EA

Learn EA backtesting in MT5 Strategy Tester: real tick modes, parameter optimization, forward testing, and how to read drawdown and expectancy before live trading.

Getting started

Build an MT5 EA Without Coding: No-Code Workflow + MQL5 Export

Create trading EAs with no-code and visual tools. Compare options, design strategies visually, and export MQL5 — no programming required.

Advanced

MT5 Scalping EA Guide: Settings, Spread Filters, and MQL5 Example

How scalping EAs work: timeframes, spread, entry/exit logic, and risk. Build or adapt a simple scalping EA for M1/M5 in MQL5.

How-to

VPS for MT5 Expert Advisors (2026) | 24/7 Setup and Latency Checklist

Run MT5 EAs on VPS with stable uptime: server location, broker latency, Windows setup, auto-restart controls, and monitoring best practices.

Technical

MT5 Error 10016 Invalid Stops: Fix in MQL5 (2026)

Fix TRADE_RETCODE_INVALID_STOPS (10016): SYMBOL_TRADE_STOPS_LEVEL, Buy/Sell SL placement, NormalizeDouble, OrderCheck before OrderSend — with official MQL5 references.

Technical

Common MQL5 EA Errors (2026) | OrderSend, Invalid Stops, Runtime Fixes

Troubleshoot frequent MQL5 EA failures: compile errors, invalid stops (130), trade permissions, and runtime error handling with practical MT5 fixes.

Getting started

Best Free EAs for MT5 (2026) | How to Choose and Test Safely

Compare popular free MT5 Expert Advisors, review risk flags, and learn a practical checklist to backtest and validate free EAs before live use.

Getting started

Why Learning MQL5 Is So Hard (2026) | Faster No-Code Path

Why MQL5 has a steep learning curve — time, cost, and live errors — and how to build MT5 EAs with Strategy Builder export instead of months of syntax.

How-to

Strategy Tester vs Live MT5 (2026) | Why Results Differ

Why your EA wins in backtest but loses live: spread, tick mode, slippage, overfitting, and a checklist before real money on MetaTrader 5.

Getting started

Production-Ready MQL5 Without MetaEditor (2026)

Design in Strategy Builder, export MQL5 from Code Generator, compile once, and validate in Strategy Tester — without writing EA logic by hand.

Getting started

Best MT5 No-Code EA Builders Compared (2026)

Honest comparison of FxDreema, EA Builder, StrategyQuant, Forex Strategy Builder, Tradetron, PineConnector, QuantConnect, and AlfaTactix — who each tool is for.

Getting started

MA Crossover EA for MT5 — No Code

Step-by-step Strategy Builder guide: SMA/EMA parameters, Golden Cross & Death Cross, export MQL5, compile, and backtest a classic MA crossover EA.

Getting started

RSI Overbought/Oversold EA MT5 — No Code

Strategy Builder walkthrough: RSI parameters, Cross from oversold/overbought, all seven condition types, export MQL5, and backtest a mean-reversion EA.

Getting started

MACD + RSI Confluence EA MT5 — No Code

Combine MACD crossover with RSI trend filter in Strategy Builder — parameters, AND logic on Step 3, export MQL5, compile, and backtest.

Getting started

Gold XAUUSD RSI EA — No Code

RSI mean-reversion on gold: XAUUSD H1 recipe, spread and session filters, ATR stop loss, export MQL5 from Strategy Builder.

Getting started

Bollinger Breakout EA MT5 — No Code

Bollinger Bands breakout recipe: Length 20, Std Dev 2, Breakout Up/Down conditions, all eight BB condition types, export and backtest.

Getting started

MQL5 Wizard vs Strategy Builder (2026)

Honest comparison: MetaEditor MQL5 Wizard (Standard Library modules) vs AlfaTactix Strategy Builder — speed test, limits, and when to use each path.

How-to

Manual Strategy to MT5 EA — No Code

DIY worksheet: map manual entry, exit, filters, and risk to Strategy Builder steps 1–6, export MQL5, and backtest — no freelancer required.

