MQL5 Signals: subscribing inside the MT4 and MT5 terminal
MQL5 Signals is the main copying channel in forex: the marketplace is built into the terminal, the account stays with your broker, and you pay a fixed monthly amount. We walk through the connection step by step and through the MQL5 signal ranking.
A marketplace inside the terminal
MQL5 Signals is a marketplace built into MetaTrader where traders publish their accounts and subscribers receive their trades straight into the terminal. It is the shortest route to copying for anyone already trading forex: no third-party service and no change of broker are needed.
The main technical limitation. Signals are copied only while the terminal is running and connected. A computer switched off overnight means missed entries and exits — while the subscription is paid in full. That is precisely why the "MQL5 signal plus VPS" pairing became standard.
How to connect an MQL5 signal to MT5: eight steps
Half of all connection failures come down to two steps: a mismatched account type and the signal import permission being switched off.
Register on the community site and link it in the terminal via “Tools → Options → Community”. Without it the Signals tab does not work.
freeYour account type must match the signal's: netting with netting, hedging with hedging. Otherwise the subscription will not connect, or the trades will go wrong.
a common cause of failureThe showcase sorts by growth and subscriber count. You should filter by track record, drawdown and trade count — otherwise ramped-up accounts end up on top.
the real workThe provider has their own spreads and execution speed. If their broker differs greatly from yours, the divergence will be larger than usual.
check it on the cardThe settings specify the percentage of the deposit and a cap on exposure. This is also where you decide what happens when funds run short.
this defines your riskIn the terminal settings you enable signal import and synchronisation. Without it the subscription is paid for but no trades arrive.
a technical trapSignals only arrive while the terminal is running and connected. Continuous copying needs virtual hosting — your own or MetaQuotes'.
otherwise you miss tradesThe subscription renews automatically. You unsubscribe in the terminal, and open positions stay on your account — you close them by hand.
worth rememberingThe MQL5 signal ranking: what to look at on the card
The showcase ranks by growth and subscriber count — numbers that speak about the past and about marketing, not about risk. Here is what to look at instead.
The showcase shows total growth in per cent. Look not at the total but at the shape of the curve: steps with pullbacks versus a straight line.
a deceptive metricThe card shows it separately from the balance figure. The gap between the two is what the provider is sitting out in open positions.
the main filterLess than six months means no meaningful statistics. A signal that launched into a favourable market stretch reaches the top of the ranking fastest of all.
eliminates most of themHundreds of trades a month from a grid trader and fifty a year from a swing trader call for different judgement. Read this together with the track record.
the style contextA flat amount consumes a predictable share of a small deposit. The same subscription price on a deposit of 1,000 and of 10,000 dollars means a tenfold difference in the burden as a percentage — which is why providers should be compared not by price but by its share of your account.
calculate before subscribingShows how much of their funds the provider keeps in the market. High exposure on your smaller deposit leads to margin rejections.
a technical constraintWhat the marketplace does not do
Frequently asked questions
Why is the signal not copying even though the subscription is paid?
Three typical causes: signal import is not enabled in the terminal settings, the account type does not match (netting versus hedging), or there is not enough free margin for the required size. All three can be checked in the terminal's Journal tab.
How much does a subscription cost?
The price is set by the provider and is fixed per month. For a small deposit this is the most dangerous model: 30 dollars a month on a deposit of 1,000 is 36 % a year on the subscription alone, before the spread. Work out the full cost in the guide to fee models.
Is a VPS mandatory?
Technically no, but without one copying breaks every time the computer is off or loses connection. A missed exit costs more than a month's server rental — more detail on the copiers and VPS page.
How do MQL5 Signals differ from an expert-advisor copier?
Signals are a native terminal mechanism with a payment to the provider and the platform's own limits. A copier is a program that moves trades between your own accounts under your rules, with no showcase and no subscription.
How do you subscribe to a signal in MetaTrader?
Through the "Signals" tab in the terminal: pick a provider, pay the subscription and allow synchronisation. No separate venue and no second account are needed — it all happens inside the terminal.
Why is a signal not synchronising?
Most often because there are not enough funds for the minimum size, because the instruments do not match at your broker, or because the terminal is off. The reason is usually visible in the terminal's log under the "Experts" tab.
What is the synchronisation percentage?
The share of the provider's trades reproduced on your account. A value noticeably below one hundred per cent means you are copying part of a strategy rather than the strategy.
Can you subscribe to several signals at once?
The terminal's built-in mechanism works with one signal per account. Several subscriptions mean several accounts and, accordingly, a deposit split between them.
How do you choose a signal on MQL5?
By track record, number of trades and depth of drawdown, not by position in the ranking: the ranking largely reflects subscriber count, that is past popularity rather than future results.
What happens when you unsubscribe from a signal?
Synchronisation stops and open positions stay on your account. You will have to close them yourself — and that is the main reason not to unsubscribe in the middle of a series.
Other copying venues
Nine services examined to one template: where the trade executes, whether a terminal is required, how the fee is computed and what happens with statistics verification.
The platform's public page as captured: the interface and data are real but they change. Colours mapped to the site palette, avatars blurred.
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