MetaTrader 4 Download: Installation and First Login Guide

Installing MetaTrader 4 puts the trading terminal on your device. Connecting it to your account requires three more things: an MT4 account number, its password and the correct trading server.

Keep those details together before starting. A working installation can still reject a login if the account belongs to another server—or to MetaTrader 5.

This guide covers the MetaTrader 4 download, Windows installation and first connection to a demo account, with separate download routes for Mac and mobile devices.

Links and documentation checked on 21 October 2026. The latest desktop release listed by MetaQuotes at that time was MT4 build 1490, dated 2 October 2026. Mobile applications have their own version numbers.

1. Where to Download MetaTrader 4

Start with the official MetaTrader download page or the MT4 installation link inside your broker’s verified website or client portal.

There is one detail worth noticing on the developer’s page: the MetaTrader 5 desktop section appears above the MetaTrader 4 section. Scroll to MetaTrader 4 for Desktop before choosing a download. The page title alone does not identify every button on it.

Verified Download Routes

The mobile listings identify the developer, helping distinguish the MT4 application from unrelated trading apps with similar descriptions. Availability can depend on your region and device.

If you already have a broker account, its own MT4 download may simplify setup by providing relevant server information. However, downloading the software does not create or fund a trading account.

MetaQuotes develops the platform; your broker provides the trading account and operates the server you connect to.

2. Requirements: Check the Device and the Account

The operating system is only part of the preparation. You also need an internet connection and an account specifically issued for MT4.

Windows

The current MetaQuotes user guide lists Windows 10 and Windows 11. It explains that hardware requirements depend on how the terminal is used, including the number of charts, instruments and running MQL4 applications.

A basic charting session and a terminal running several automated strategies impose different workloads. Avoid treating an arbitrary RAM or storage figure from an old installation article as a universal requirement.

macOS

MetaQuotes specifies macOS Big Sur 11 or later for its Mac installation package. The installer sets up Wine and installs the platform within that environment automatically.

That package is different from simply downloading the Windows executable and trying to open it directly on a Mac. Follow the dedicated Mac installation instructions.

Mobile Devices

The checked Apple listing requires iOS 13.0 or later for iPhone and iPadOS 13.0 or later for iPad.

For Android, check compatibility through the Google Play listing on your device rather than relying on an old Android minimum quoted elsewhere.

Account Details

Before logging in, locate:

• Your MT4 trading account number.
• The trading password for that account.
• The exact server name or address assigned by the broker.
• Confirmation that the account is demo or live.

Your broker portal password and trading password may be different. An MQL5.community account is also separate from the trading-account login.

3. Installing MT4 on Windows

For a first installation, work through the download and setup before adding indicators, trading robots or other extensions. This makes connection problems easier to isolate.

Download the Windows Installer

Open the official source, find the MT4 desktop section and choose its Windows download.

If you use the broker’s website instead, confirm that you are downloading the MT4 trading platform, rather than its proprietary application or MT5.

Run the Installation Wizard

Open the downloaded setup file, read the displayed agreement and follow the installation prompts. Choose the installation location if you need a separate terminal.

MetaQuotes documents installation through a setup wizard, with the terminal launching after installation completes.

If you already use MT4, pay attention to the destination folder. A separate installation is useful when you intentionally want another terminal instance; it should not happen accidentally while troubleshooting.

Check the Installed Build

Open Help → About and note the build number.

Compare it with the official MT4 release notes. An installer can be followed by an update, so the downloaded filename is not enough to establish the terminal’s final version.

MT4 checks for updates when it connects to a server. Available updates download in the background, and a restart applies them.

4. Selecting the Correct Trading Server

The server field identifies where MT4 should look for your account. It is part of the login credentials, not an optional connection preference.

A broker may operate several servers for different account groups. Names can distinguish demo from live accounts, and may include additional numbers or regional identifiers.

For an existing account, select the exact server assigned to that account. Do not choose another server merely because it has a similar name or a lower ping.

If the required server is missing from the list:

1. Open File → Open an Account.
2. Use the broker-search or add-server option.
3. Enter the broker name or the server address supplied by its support team.
4. Run the search or scan.
5. Select the matching result.