How-to

News Filter for MT5 EA — No Code

Step 4 Economic Calendar filter: noEvent blackout, impact and currency settings, combine session/spread, export MQL5 for news-safe EAs.

How-to

FTMO Challenge EA — No Code (2026)

Build a conservative challenge-ready EA: H1 signals, news/session/spread filters, tight risk — export MQL5 and validate on Demo before evaluation.

Playbooks

SuperTrend EA MT5 — No Code

Build a SuperTrend flip EA: ATR 10, multiplier 3, Cross Up/Down on Step 3, all six condition types, session filter, export MQL5, Every tick backtest.

Playbooks

Scalping EA MT5 — No Code Builder

M5 SMA Golden/Death Cross scalping recipe: spread and London/NY session filters on Step 4, risk on Step 5, export MQL5, Every tick Strategy Tester.

Tools & compare

Best MT5 EA Builder for Beginners (2026)

Choose your first EA builder: guided visual, MQL5 Wizard, blocks, or quant — beginner checklist, AI vs visual, links to full comparison hub.

Playbooks

Stochastic Crossover EA MT5 — No Code

Build a Stochastic K/D crossover EA: parameters 14/3/80/20, Cross conditions, all UI condition types, export MQL5, Every tick backtest.

Playbooks

ADX Trend EA MT5 — No Code

ADX > 25 plus DMI diCross for trend direction: ADX and DMI parameters, AND logic on Step 3, export MQL5, Strategy Tester workflow.

Playbooks

Ichimoku Cloud EA MT5 — No Code

Price above/below cloud with bullish/bearish cloud color: 9/26/52 settings, Ichimoku conditions, export MQL5, H1 backtest recipe.

Playbooks

Parabolic SAR EA MT5 — No Code

SAR flip EA: Cross price above/below dots, Step 0.02 and Max Step 0.2, Reversal and Trend Direction conditions, export MQL5, H1 backtest.

Playbooks

Donchian Breakout EA MT5 — No Code

Channel breakout EA: Length 20, Breakout Up/Down, Price Cross alternative, export MQL5, H1 Every tick Strategy Tester workflow.

Playbooks

London Session Breakout EA — No Code

Donchian H1 breakout with Market Session London isActive on Step 4, spread optional, export MQL5, Every tick backtest on EURUSD or GBPUSD.

Playbooks

EURUSD Scalping EA MT5 — No Code

EURUSD M5 SMA Golden/Death Cross, hasSpread 0.01, London/NY session, tight stops, Strategy Tester Every tick — symbol-specific scalping build.

Playbooks

Stochastic + MA EA MT5 — No Code

Stochastic K/D cross AND SMA Golden Cross on H1 with AND logic, all UI conditions, export MQL5, confluence workflow like MACD+RSI guide.

How-to

Prop Firm Consistency EA — No Code

Map consistency habits to Step 5 Account Protection: max daily trades, drawdown buffer, open positions, consecutive losses — export and backtest before funded.

How-to

Test 10 EA Variations in One Day

Duplicate strategies in Strategy Builder, sweep one parameter family, export ten .mq5 files, log Strategy Tester results in one spreadsheet.

How-to

Automate Manual Strategy — No Freelancer

DIY vs MQL5 freelancer vs Wizard vs AI — when Strategy Builder replaces a quote, six-step path, IP and revision control.

How-to

AI EA Generator vs Visual Builder

60-second self-check, decision table, and 15-minute fair test — when to lead with AI prompts vs Strategy Builder structure.

Playbooks

ADX Trend Filter EA — No Code

SMA Golden Cross with ADX Compare > 25 on Step 3 AND — gatekeeper filter, A/B backtest worksheet, distinct from ADX+DMI signal EA.

How-to

Why Free MT5 EAs Fail

Seven failure reasons, seven-gate attach checklist, and rebuild path — not another free EA list.

Learn MQL5 for free — or build EAs visually

Try Strategy Builder in the browser with no signup. Prototype indicators, filters, and risk — then create a free account to export MQL5.

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