MT4 alerts and notifications are two linked features. A price alert is a rule you set in the Terminal ▸ Alerts tab that watches a symbol and fires when it reaches a price. A notification is how that alert reaches you — a sound, an email, or a push to the MetaTrader 4 mobile app. Set up together, they let you step away from the screen and still know the moment a market hits your level. Note up front: alerts only notify you. They don't place or close trades.
How to set a price alert in MT4
Price alerts live in the Terminal window, not in the chart. You set a symbol, a price condition, and how you want to be told — all in one small dialog.
-
Open the Alerts tab
In the Terminal window at the bottom of MT4 (
Ctrl+T), click theAlertstab. -
Create a new alert
Right-click anywhere in the Alerts tab and choose
Create. -
Set the condition
Pick the Symbol, then a Condition (
Bid >,Bid <,Ask >, orAsk <) and the price Value you want to be alerted at. -
Choose the action and expiry
Set the Action —
Sound,File,Mail, orNotification(a phone push) — and an Expiration so the alert stops after a chosen time. ClickOK.
The alert now sits in the Alerts tab. When the price condition is met it triggers your chosen action; double-click a
row to edit it, or right-click ▸ Delete to remove it. [screenshot: Terminal ▸ Alerts tab with the Create alert dialog open]
Get push notifications on your phone
To make the Notification action reach your phone, you link the desktop terminal to the MetaTrader 4
mobile app with a free MetaQuotes ID.
- Find your MetaQuotes ID — in the MetaTrader 4 mobile app, open
Settings ▸ Messages(shown as Chat and Messages on some versions). The MetaQuotes ID is listed there. - Enable push on desktop — go to
Tools ▸ Options ▸ Notifications, tick Enable Push Notifications, paste your MetaQuotes ID and clickOK. - Test it — use the test button in that Notifications tab, or trigger a price alert with the Notification action, and confirm the push arrives.
Don't have the app yet? See MT4 for Android to install it and find your MetaQuotes ID.
Email alerts
The Mail action sends an alert to your inbox, but only after you set up email. Open
Tools ▸ Options ▸ Email, enter your SMTP server and sign-in details, send the test message, and once it
arrives the Mail action on any alert will use it. If the test fails, the problem is almost always the
SMTP settings or your provider blocking the login — not MT4.
What alerts can't do
An MT4 alert only tells you a price was hit; it never opens, modifies, or closes a position. To exit a trade automatically at a set price, use a stop loss or take profit instead — those close the trade for you. Alerts also stop firing the moment you close MT4 (or lose connection), so they're no substitute for proper risk management. Nothing here is financial advice, and most retail traders lose money.
Practise alerts on a free MT4 demo
Set price alerts, link push notifications to your phone, and see how they behave in a live market — all on a free MT4 demo, before you risk real money.
⚠ 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.
Related
New to the platform? Start with how to use MT4. Alerts pair naturally with charts and timeframes (set a level on the chart, then alert on it) and with stop loss and take profit for automatic exits. To get push notifications, install MT4 on Android.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between alerts and notifications in MT4?
An alert is a rule you set in the Terminal ▸ Alerts tab — for example, notify me when EUR/USD Bid rises above 1.1000. A notification is one of the ways an alert can reach you: a sound, a sound file, an email, or a push to the MetaTrader 4 mobile app. So the alert is the trigger; the notification is the delivery.
How do I set a price alert in MT4?
Open the Terminal (Ctrl+T), click the Alerts tab, right-click ▸ Create, then set the Symbol, a Condition (Bid or Ask, greater than or less than), the price Value, the Action (Sound, File, Mail, or Notification) and an Expiration. Click OK and the alert fires once the price condition is met.
How do I get MT4 push notifications on my phone?
Install the MetaTrader 4 app and open Settings ▸ Messages (Chat and Messages on some versions) to find your MetaQuotes ID. On the desktop terminal go to Tools ▸ Options ▸ Notifications, tick Enable Push Notifications, paste that MetaQuotes ID and click OK. Alerts with the Notification action then push to your phone.
Why are my MT4 alerts not working?
Check three things: the platform must stay open and connected for alerts to fire (close MT4 and they stop); the alert's Expiration must be in the future; and for phone pushes the MetaQuotes ID in Tools ▸ Options ▸ Notifications must exactly match the one in your mobile app. For email, Tools ▸ Options ▸ Email (SMTP) must be configured and tested.
Can MT4 alerts open or close a trade for me?
No. Alerts only notify you — they never place, modify or close an order. To exit a trade automatically you need a stop loss or take profit, which close the position at a set price without you watching. To automate entries and exits you need an Expert Advisor. Alerts are a reminder, not a robot, and most retail traders lose money.
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.