How to install MT4 on VPS step by step guide

31 March 2020

There are only three things that are required to install MT4 on VPS and it’s quite simple. You will require an internet connection, a remote desktop connection and a VPS address and password from your broker or service provider.

The first step is to register with the brokerage that supports VPS. Once this is done, you will be emailed with your log-in credentials. This includes an IP address that usually looks something like this: “111.222.3.4” and a password that is usually “administrator”.

Once you have this information, all you will need is to open the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), which does not require any downloads. You simply need to go to your windows search tool, type in “remote” and you should see it as the first result.

This pretty much concludes the hard part of how to install MT4 on VPS. All you have to do at that point is write the IP address and password you were given by your broker and that’s it, your VPS is now live.

Once this is done, all that’s left is to open an internet browser on your RDC and download the broker’s MT4 client. Once installed and logged into, you’re ready to start trading without any issues.

Should you have Axiory VPS account?

Before we dive deep and discuss how to setup VPS for MT4 and what are the MT4 VPS requirements, let's find out what are the benefits of having a VPS in the first place. VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, it means that your data is physically more secure when you have a VPS account. One simple way to understand how this works is to imagine VPS as a private computer that is located in some secure part of the world and is on 24 hours a day.

VPS trading is particularly useful for some algorithmic traders. MT4 automated trading strategies run on algorithms called Expert Advisors EAs. The EAs are like our workers that trade on our behalf. The EAs need reliable internet connection and reliable electricity to run smoothly. VPS servers offer algorithmic traders such capabilities. Which is why VPS trading is becoming more and more popular among high frequency and algorithmic traders.

Install MT4 on VPS step by step

Although the previous paragraph explains the installation of MT4 on VPS quite extensively, let us try to dig even deeper and make sure that all the possible questions are answered.

There are exactly 3 steps that we need to go through, so it is pretty simple. The steps are:

Registering with the broker
Opening the Remote Desktop Connection
Downloading MT4

Let us begin.

Step 1: Registering with the broker

The VPS for MT4 usually comes directly from the broker. Some brokers have, some don’t, so it is typically a good idea to check before choosing one.

If they have it, though, all it takes to get one is registering with the usual email and phone number. Once this is done, you will be emailed the IP address and password for your VPS.
Remember, the IP address is typically just 8 numbers that cannot be changed, while the password is “administrator” that can be changed.

Step 2: Open the Remote Desktop Connection

Once you have this information, it is time to open up the Remote Desktop Connection, or RDC for short.
In order to do this, go to your Start menu by either clicking the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen or press the Windows key on your keyboard. In order to get VPS on MT4, we require a remote desktop or a completely new device, and the RDC is exactly what we are looking for.

Type “remote” in the search tool of the Start menu, and you should get the RDC as your first result. It has an icon of a monitor with these symbols “>” “<”.

Once you click it, you will see two fields that you can write in. They’re called “Computer” and “Username”.

All you need to do is put the IP address in the “Computer” field, and your password in the “Username” field.

Once that’s done, you click “Connect” and that’s it, you are now on a Remote Desktop or a Virtual Device.

Step 3: Download & Install MT4

The RDC looks exactly like a Windows desktop without any applications. In order to install MT4 on VPS here, we will need an internet connection, so make sure you have it. If you already do, then open the “Microsoft Edge” web browser, go to your broker’s website and download the MT4 software.

It will most likely go to the “downloads” folder. Find it and simply install MT4. Once done, all that is left to do is log into your trading account.

That is it. You are now trading on MT4 through VPS.

MT4 on VPS – key takeaways

Virtual Private Server VPS is highly useful for algorithmic traders. Trading using robots requires reliable internet and electricity. What's more, VPS accounts are physically safer and active 24/7. In addition, traders do not have to maintain the hardware. On the downside, service is usually not free. The main advantage is that VPS gives people a faster connection. This means that the trades you open are placed with the broker a bit faster. This helps with taking advantage of price changes in the market more efficiently and sometimes leads to better payouts.

