However you install MetaTrader 4, the route is the same: get it from a regulated broker, set it up for your device, and log in. The platform (currently build 1460, released March 2026) is free; you only fund an account when you're ready to trade live. Here's the general process, then the exact steps for your device.
How to install MT4 in four steps
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Open an account with a regulated broker
MetaTrader 4 is installed from a broker, not from MetaQuotes directly. Open an account — a free demo is fine — to get the download and your login details.
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Download MetaTrader 4 for your device
From your broker, download the MT4 installer for Windows or Mac, the app for Android or iOS, or simply open WebTrader, which runs in a browser with nothing to install.
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Install it
On desktop, run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts. On mobile, install the app. WebTrader needs no installation at all.
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Open a demo account and log in
Launch MT4, go to
File ▸ Open an Account, pick your broker's server, and open a demo. Then log in with your login number, password, and server.
That's the whole flow. Steps one and two happen on your broker's site; steps three and four happen on your device. Below, jump straight to the walkthrough for your operating system, or read on for system requirements, login details, and the common snags.
Install MT4 on your device
Every device runs the same MetaTrader 4, but how you get it differs. Pick your platform for a step-by-step guide:
| Device | How to get MT4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Run the broker's MT4 installer (a small .exe) | Full terminal: custom indicators, EAs, Strategy Tester |
| Mac | Broker's macOS app, WebTrader, or Windows MT4 in Parallels / CrossOver | No 32-bit standalone since macOS Catalina; EAs need the Windows terminal |
| Android | Install the broker's MT4 app from Google Play | Trade and chart on the go; limited custom indicators |
| iPhone / iPad | Install the broker's MT4 app from the App Store | Trade and chart on the go; limited custom indicators |
| Any browser | Open MT4 WebTrader — nothing to install | Quickest start; no custom indicators or EAs |
If you'd rather not install anything, MT4 WebTrader runs in any browser. It's great for quick access, though custom indicators and EAs need the desktop terminal.
MT4 system requirements
MetaTrader 4 is famously light — part of why it has stayed popular. The desktop terminal is a 32-bit application that installs cleanly on 64-bit Windows and runs on modest hardware. Here's what each platform needs.
| Platform | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (32- or 64-bit). About 2 GB RAM and a few hundred MB of free disk space. |
| Mac | A broker's macOS app, WebTrader, or the Windows terminal run in Parallels Desktop / CrossOver. No native 32-bit standalone since macOS Catalina (2019). |
| Android | A current Android version; install the broker's MT4 app from Google Play. |
| iPhone / iPad | A current iOS / iPadOS version; install the broker's MT4 app from the App Store. |
| Browser | Any modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox) — WebTrader needs no install. |
| Internet | A stable connection. MT4 streams live quotes, so a dropped link shows "No connection" until it recovers. |
For the full desktop experience — all 9 timeframes, the ~30 built-in indicators, the Strategy Tester, custom indicators and Expert Advisors — install MT4 on Windows, or run the Windows terminal on a Mac via Parallels or CrossOver.
How to get the official MT4 download
Because the download routes through a broker, fake "MT4" apps and copycat sites are a real risk. The platform itself is the same official MetaQuotes software; what varies is who hands it to you. Protect yourself with a few checks:
- Download from a regulated broker. Start at the broker's official site (or their verified app-store listing), not an ad or a forwarded link.
- Check the publisher on mobile. On Google Play and the App Store, confirm the developer name and read the reviews before installing.
- Ignore "guaranteed profit" pitches. No legitimate MT4 download promises returns. Anyone promising guaranteed profit is a red flag — treat it as a scam.
- Never enter your login on a random site. You only ever type your account number, password, and server inside the MT4 terminal or your broker's own portal.
Copycat installers and look-alike mobile apps can steal logins or bundle malware. Our guide on how to spot fake MT4 apps shows the exact red flags and where to get the genuine download.
Logging in: login number, password, and server
Installing MT4 gets you the terminal; logging in connects it to your money and live prices. After you open an account, your broker emails you three things — and you need all three:
- Login — your numeric account number.
- Password — the master (trader) password to place trades, or an investor (read-only) password to view the account without trading.
- Server — your broker's specific trading server, e.g.
YourBroker-DemoorYourBroker-Live3.
In the terminal, go to File ▸ Login to Trade Account, type your login and password, choose the matching
server from the list, and connect. On mobile, tap the menu, choose Manage accounts ▸ Login to an existing
account, search your broker, then enter the details.
Most "invalid account" or "login failed" messages come down to the wrong server, the wrong password type (investor instead of master), or short-lived broker downtime — not a broken install. For a deeper walkthrough and fixes, see the full MT4 login guide.
Demo vs live account
You log in with one of two account types, and both run on the same installed platform:
- Demo account — virtual money, real market prices. It's free, carries no financial risk, and is the right place to learn the buttons, test a strategy, or try an Expert Advisor. Open one in seconds via
File ▸ Open an Account. - Live account — your own funds and real execution. Switch to this once you're comfortable and have funded the account through your broker.
