MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is the successor to MetaTrader 4 and the most advanced multi-asset trading platform available to retail traders. With native support for forex, stocks, futures, and CFDs, along with a more powerful MQL5 programming language and improved strategy testing, MT5 is the platform of choice for traders who need capabilities beyond what MT4 can offer.

Running MT5 on a Forex VPS ensures your automated strategies execute around the clock without interruption, regardless of your local computer's status. This guide covers every step from ordering your VPS to having MT5 running with Expert Advisors in full automated mode.

Still using MT4? See our companion guide: How to Set Up MetaTrader 4 on a VPS (Step-by-Step Guide).

MT5 vs. MT4: Key Differences That Matter for VPS Users

Before diving into the setup, it is worth understanding why you might choose MT5 over MT4 and how the differences affect your VPS requirements:

Feature MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5
Asset classes Forex, CFDs Forex, stocks, futures, options, CFDs
Programming language MQL4 MQL5 (object-oriented, faster execution)
Timeframes 9 timeframes 21 timeframes
Order types 4 pending order types 6 pending order types (includes Buy Stop Limit, Sell Stop Limit)
Strategy tester Single-threaded Multi-threaded with cloud agents
Economic calendar Via third-party plugin Built-in
Depth of Market Limited Full DOM support
Hedging & netting Hedging only Both hedging and netting modes
RAM usage (typical) 200–500 MB 300–800 MB

The key VPS consideration is that MT5 typically uses slightly more RAM and CPU than MT4, especially when utilizing the multi-threaded strategy tester or running multi-asset strategies. Plan your VPS resources accordingly.

Prerequisites

Step 1: Order and Provision Your VPS

Visit the MassiveGRID Forex VPS page and choose a plan. Since MT5 uses more resources than MT4, here are our recommendations:

Trading Scenario Recommended Plan vCPU RAM
1 MT5 instance, basic EAs Lite or Trader 1–2 cores 2+ GB
1 MT5 instance, multi-asset trading Trader 2 cores 3–4 GB
Multiple MT5 instances or strategy testing Elite 4+ cores 6–8 GB
HFT / heavy multi-threaded optimization Pro (dedicated cores) 4+ dedicated 8+ GB

Selecting the Right Data Center

Choose the MassiveGRID data center nearest to your broker's trading server for the lowest possible order execution latency:

Not sure where your broker's server is? You can find out after setup by checking the server ping from within MT5. For detailed guidance, read our article on how latency affects forex trade execution.

After completing your order, MassiveGRID will provision your VPS within minutes. You will receive an email with your server's IP address, username, and password.

Step 2: Connect to Your VPS via Remote Desktop

From Windows

  1. Press Win + R, type mstsc, and press Enter.
  2. Enter your VPS IP address in the Computer field.
  3. Click Show Options, enter your username (usually Administrator).
  4. Click Connect, then enter your password when prompted.
  5. Accept any certificate warning by clicking Yes.

From macOS

  1. Install Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store.
  2. Click Add PC, enter your VPS IP address.
  3. Add your user account with the provided credentials.
  4. Double-click the connection to connect.

From Linux

  1. Install Remmina (sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp on Debian/Ubuntu).
  2. Create a new RDP connection with your VPS details.
  3. Connect.

You will see the Windows Server desktop. Everything from this point is done on the VPS.

Step 3: Download MetaTrader 5

Option A: From Your Broker (Recommended)

  1. Open the web browser on your VPS (Edge or Internet Explorer).
  2. Go to your broker's website and locate their MT5 download page.
  3. Download the installer. If Internet Explorer blocks the download, temporarily disable IE Enhanced Security Configuration via Server Manager.

Option B: From MetaQuotes Directly

  1. Navigate to https://www.metatrader5.com/en/download in the VPS browser.
  2. Download the MT5 installer. Note: this is the generic version, and you will need to manually add your broker's server during login.

Option C: Transfer from Your Local Machine

Enable drive redirection in your RDP client (under Local Resources > More > Drives) and copy the installer file directly from your local machine to the VPS.

Step 4: Install MetaTrader 5

  1. Run the MT5 installer on the VPS.
  2. Accept the End User License Agreement.
  3. Choose the installation path. The default is fine, but if you plan to run multiple MT5 instances, install each in a unique directory:
    • C:\MT5_BrokerA\
    • C:\MT5_BrokerB\
  4. Click Next and wait for installation. On MassiveGRID's NVMe SSD storage, this completes in under 30 seconds.
  5. Click Finish. MT5 will launch automatically.

Step 5: Log In to Your Broker Account

  1. MT5 will display a server selection dialog. Find and select your broker's trading server.
  2. If your broker is not listed, type the broker's name in the search field. MT5 will search its directory of servers.
  3. If you have the server address directly (e.g., mt5.yourbroker.com:443), click Add and enter it manually.
  4. Select Connect to an existing trade account.
  5. Enter your Login and Password (these are your MT5 credentials, which may differ from your MT4 credentials even with the same broker).
  6. Click Finish.

A successful connection is indicated by the connection status bar in the bottom-right corner showing the server name, connection speed, and no error icons. Price quotes should begin flowing in the Market Watch panel.