Installing MT4 on VPS is very easy and does not require too much effort. But, it may still be a bit confusing as to why people would spend time installing it.

FAQ on MT4 and VPS

What is MT4 VPS?

VPS is an abbreviation and stands for Virtual Private Server. The server adds security in trading using MT4. VPS helps Expert Advisors by providing fast and reliable internet, electricity. In addition, VPS accounts are active all the time, which is crucial for algorithmic trading. MT4 traders are increasingly using VPS services for these very reasons.

Why is VPS faster than regular connection?

The reason MT4 VPS is so popular with traders is the fast connection. In order to explain it, let us try to bring an actual example.

Imagine that you are trading from Bangkok, but the broker is located in Dubai. When you make a trade, that information needs to travel all the way from your server in Bangkok, to the broker’s server in Dubai. Although that may take less than 1 second, it still takes time. A person trading from Dubai would have his orders processed much faster than you.

A VPS is basically like buying space very near to the broker’s server, and trading as if you were actually there. Your trades are received by the broker’s server much faster, which means you get a better “connection”.

Who uses VPS when trading?

Not every trader needs FX MT4 VPS when trading, especially if they go for long trades which they close after a couple of hours or days.

The traders that usually use an MT4 VPS server are scalpers, high frequency traders and algorithmic traders. Speed for these traders is highly important. For algorithmic traders, the ability to remain active 24/7 is also very attractive. Algorithms are computer programs that trade on our behalf. For these robots or algorithms to perform, they require internet connection and fast internet. VPS services enable running Expert Advisors for automated trading 24/7.

Do I have to pay for VPS?

Yes. A Virtual Private Server is not free, whether you get it from your broker or the actual server “owner”.

The prices on VPS can be very different, but often, you can expect between $3 and $20 per month, depending on the speed, size, and various other technical details.

When it comes to MT4 VPS, it is even harder to determine which one to go for because every trader has a different strategy or a way of placing trades. The good news is that you can customize your VPS very easily.

Can I use other trading software on VPS?

Yes. An MT4 virtual server is pretty much a separate desktop, it is a virtual computer that you own. You can download, install, and run everything that you would do on your actual computer. So the pieces of software like cTrader, MT5, and all the others can easily be used with VPS as well, it is not exclusive for MT4 only.

How do I select a VPS?

Selecting a VPS server MT4 is usually very dependent on your own preferences. It will mostly require you to calculate how much power you need depending on how much you are going to use it. If you’re going to use it just for trading, then RAM, Hard disk, and CPU are not really an issue.

There’s also the question of location. If you are doing VPS trading, it is typically recommended by scalpers to get one as close to the broker’s server as possible. So if you are from Bangkok and the server is in Dubai, you would get a VPS in Dubai.

Another factor is customer support. There could be some questions or problems you may have with your MetaTrader VPS that you do not understand. Good and fast customer support could be a deciding factor in your trading success, so it is considered to be a good idea to pay close attention to it.

When it comes to the price of your MT4 VPS, most traders try to compare the price offered by the broker to the price offered by an independent company. Usually, there is a small difference, but nothing too serious.

How to install VPS on MT4?

There are only three things that are required to install MT4 on VPS, and it’s quite simple. You will require an internet connection, a remote desktop connection and a VPS address and password from your broker or service provider.

How to set up VPS for forex?

Setting up a VPS account will not take long. The first thing that needs to be done is to get a VPS service. Typically, having a Virtual Private Server is not free. Traders can use various service providers. When choosing a VPS account, traders can choose between various operating systems. Once traders purchase the VPS service, they can log in and install the forex trading platform on their server. Keep in mind that there are various pros and cons of having a VPS, On the upside, VPS accounts are active 24/7, traders do not have maintenance fees and enjoy fast internet connection. On the downside, there are service fees and some VPS services are limited in terms of capacity.