WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE STARTING
Before attaching an EA to MT5, make sure you have:
- MetaTrader 5 installed — download from your broker's website
- Your EA file (.ex5) — provided by Trading Dude after purchase
- A cent account with at least $300 balance
- The setfile (.set) — also provided by Trading Dude
- AutoTrading enabled in MT5
STEP-BY-STEP: ATTACHING THE EA
Place the .ex5 file in the correct folder
Open MT5 → Click File in the top menu → Click Open Data Folder. Inside, navigate to: MQL5 → Experts. Copy your .ex5 file into this Experts folder. Do not put it anywhere else.
Refresh the Navigator panel
In MT5, look at the left sidebar — this is the Navigator. Right-click on Expert Advisors and select Refresh. Your EA should now appear in the list under Expert Advisors.
Open XAUUSD chart
In MT5, go to File → New Chart or find XAUUSD in the Market Watch panel (Ctrl+M). Open a new XAUUSD chart. Set the timeframe to M1 (1 minute).
Drag the EA onto the chart
From the Navigator panel, find your EA under Expert Advisors. Double-click it or drag it onto the XAUUSD M1 chart. A settings window will open.
Load your setfile
In the EA settings window, click the Inputs tab. At the bottom, click Load and select the .set file provided by Trading Dude. This applies all the correct parameters automatically.
Enable "Allow live trading"
In the settings window, click the Common tab. Make sure "Allow live trading" is ticked. Also tick "Allow DLL imports" if prompted. Click OK.
Enable AutoTrading in MT5
Look at the top toolbar in MT5 — find the AutoTrading button. It should be green and say "AutoTrading". If it's grey/red, click it once to enable it. Without this, no EA can place trades.
Verify the EA is running
Look at the top-right corner of your XAUUSD chart. You should see the EA name with a smiley face 😊 icon. This means the EA is active. If you see a sad face 😞, something is wrong — check the steps below.
COMMON ERRORS & FIXES
❌ Sad face on chart (EA not running)
Most common cause: AutoTrading is disabled. Click the AutoTrading button in the toolbar. Also check that "Allow live trading" is enabled in the EA's Common settings.
❌ EA not appearing in Navigator
The file is in the wrong folder. Make sure the .ex5 file is inside MQL5 → Experts, not in MQL5 directly or in the Indicators folder. Refresh the Navigator after moving it.
❌ "Trade context busy" error
MT5 is already processing a trade. Wait a few seconds and the EA will retry automatically. This is normal during high-volatility periods like NFP or news events.
❌ License error / account not authorized
The EA license is tied to your MT5 account number. Make sure you are logged into the exact account number you sent to Trading Dude. If you changed accounts, contact us on WhatsApp for a license update.
❌ Wrong lot sizes trading
Make sure you loaded the correct setfile. On a cent account, lots appear as 0.01 but represent micro positions. Do not change the lot settings without recalculating risk first — use our Grid Risk Calculator.
RUNNING ON A VPS (RECOMMENDED)
To keep the bot running 24/7 without leaving your PC on, you need a VPS (Virtual Private Server). This is a remote computer that stays on permanently.
- Recommended: Contabo, Vultr, or MetaQuotes VPS ($5–$15/month)
- Install MT5 on the VPS, log into your cent account, attach the EA
- The VPS stays on even when your PC is off
- Contact Trading Dude on WhatsApp if you need help setting up a VPS