Step 6: Configure MT5 for Optimal VPS Performance

Before attaching EAs, optimize MT5's settings for a VPS environment where visual responsiveness is less important than execution speed:

Reduce Chart Visual Overhead

  1. Go to Tools > Options > Charts.
  2. Set Max bars in chart to a reasonable number (e.g., 10,000 instead of Unlimited). This reduces memory usage.
  3. Uncheck Show trade history if you do not need to see historical trades on charts.

Configure News and Calendar

  1. Go to Tools > Options > Community.
  2. Unless your EA uses the built-in economic calendar, you can leave the MQL5.community login empty to reduce background network traffic.

Enable Notifications (Optional)

  1. Go to Tools > Options > Notifications.
  2. Enable Push notifications to receive alerts on your mobile phone when your EA executes trades.
  3. Enter your MetaQuotes ID (found in the MT5 mobile app under Settings > Messages).

Step 7: Install and Attach Expert Advisors

Transferring EA Files

MT5 uses the MQL5 directory structure. Here is where different file types should be placed:

File Type Extension MQL5 Subfolder
Expert Advisors .ex5 / .mq5 MQL5\Experts
Custom Indicators .ex5 / .mq5 MQL5\Indicators
Scripts .ex5 / .mq5 MQL5\Scripts
Include files .mqh MQL5\Include
Libraries .ex5 / .dll MQL5\Libraries

To access the correct folder:

  1. In MT5, click File > Open Data Folder.
  2. Navigate to the MQL5\Experts directory.
  3. Copy your .ex5 files here.
  4. Restart MT5 or right-click in the Navigator and select Refresh.

Attaching an EA to a Chart

  1. Open a chart for the instrument your EA is designed to trade.
  2. Set the appropriate timeframe using the toolbar or by right-clicking the chart.
  3. In the Navigator panel, expand Expert Advisors.
  4. Drag your EA onto the chart or double-click it.
  5. In the EA properties dialog:
    • On the Common tab, check Allow algo trading.
    • If your EA uses external DLLs, check Allow DLL imports.
    • On the Inputs tab, configure your EA's parameters (lot size, stop loss, take profit, strategy settings, etc.).
  6. Click OK.

Enabling Algo Trading Globally

  1. Click Tools > Options > Expert Advisors.
  2. Check Allow algo trading.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click the Algo Trading button in the toolbar (it should be green when active).

The EA icon on the chart will display a blue hat when running correctly. A gray hat means algo trading is disabled.

Step 8: Using the MT5 Strategy Tester on a VPS

One of MT5's major advantages over MT4 is its multi-threaded Strategy Tester, which can optimize EA parameters dramatically faster by using all available CPU cores. This is where a MassiveGRID Forex VPS with dedicated CPU cores truly shines.

Running a Backtest

  1. Open the Strategy Tester panel: View > Strategy Tester (or Ctrl + R).
  2. Select your EA, the symbol, and the date range.
  3. Choose the execution mode:
    • Every tick based on real ticks — Most accurate but slowest.
    • Every tick — Good balance of accuracy and speed.
    • 1 minute OHLC — Fast but less precise.
    • Open prices only — Fastest, suitable for strategies that trade on bar opens.
  4. Click Start.

Running an Optimization

When optimizing an EA, MT5 distributes the workload across all available CPU cores. On a VPS with 4 dedicated cores, an optimization that takes 8 hours on a single-core machine can complete in approximately 2 hours.

  1. In the Strategy Tester, enable the Optimization mode.
  2. On the Inputs tab, define the Start, Step, and Stop values for each parameter you want to optimize.
  3. Select optimization criterion (Maximum Profit, Maximum Sharpe Ratio, etc.).
  4. Click Start. MT5 will use all available cores automatically.

Pro Tip: Run optimization tasks during off-peak hours or on a separate VPS instance so your live trading EA has maximum CPU resources available during market hours.

Step 9: Optimize Your VPS for 24/7 Trading

Prevent Automatic Windows Restarts

  1. Open Group Policy Editor: Win + R, type gpedit.msc.
  2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
  3. Set Configure Automatic Updates to Enabled with option 2 - Notify for download and notify for install.

Set MT5 to Auto-Start

  1. Press Win + R, type shell:startup.
  2. Copy your MT5 desktop shortcut into the Startup folder.

With MassiveGRID's 100% uptime SLA, unexpected restarts are extremely rare thanks to Proxmox HA clustering with automatic failover. But having MT5 in the Startup folder provides an additional safety net.

Set Power Plan to High Performance

  1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
  2. Select High performance.
  3. Set display and sleep timers to Never.

Step 10: Verify and Disconnect

Run through this checklist before disconnecting your RDP session:

Close the RDP window. Your MT5 continues running on the VPS independently. Reconnect anytime from any device to monitor or adjust.

Troubleshooting MT5-Specific Issues

MT5 Won't Install or Crashes on Launch

MT4 EAs Do Not Work in MT5

MT4 (.ex4/.mq4) and MT5 (.ex5/.mq5) use different programming languages (MQL4 vs MQL5). You cannot directly use MT4 EAs in MT5. Options include:

"No connection" After a Server Change

Need Assistance?

MassiveGRID offers 24/7 human support rated 9.5 out of 10 by customers. With over 22 years of hosting expertise since 2003, their team can help troubleshoot VPS connectivity, Windows configuration, and general setup issues.

Why MassiveGRID Is Ideal for MT5 Automated Trading

Get started now at the MassiveGRID Forex VPS page and have MT5 running with automated trading in under 30 minutes.

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