MetaTrader VPS Setup Guide: Run MT4/MT5 EA 24/7

Complete guide to setting up MetaTrader 4 or 5 on a Windows VPS. Import EAs, configure auto-trading, and keep MetaTrader running 24/7.

2026-02-21 7 min read Amsterdam, Netherlands

What You Need

A Windows VPS Netherlands (Surge plan, 2GB RAM minimum), your broker's MetaTrader 4 or 5 installer, your Expert Advisor files, and RDP access. See our RDP VPS connection guide for connecting to your Windows VPS.

Step 1: Connect to Your Windows VPS via RDP

Press Win+R, type mstsc, enter your VPS IP, and connect with Administrator credentials. You now have a full Windows desktop in Amsterdam.

Step 2: Download and Install MetaTrader

Inside your RDP session, open Edge or Internet Explorer. Navigate to your broker's website and download the MetaTrader installer (MT4: mt4setup.exe, MT5: mt5setup.exe). Run the installer and follow the wizard — accept defaults and complete the setup.

After installation, MetaTrader opens automatically. Log in with your broker account number and password.

Step 3: Import Your Expert Advisors

Your EA files (.ex4 for MT4 or .ex5 for MT5) need to be placed in the correct directory:

MT4: C:/Users/Administrator/AppData/Roaming/MetaQuotes/Terminal/[ID]/MQL4/Experts/
MT5: same path but MQL5/Experts/

The easiest way: in MetaTrader, go to File → Open Data Folder. This opens the correct directory. Copy your .ex4 or .ex5 files here.

Restart MetaTrader. Your EAs appear in the Navigator panel under Expert Advisors.

Step 4: Enable Auto-Trading

In MetaTrader, go to Tools → Options → Expert Advisors
Check Allow Automated Trading
Check Allow DLL Imports (if your EA requires it)
Click OK

Attach your EA to a chart: drag it from the Navigator panel onto a chart. Configure EA parameters in the popup window. Click OK. Your EA is now running.

Step 5: Verify EA is Running and Disconnect

Check the top-right of your chart — if you see a smiley face icon, the EA is active and auto-trading is enabled. The status bar at the bottom should show Expert: [EA name].

You can now safely disconnect RDP. MetaTrader continues running on the VPS. Your EA will execute trades while your computer is off.

Broker Latency from Amsterdam VPS

Our Amsterdam VPS delivers sub-10ms to major EU brokers. See our Forex VPS Netherlands page for a full broker latency table including IC Markets (~2ms), Exness (~3ms), Pepperstone (~7ms), and XM (~7ms).

Deploy Forex VPS in Amsterdam

MetaTrader ready, sub-10ms EU brokers, Windows Server — from $7/month

Deploy Netherlands VPS Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. When you disconnect RDP, the Windows VPS continues running. MetaTrader stays open in the background, and your EAs continue executing trades. The VPS runs 24/7 regardless of your connection status.

Reconnect via RDP and check MetaTrader. The EA should show a smiley face icon in the chart's top-right corner and 'Expert: [name]' in the status bar. Check the Journal tab for recent EA activity logs.

Yes. You can run multiple MT4/MT5 instances simultaneously, each logged into a different broker account. RAM usage increases with each terminal (~300–500MB per terminal with EAs). The Flux plan (4GB) handles 4–8 terminals.

Windows Server 2019 and 2022 both support MT4 and MT5 without issues. We recommend Windows Server 2022 for new deployments as it will receive support until 2031.

This depends on your EAs. MT4 uses the older MQL4 language; MT5 uses MQL5. Most legacy EAs are MQL4. New EAs are increasingly MQL5. Check your EA file extension: .ex4 = MT4, .ex5 = MT5. Both run equally well on a Windows VPS.