Once you understand what an Expert Advisor is, installing one is refreshingly simple. This guide gets MaxusBlast - or any MT5 Expert Advisor - from a downloaded file to actively watching the market.
Prerequisites
- MetaTrader 5 installed from a broker that permits Expert Advisors and lists the market you want to trade.
- Your EA file (
.ex5or.mq5). MaxusBlast ships as a ready-to-run.ex5. - An account logged in - demo is perfect for the first run.
The full installation, step by step
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1
Open the data folder
File → Open Data Folder. This is where MT5 keeps everything, including your EAs.
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2
Navigate to MQL5 → Experts
Paste your EA file here. If given an .mq5 source file, it will compile on load.
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3
Refresh the Navigator
In MT5, right-click 'Expert Advisors' in the Navigator and choose Refresh - or restart MT5.
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4
Open your chart
File → New Chart → the symbol you want to trade (symbol names vary by broker).
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5
Attach the EA
Drag the EA from the Navigator onto the chart. The inputs window opens.
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6
Set inputs & allow trading
Choose your preset, tick 'Allow Algo Trading', click OK.
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7
Turn on AutoTrading
Click the AutoTrading button in the toolbar so it glows green.
Verify the install (don't skip this)
Before you trust the EA, confirm three things:
- The smiley face - top-right of the chart. A smile means the EA is running; a sad face means AutoTrading is off.
- The Experts tab - at the bottom of MT5, it should show the EA initialising without errors.
- The Journal tab - confirms the EA loaded and is receiving ticks.
VPS vs your own PC
Your EA stops the moment MT5 closes. For a strategy that trades a full market session, that means either leaving a PC on 24/5 (impractical) or running MT5 on a VPS - the standard, reliable choice.
✔ Advantages
- Runs 24/5 - never misses a setup
- Immune to your power cuts & Wi-Fi drops
- Low latency to the broker = better fills
- Frees your own computer entirely
✕ Disadvantages
- Small monthly cost (often a few dollars)
- A little setup to learn once
- Overkill if you only test on demo briefly
- Need to pick a reputable provider
Common installation problems
| Symptom | Likely fix |
|---|---|
| EA not in the Navigator | Wrong folder, or needs a refresh/restart |
| Sad face on the chart | AutoTrading button is off - click it on |
| EA loads but no trades | Market closed, wrong symbol, or a risk limit is hit |
| 'Trading disabled' message | Enable 'Allow Algo Trading' in the EA inputs and in Options → Expert Advisors |
New to all this? Start with what is an Expert Advisor?, then learn to backtest it before going live.