Most first-time connection problems come from one of three things: downloading the wrong build, selecting the wrong server, or confusing the two sets of credentials a MetaTrader account has. All three are avoidable if you know they exist.
Download from your broker, not from anywhere else
MetaTrader is distributed by brokers, and each broker’s build is pre-configured to connect to their servers.
Downloading a generic installer works but means manually locating your broker’s server, which is where the second common problem starts.
Always download from your broker’s own website. The link is usually in the client portal or a “Platforms” section.
This also matters for security. Installers from third-party download sites have been distributed with modified code. A trading platform has access to your account — it is not software to source casually.
Confirm your broker is regulated before installing their platform and depositing funds. The broker licence checker verifies registration directly with regulators. An unregulated broker’s platform may display prices and positions that have no relationship to a real market, and no installation guide protects against that.
Installation
Straightforward on Windows, where MetaTrader runs natively.
1. Download the installer from your broker
2. Run it
3. Accept the licence agreement
4. Choose the install folder (default is fine)
5. Wait for completion
6. The platform opens automatically
On first launch you are usually offered a demo account registration form. You can complete it or close it and log in with existing credentials.
macOS and Linux
MetaTrader is a Windows application. Official macOS builds have been available at times but support has been inconsistent.
Practical options:
Broker-provided macOS build, if offered.
A compatibility layer such as Wine or a commercial wrapper. Functional, occasionally unstable.
A virtual machine running Windows. Reliable and resource-heavy.
The web terminal, browser-based, offered by many brokers. Limited features but no installation.
The mobile app, which runs natively on iOS and Android and is covered in a later lesson.
The two sets of credentials
This causes more confusion than any other step.
| Credential | What it does |
|---|---|
| Login (account number) | Identifies the account |
| Master password | Full access — trade and manage |
| Investor password | Read-only — view, cannot trade |
| Server name | Which broker server to connect to |
Both passwords work with the same login number. If you connect with the investor password, the platform opens normally and shows your account — and every attempt to trade fails.
The symptom is a “Trade context is busy” or “Invalid account” style error on every order. Check which password you used before investigating anything else.
The investor password is genuinely useful. It lets you share read-only access — with a mentor, for a funded account evaluation, or to display results — without any risk of someone trading the account.
Choosing the correct server
Brokers operate multiple servers, and the names are similar enough to select wrongly.
Typical server names:
BrokerName-Demo
BrokerName-Live
BrokerName-Live2
BrokerName-Server03
BrokerName-Real
The correct server is stated in your account opening email. It is not something to guess — a demo login will not connect to a live server and vice versa.
If the server does not appear in the list, the usual cause is a generic installer rather than your broker’s build. Reinstalling from the broker’s own link resolves it.
Logging in
MT4: File → Login to Trade Account
MT5: File → Open an Account, or
File → Login to Trade Account
Login: account number
Password: master password
Server: from your account email
A successful connection shows a data feed indicator in the bottom right corner with a number of kilobits per second.
A failed connection shows “No connection” or “Invalid account”.
Verifying you are connected
Three checks:
Bottom right corner shows a connection speed rather than “No connection”.
Market Watch prices are updating. Static prices mean no live feed.
The Trade tab shows your balance. Terminal in MT4, Toolbox in MT5.
If prices are static but the connection indicator is green, the market may simply be closed — forex is closed over the weekend, and gold has a daily break.
Demo versus live
A demo account uses the same platform with simulated funds.
Worth using for learning the interface, and worth being clear about its limits. Demo execution is usually better than live — no slippage modelling, instant fills, and no emotional weight because the money is not real.
The Beginner’s Guide covers this more fully. For platform purposes: learn the mechanics on demo, then expect live execution to differ.
Common connection problems
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Invalid account | Wrong login, password or server |
| Logs in but cannot trade | Investor password used |
| No connection | Firewall, or server down |
| Server not in list | Generic installer, not broker build |
| Prices static | Market closed, or feed interrupted |
| Account disappeared | Demo expired |
Demo accounts expire, typically after 30 to 90 days of inactivity or a fixed period. If a demo account stops working without explanation, this is usually why, and a new one takes a minute to create.
Security
The platform holds access to your money. Worth a few minutes of care.
Change the default password on first login. Tools → Options → Server in MT4; similar in MT5.
Do not save the password on shared computers.
Do not share the master password. Use the investor password for read-only access.
Enable two-factor authentication on your broker’s client portal where offered. Note this protects the portal, not the platform login.
Be cautious with EAs and indicators from unknown sources. An expert advisor runs code with full trading permissions on your account.
Keeping the platform running
Relevant if you use expert advisors or a copier.
MetaTrader must be open and connected for an EA to operate. If your computer sleeps, loses connection or restarts, the EA stops.
The traditional solution is a VPS — a rented server that runs continuously.
Not every automation approach requires one. Cloud-based copiers run on their own infrastructure rather than on your platform. Telegram Trade Linker operates this way, so trades are copied to your account whether or not your computer is on. Worth knowing which model a tool uses before budgeting for a VPS you may not need.
What to do next
The next lesson covers the platform interface — the four windows that matter and how to arrange them.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I download MetaTrader from?
Your broker’s own website. Their build is pre-configured with the correct servers, and installers from third-party download sites have been distributed with modified code — a platform with account access is not software to source casually.
Why can I log in but not place trades?
Almost certainly because you used the investor password rather than the master password. Both work with the same login number, but the investor password is read-only. Check this before investigating anything else.
What is the investor password for?
Read-only access. It lets you share your account view with a mentor or for a funded account evaluation without any possibility of someone placing trades.
My broker’s server is not in the list. What now?
You likely installed a generic MetaTrader build rather than your broker’s. Reinstalling from the broker’s own download link adds their servers automatically.
Can I run MetaTrader on a Mac?
Not natively in most cases. Options are a broker-provided macOS build where offered, a compatibility layer such as Wine, a Windows virtual machine, the browser-based web terminal, or the mobile app.
Do I need a VPS?
Only if you run expert advisors that must operate while your computer is off, since MetaTrader must stay open and connected for an EA to work. Cloud-based copiers run on their own infrastructure and do not require one.