MetaTrader 4 — Quickstart Guide

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) remains the world's most popular forex trading platform. This guide covers everything you need to get started.

Getting Started

Download MT4 from your broker's website

Install the application and launch it

Enter your trading account credentials

The platform will synchronize your account data

**Market Watch** — displays live prices for currency pairs

**Navigator** — access accounts, indicators, and expert advisors

**Chart Window** — the main price chart area

**Terminal** — manage orders, account history, and news

MT4 supports three chart types accessible via the toolbar:

**Candlestick charts** — most popular for trading, shows open/high/low/close

**Bar charts** — similar information in bar format

**Line charts** — simplest, shows closing prices only

Use `Ctrl+F` to search for symbols and F9 to open the order ticket quickly.

There are four order types in MT4:

| Order Type | Description |

|------------|-------------|

| Market Order | Execute immediately at current price |

| Buy Limit | Buy below current price |

| Sell Limit | Sell above current price |

| Buy Stop | Buy above current price |

To place a market order:

Right-click in Market Watch → New Order (or press F9)

Select the symbol

Set volume (lot size)

Choose execution type (Instant or Market)

Set stop loss and take profit (optional)

Click Buy or Sell

MT4 includes 30 built-in technical indicators and 24 analytical objects. Access indicators via Insert → Indicators.

**Moving Averages** — identify trend direction

**RSI (Relative Strength Index)** — measure momentum

**MACD** — spot trend changes and momentum

**Bollinger Bands** — identify volatility and potential breakouts

EAs are automated trading programs written in MQL4. The Strategy Tester allows you to backtest EAs on historical data before deploying them live.