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CanadaA trading robot is useless if it stops when your computer shuts down. A Windows VPS keeps MetaTrader running around the clock on a stable connection, and you only connect when you need to. Here is the full setup, and the settings that prevent unpleasant surprises.
1. Why a VPS for MetaTrader
An Expert Advisor only places orders while the terminal is open and connected. On a home computer, sleep mode, a router outage or an update is enough to interrupt it at the worst moment. A VPS stays on permanently, in a data center, with redundant power and connectivity.
2. Which plan to choose
MetaTrader is light, but Windows Server already uses 1.5 to 2 GB of memory. Plan on 4 GB for one or two terminals, and 8 GB if you run several or follow many charts. Our Windows VPS start at €2.99 a month, and the 4 GB plan is €5.99.
3. Install the terminal
- Connect to the VPS with Remote Desktop (see our guide connecting with Remote Desktop).
- Open the server's browser and download MetaTrader from your broker's website: that version comes preconfigured with the broker's trading servers.
- Run the installer, then open the terminal.
- Log in to your account: account number, password and broker server, as given in your account-opening email.
Install each terminal in its own folder. Started with the /portable option, a terminal keeps its data in its own folder, so two instances do not get in each other's way.
4. Enable your Expert Advisors
- Copy your robot into the
MQL4\ExpertsorMQL5\Expertsfolder: File menu, “Open Data Folder”. - In Tools, Options, Expert Advisors tab, allow algorithmic trading.
- Switch on the automated trading button in the toolbar, called AutoTrading on MT4 and Algo Trading on MT5.
- Drag the robot onto the chart and check the icon confirming it is active.
5. Keep it running 24/7
Once the robot is set up, simply close the Remote Desktop window. Your session stays open on the server and MetaTrader keeps running. Never use “Sign out” from the Start menu: the session would close, and the terminal with it.
6. Restart MetaTrader after a reboot
To make the terminal start on its own when the session opens, put a MetaTrader shortcut in the Windows startup folder:
shell:startupType this command in the Run box (Windows + R), then drop the shortcut into the folder that opens. After a server reboot, connect once with Remote Desktop to reopen the session: the terminal then starts automatically.
7. Keep Windows updates under control
Windows updates sometimes restart the server. To keep them away from trading hours, schedule restarts outside market hours, ideally at the weekend, and check after each reboot that the terminal and the robot are running again.
8. Reduce latency to your broker
MetaTrader shows the ping to your broker's server in the bottom-right corner of the window. The lower it is, the faster your orders arrive. So host your VPS as close as possible to your broker's servers: many are in London or New York. Our VPS are available in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada: compare the displayed ping, it is the only number that matters.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM does MetaTrader need on a VPS?
4 GB for one or two terminals, 8 GB if you open several or follow many charts. Windows Server alone uses 1.5 to 2 GB.
Does MetaTrader keep running when I disconnect from the VPS?
Yes, if you close the Remote Desktop window. If you choose “Sign out” from the Start menu, the session closes and MetaTrader stops.
Where should I host my trading VPS?
As close as possible to your broker's servers, often in London or New York. Compare the ping shown in the bottom-right corner of MetaTrader from each location.
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