How to Troubleshoot an EA That Isn't Trading

Before you start

• MT4 or MT5 with the EA attached to a chart.
• The EA's documentation (symbols, timeframe and the conditions it trades on).

What you'll learn

• Rule out permission, connection and market-hours problems.
• Use the logs to see whether the EA tried to trade.
• Separate broker rejections from an EA that simply hasn't had a signal.

Steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Check both trading switches

   The toolbar button must be on — AutoTrading in MT4, Algo Trading in MT5 — and the EA's own permission: Allow live trading (MT4) or Allow Algo Trading (MT5) on the Common tab (press F7 on the chart).

   Mark as done: Check both trading switches
2. 2

   Step 2: Confirm you're connected and the market is open

   The bottom-right corner should show a live connection. Check the symbol's trading sessions under Specification in Market Watch — orders are rejected outside them, and over weekends for most forex symbols.

   Mark as done: Confirm you're connected and the market is open
3. 3

   Step 3: Read the Experts tab

   Open Ctrl+T → Experts. Errors such as 4109 (MT4) or 4752 (MT5) mean trading isn't allowed; a missing load message means the EA isn't running at all. See How to Read the MT4 Experts and Journal Logs.

   Mark as done: Read the Experts tab
4. 4

   Step 4: Check the Journal for broker rejections

   If an order was sent but refused, the Journal shows why:

   • Invalid stops (MT4 130 · MT5 10016) — stops too close to price.
   • Invalid volume (MT4 131 · MT5 10014) — lot size outside the broker's limits or step.
   • Not enough money (MT4 134 · MT5 10019) — insufficient free margin.
   • Market closed (MT4 132 · MT5 10018).

   Mark as done: Check the Journal for broker rejections
5. 5

   Step 5: Check the symbol and timeframe

   Make sure the chart's symbol and timeframe match the documentation. Brokers often add suffixes (for example EURUSD.m); some EAs need the exact name entered in an input.

   Mark as done: Check the symbol and timeframe
6. 6

   Step 6: Check the EA's own filters

   A maximum-spread limit, trading-hours window, news filter or maximum-trades limit can legitimately block entries. Compare the current spread and server time with those inputs.

   Mark as done: Check the EA's own filters
7. 7

   Step 7: Allow web requests if the EA verifies a license

   EAs that check a license online need Tools → Options → Expert Advisors → Allow WebRequest for listed URL, with the address the developer gives you added to the list.

   Mark as done: Allow web requests if the EA verifies a license
8. 8

   Step 8: Wait for a real signal — or contact the developer

   If every check passes and the logs show no errors, the EA may simply be waiting for its conditions; some strategies trade rarely. If that doesn't match the documentation, send the developer your Experts and Journal lines, platform and build, broker and .set file.

   Mark as done: Wait for a real signal — or contact the developer

Troubleshooting

It trades in the Strategy Tester but not live

Live trading adds permissions, real spreads, filters and broker rules the tester may not reproduce. Go back through steps 1, 4 and 6.

It stopped trading overnight

MetaTrader must stay open and connected. If your computer slept or restarted, the EA stopped with it — a VPS avoids this.

"DLL calls are not allowed"

Enable Allow DLL imports for this EA, only if you trust its developer.

Official documentation

• WebRequest (MQL4 reference) (opens in a new tab)
• WebRequest (MQL5 reference) (opens in a new tab)