MT4 Tutorials | MetaTrader 4 Trading Guides & How-To Lessons

Module 1: Getting Started

Download & Install MT4

1

Go to your broker website - Visit your chosen broker's official website (such as XM, FXCM, or IG)

2

Download MT4 for your device - Choose between Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS versions

3

Follow installation instructions step by step - Run the installer and accept the license agreement

4

Complete the installation - Wait for the installation to finish and launch MT4

Login to MT4

1

Open MT4 - Double-click the MT4 icon on your desktop or find it in your applications

2

Enter your account number and password - Use the login credentials provided by your broker

3

Select server provided by your broker - Choose the correct server from the dropdown list

4

Click Login - Wait for the connection to establish successfully

MT4 Interface Overview

Market Watch

Displays live prices for all available currency pairs and instruments

Navigator

Contains accounts, indicators, expert advisors, and scripts

Terminal

Shows your trades, account history, news, and alerts

Chart Window

Main area where price charts and technical analysis are displayed

Basic Settings

1

Change chart type - Right-click on chart → Properties → Select candlestick, bar, or line chart

2

Adjust time frame - Use toolbar buttons or press F1-F12 for different timeframes

3

Add currency pairs to Market Watch - Right-click Market Watch → Symbols → Select pairs

Module 2: Trading Basics

Opening a Trade

1

Right-click a symbol → New Order - Select your desired currency pair from Market Watch

2

Choose Buy or Sell - Buy if you think price will go up, Sell if you think it will go down

3

Set lot size - Start with 0.01 lots for beginners (micro lot = $0.10 per pip)

4

Set Stop Loss / Take Profit - Stop Loss limits losses, Take Profit secures gains

5

Click "Send" - Confirm your order details and execute the trade

Modifying or Closing Orders

1

Terminal → Trade tab - View all your open positions and pending orders

2

Right-click order → Modify or Close - Choose to modify SL/TP or close the position

3

Confirm changes - Review modifications before confirming the action

Understanding Lot Size, Leverage, and Margin

Lot Size

• Standard lot = 100,000 units
• Mini lot = 10,000 units
• Micro lot = 1,000 units
• Nano lot = 100 units

Leverage

Allows you to control larger positions with smaller capital. Common ratios: 1:50, 1:100, 1:500

Margin

The deposit required to open a position. Calculate: Position Size ÷ Leverage = Required Margin

Module 3: Charts and Technical Analysis

Adding Indicators

1

Insert → Indicators → Choose indicator - Navigate through Trend, Oscillators, Volume, or Bill Williams categories

2

Adjust parameters - Modify period (default 14), colors, and line styles in the settings window

3

Apply to chart - Click OK to add the indicator to your current chart

4

Popular indicators - Moving Average, RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, Stochastic

Drawing Tools

Trend Lines

Connect two or more price points to identify trend direction

Access: Insert → Lines → Trend Line (or use toolbar icon)

Fibonacci Retracement

Identify potential support and resistance levels

Access: Insert → Fibonacci → Retracement

Horizontal Lines

Mark important price levels for support and resistance

Access: Insert → Lines → Horizontal Line

How to add: Select tool from Insert menu → Click and drag on chart

How to move: Double-click the line → Drag to new position → Click elsewhere to confirm

Templates

1

Save chart setup as template - Right-click chart → Template → Save Template

2

Name your template - Give it a descriptive name like "Scalping Setup" or "Swing Trading"

3

Load template on another chart - Right-click new chart → Template → Load Template

4

Templates save: Indicators, drawing objects, colors, and timeframes

Module 4: Advanced Tools

Expert Advisors (EAs)

1

How to enable automated trading - Tools → Options → Expert Advisors → Check "Allow automated trading"

2

Enable AutoTrading button - Click the "AutoTrading" button in the toolbar (should turn green)

3

How to add EAs to charts - Navigator → Expert Advisors → Drag EA to chart

4

Configure EA settings - Adjust parameters in the EA properties window before confirming

Custom Indicators

1

Copy .ex4 or .mq4 files to MQL4/Indicators folder - Navigate to MT4 installation directory

2

File location: C:\Program Files\MetaTrader 4\MQL4\Indicators (Windows)

3

Restart MT4 - Close and reopen MT4 for new indicators to appear

4

Add from Navigator window - Navigator → Custom Indicators → Double-click to apply

Alerts & Notifications

How to set price alerts

1. Right-click on chart → Trading → Alert

2. Set condition (Price >, Price <, Time, etc.)

3. Enter target price and select alert type

4. Click OK to activate alert

Email notifications

1. Tools → Options → Email tab

2. Enable email and configure SMTP settings

3. Enter your email server details

4. Test email to verify configuration

Push notifications

1. Download MetaTrader 4 mobile app

2. Tools → Options → Notifications

3. Enable push notifications

4. Enter MetaQuotes ID from mobile app

Module 5: Tips & Tricks

Keyboard Shortcuts

F1-F12 Change timeframes

Ctrl + M Show/hide Market Watch

Ctrl + N Show/hide Navigator

Ctrl + T Show/hide Terminal

F9 Open New Order window

Alt + 1 Bar chart

Alt + 2 Candlestick chart

Alt + 3 Line chart

Organizing Chart Workspace

1

Arrange multiple charts - Window → Tile Windows to organize charts in grid layout

2

Create chart groups - File → Profiles to save different chart arrangements

3

Customize toolbar - Right-click toolbar → Customize to add/remove buttons

Saving Workspace for Multiple Layouts

1

Create profiles - File → Profiles → Save As → Name your layout (e.g., "Scalping", "Swing Trading")

2

Switch between profiles - File → Profiles → Select saved profile name

3

Profiles save: Open charts, indicators, templates, and window positions

Quick Switching Between Timeframes

F1

M1 (1 minute)

F5

M5 (5 minutes)

F6

M15 (15 minutes)

F7

M30 (30 minutes)

F8

H1 (1 hour)

F9

H4 (4 hours)

F10

D1 (Daily)

F11

W1 (Weekly)

MT4 Tutorials – Step-by-Step Text Guide