MetaQuotes documents adding a server by broker name or by an address, including an address and port where required.

A successful search only establishes that a server was found. You still need an account registered on it.

5. First Login to an MT4 Demo Account

A demo account lets you practise platform operations with virtual funds. You do not need to deposit real money to test the installation.

If You Already Have Demo Credentials

On the Windows terminal:

1. Open File → Login to Trade Account.
2. Enter the demo account number in Login.
3. Enter its trading password.
4. Select the assigned demo server.
5. Click Login.

Check all three fields together. Correct credentials sent to the wrong server can still fail.

The terminal supports both normal trading access and investor access. An investor password allows account observation but does not permit manual or automated trading. If you can see the account but cannot place orders, check which password you used.

If You Need to Create a Demo Account

Use your broker’s demo registration page or, where supported, the terminal’s File → Open an Account workflow.

The in-terminal process includes selecting a server and choosing a new demo account. Available account settings and registration requirements depend on the broker. Some providers direct registration through their website instead.

After registration, retain the account number, trading password and server name. A virtual balance shown on screen is not enough to reconnect later.

Confirm That the Connection Worked

Look for several signs together:

• The expected account appears in Navigator → Accounts.
• The account details and virtual balance match the demo you created.
• The connection area no longer reports an authentication or network error.
• Quotes update when the relevant market is open.

An existing chart is not proof of a current connection: previously downloaded data can remain visible.

You can now practise opening charts and reviewing order settings. Demo results remain simulated and should not be treated as a forecast of live trading performance.

6. Common Download and Login Problems

Reinstalling is often unnecessary when the problem is a password or server mismatch. Read the error message first.

Broker support documentation confirms that login errors can result from using portal credentials instead of MT4 credentials or selecting the wrong server.

For a demo account that previously worked, also check whether the provider has expired or archived it. Demo-account lifetimes are set by the broker.

If the problem continues, open Terminal → Journal and note the relevant error and its time. Give support the platform build, server name and error text. Never include your password in a support screenshot.

A completed MT4 setup means more than seeing the application launch: the intended account must be connected to its assigned server with the appropriate access rights. Once those details match, you can begin learning the platform in the demo environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where should I download MetaTrader 4?

Use the official MetaTrader download page or an MT4 link on your broker’s verified website or client portal. Select the MetaTrader 4 section explicitly: the developer’s download page also includes MT5. For mobile devices, follow the official store links and check that MetaQuotes is the listed publisher.

2. Is MetaTrader 4 free to download?

The MT4 terminal is free to download. Installing it does not create a funded trading account or remove a broker’s trading charges. You can practise with virtual funds after opening a demo account; live-account costs depend on the provider and account terms.

3. Can I install MT4 on a Mac?

Yes. MetaQuotes provides a dedicated Mac installation package that sets up Wine and installs MT4 within that environment. Follow the official Mac guide and check its current operating-system requirements. Downloading the Windows executable alone is not the same as using the Mac installation package.

4. What details do I need for my first MT4 login?

You need an MT4 trading account number, its trading password and the exact server assigned to that account. On the Windows terminal, open File → Login to Trade Account and enter all three. Your broker portal login and MQL5.community credentials are separate and may not work as trading-account credentials.

5. Why does MT4 show “Invalid account” or “Authorization failed”?

Check the account number, trading password and server together. Also confirm that the account was issued for MT4 rather than MT5. If a previously working demo stops accepting your login, ask the broker whether it has expired or been archived. Reinstalling the terminal will not correct mismatched credentials.

6. What should I do if my broker’s server is missing?

On Windows, open File → Open an Account and search using the broker name or server address supplied by the broker. Select the exact server associated with your account. A similar name or lower connection latency does not make another server suitable for the same login.

7. Why can I see my account but cannot place trades?

One possibility is that you logged in with an investor password, which provides observation access without trading permission. Use the account’s trading password when you need to place orders. If access is already correct, check market hours, account restrictions and the platform’s error message.

8. How can I confirm that my demo account is connected?

Check that the account number, assigned demo server and virtual balance match your registration details. Review the connection status and confirm that quotes update while the relevant market is open. An old chart alone does not prove an active connection because previously downloaded price data can remain visible.