Bought or downloaded an Expert Advisor and not sure where the file goes? Installing an EA on MetaTrader 5 takes about five minutes once you know the steps. This guide walks through the whole process — copying the file, enabling AutoTrading, attaching the EA to a chart, and confirming it's actually running — plus a troubleshooting checklist for the usual "why isn't it trading?" moments.
If you haven't picked an EA yet, start with the best MT5 Expert Advisors of 2026 and the safe-EA buyer's guide.
Before you start
You need: MetaTrader 5 installed and logged into a broker account (demo is perfect for first runs), and your EA file — usually an .ex5 (compiled, ready to run) or an .mq5 (source code you compile yourself). For Gold Scalpers EA you'll have a Gold Scalpers EA.ex5 file.
Step 1 — Open the data folder
In MT5, click File ▸ Open Data Folder. A file-explorer window opens. Inside it, open the MQL5 folder, then the Experts subfolder. This is where MT5 looks for Expert Advisors.
Step 2 — Copy the EA file in
Copy your EA's .ex5 file into that Experts folder. If you only have an .mq5 source file, drop it here too — you'll compile it in a moment.
Step 3 — Refresh the Navigator
Switch back to MT5. In the Navigator panel (Ctrl+N if it's hidden), right-click Expert Advisors and choose Refresh. Your EA now shows up in the list. (If it was an .mq5, double-click it to open MetaEditor and press F7 to compile into an .ex5 first.)
Step 4 — Enable AutoTrading
Click the AutoTrading button in the top toolbar so it turns green. This is the master switch — if it's red, no EA can place trades.
Step 5 — Attach the EA to a chart
Open a chart for the correct symbol and timeframe (Gold Scalpers EA runs on XAUUSD). Then drag the EA from the Navigator onto the chart, or double-click it. In the dialog that appears:
- On the Common tab, tick Allow Algo Trading.
- On the Inputs tab, set your parameters (lot/risk size, daily loss limit, etc.).
- Click OK.
Step 6 — Verify it's running
Look at the top-right corner of the chart. A smiley face 🙂 means the EA is attached and allowed to trade. A sad face ☹ means algo trading is disabled — recheck Steps 4 and 5. Open the Experts and Journal tabs (in the Toolbox, Ctrl+T) to watch the EA's log messages.
Running on multiple charts or devices
You can attach an EA to several charts — give each a unique magic number so they don't manage each other's trades. To run on more than one computer, install MT5 on each and copy the .ex5 into that machine's Experts folder. Gold Scalpers EA has no device lock, so you can install and backtest it across multiple devices freely.
Troubleshooting: "My EA isn't trading"
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sad face on chart | Tick "Allow Algo Trading" (re-attach) and turn the AutoTrading button green |
| No face at all | EA isn't attached — drag it onto the chart again |
| EA loaded but no trades | Wrong symbol/timeframe, market closed, or no valid signal yet |
| "Trading is disabled" in Journal | Broker/account doesn't allow algo trading, or AutoTrading is off |
| Trades rejected | Spread above the EA's filter, insufficient margin, or invalid lot size |
| EA missing from Navigator | File not in MQL5\Experts, or needs Refresh / recompile |
Once it's running, the next step is to validate it properly — see how to backtest an MT5 EA and forward-test on demo before going live.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I put the EA file in MT5?
File ▸ Open Data Folder ▸ MQL5 ▸ Experts. Copy the .ex5 there, then right-click Expert Advisors in the Navigator and Refresh.
Why is my EA not trading?
Usually AutoTrading is off, "Allow Algo Trading" wasn't ticked, there's a sad face, the wrong symbol/timeframe is loaded, the market is closed, or the spread is above the EA's filter.
What does the smiley face mean?
A smiley in the chart's top-right = the EA is active and allowed to trade. A sad face = algo trading disabled. No face = no EA attached.
Can I run the same EA on multiple charts or computers?
Yes — use a unique magic number per chart, and copy the .ex5 to each machine's Experts folder. Gold Scalpers EA has no device lock.
What's the difference between .ex5 and .mq5?
.mq5 is source code; .ex5 is the compiled, runnable version. Run an .ex5 directly, or compile an .mq5 in MetaEditor (F7).