To set up MT4 or MT5 on a Windows VPS, connect to the remote Windows desktop and install the terminal there. Your local computer or phone displays that desktop; the MetaTrader installation and its files belong to the VPS.
This is a full Windows installation. If you are deciding between it and MetaTrader’s integrated virtual hosting, use the forex hosting comparison.
Install the terminal inside the remote desktop#
Obtain the installer through your broker or the platform’s official download source and run it inside the VPS session. An installation on your laptop does not appear on the server automatically.
If you need simultaneous terminals for separate accounts, give each installation a distinct directory and a recognizable shortcut. MetaQuotes documents separate installation directories for simultaneous copies of both MT4 and MT5. Labeling shortcuts by broker and account purpose makes it easier to open the intended instance.
Use the broker’s exact account server#
Select the server supplied with the account credentials. A correct account number and password do not compensate for selecting another broker server.
Begin with the intended demo environment when checking the installation. If prices appear but trading is unavailable, inspect account permissions as well as connectivity. For example, MetaTrader 5 investor access is read-only; an investor login does not gain trading permission because the terminal is on a VPS.
Find the active data folder before moving files#
Use File → Open Data Folder from the terminal you intend to configure. Its data directory may be separate from the installation directory, particularly in a remote desktop session. Do not guess which similarly named folder belongs to which installation.
MetaQuotes’ MT4 data structure and MT5 startup documentation explain this separation. Move only the profiles, templates, presets, and application files you intend to use, following the tool vendor’s instructions. A new machine may also require the vendor’s activation process.
For attaching EAs and configuring copier roles, continue with MetaTrader EA and copier deployment.
Disconnect from Windows without signing out#
Closing the remote connection and signing out of Windows are different actions. Microsoft documents that disconnecting retains the session, while logoff terminates its processes. Disconnect when you intend to leave the terminal running; a server restart or a session policy can still end it.
Reconnect from a second device using the same Windows account and confirm that you return to the intended terminal. MetaTrader’s mobile app is a separate interface, not a view of the EA windows on your Windows desktop. For that view, use remote desktop.