We recommend starting on a free MT4 demo account to get the install working and confirm everything connects before any money is involved. Trading is high-risk and most retail traders lose money, so there's no rush to go live.
Get MetaTrader 4 to install
XM provides MT4 for desktop, mobile, and WebTrader, with a free demo and a $5 minimum — a simple place to start.
⚠ Trading forex and CFDs is high-risk and most retail traders lose money. This is not financial advice.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you open a broker account through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Where MT4 lives after you install it
MetaTrader 4 keeps your charts, settings, indicators and Expert Advisors in a data folder — you'll
need it the moment you add a custom indicator or EA. To open it, click File ▸ Open Data Folder in the
terminal, then open the MQL4 folder. Inside:
| Folder | What goes here |
|---|---|
MQL4/Indicators | Custom indicators — .ex4 (compiled) and .mq4 (source) files. |
MQL4/Experts | Expert Advisors (automated trading robots). |
Drop a file into the right folder, restart MT4 (or right-click Navigator ▸ Refresh), and it appears
in the Navigator panel ready to drag onto a chart. Full walkthroughs:
how to install indicators on MT4 and
how to use MT4. Note that mobile MT4 doesn't support custom indicators or EAs — those
need the desktop terminal.
Common MT4 install problems and fixes
Installation itself rarely fails — most "it's not working" moments happen at first launch or login. The usual ones:
- "No connection" in the bottom-right corner. Check your internet, confirm you picked the correct server, and make sure a firewall or antivirus isn't blocking MT4. Switching networks can also help.
- "Invalid account" / "Login failed." Almost always the wrong server or the wrong password type (investor vs master). Re-check the details in your broker's welcome email and pick the exact server.
- Installer blocked on Windows. SmartScreen may warn about an unrecognised app. Confirm you downloaded it from your broker's official site, then allow it to run.
- Old Mac app won't open. macOS dropped 32-bit support in Catalina (2019), so the classic standalone Mac MT4 no longer runs. Use a current broker app, WebTrader, or the Windows terminal via Parallels / CrossOver.
- Custom indicator or EA doesn't appear. It's in the wrong place. Put it inside
MQL4/Indicators or MQL4/Experts via File ▸ Open Data Folder, then restart MT4.
Still stuck? Our MT4 not working guide covers connection errors, login failures, and crashes step by step — and when the fix is simply a more reliable broker.
Next steps
Once installed, learn how to use MT4, add
indicators, or practise on a demo. Trouble installing? See
MT4 not working. Make sure you've got the real thing, too —
how to spot fake MT4 apps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install MetaTrader 4?
Open an account with a regulated broker, download the MT4 installer or app for your device from them, run the installer (or install the app), then open a demo via File ▸ Open an Account and log in with your account number, password, and server. WebTrader needs no install at all.
Is MT4 hard to install?
No. On Windows and Mac you run a small installer and follow the prompts; on mobile you install an app; and WebTrader runs in a browser with nothing to install. The whole process usually takes a few minutes.
Can I use MT4 without installing anything?
Yes — MT4 WebTrader runs in any modern browser with no download or installation. Your broker provides the link. It's the quickest way to start, though it has fewer features than the desktop terminal and can't run custom indicators or Expert Advisors.
Is installing MT4 free?
Yes. The MetaTrader 4 platform is free to download and install on any device. You only need a funded broker account to trade live; a demo account is free.
Where does MT4 install from?
From a broker. MetaQuotes stopped offering a direct end-user download years ago, so you install MetaTrader 4 using your broker's installer or app. It's the same official platform either way.
What are the system requirements for MT4?
Very modest. The desktop terminal is a lightweight 32-bit application that runs on Windows 7 through 11 with about 2 GB of RAM and a few hundred megabytes of disk space. On Mac, use a broker app, WebTrader, or run the Windows terminal in Parallels/CrossOver. Mobile apps run on current Android and iOS versions.
What login details do I need for MT4?
Three things: your login (account number), your password, and the correct trading server. All three come from your broker by email when you open the account. The most common login failure is choosing the wrong server, so match it exactly.
Do I need a demo or a live account to install MT4?
Neither is required just to install — but you do need an account to log in and see prices. A free demo lets you practise with virtual money and is the recommended way to start. Switch to a funded live account when you're ready to trade real money.
How do I know I have the official MT4 and not a fake app?
Get the download from a regulated broker's official site or their listing on Google Play / the App Store, and check the publisher and reviews. Be wary of look-alike apps, ad links, and anything promising guaranteed profit. See our guide to spotting fake MT4 apps.
Where are the MT4 indicator and EA folders?
Inside the data folder. In the terminal, click File ▸ Open Data Folder, then open MQL4. Custom indicators (.ex4 / .mq4) go in MQL4/Indicators and Expert Advisors go in MQL4/Experts. Restart MT4 and they appear in the Navigator.
Trading foreign exchange and contracts for difference (CFDs) carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you as well as for you. You could lose some or all of your deposited funds; do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Nothing on MT4Download.com is financial, investment, or trading advice. Consider your circumstances and seek independent advice if needed.