Problems and errors when using the machines on MetaTrader 4

Automatic trading is becoming more and more popular every year. So it is not surprising that the most famous platform is used for trading with robots by retail traders Forex - MetaTrader 4. Below we present the most popular problems (and their solutions) that you may encounter when starting your adventure with using EA (Expert Advisor) on MT4.

Read: How to run a Forex slot machine

No reaction from EA to MetaTrader 4

You started the machine according to the instructions but nothing happens? Relax, it does not mean that something is wrong. The strategy is launched on the next tick after adding EA to the chart. If this tick has appeared, then the next step is to meet all the conditions set in the code to take action by the machine. The problem arises at the moment when, despite the fact that conditions have occurred, for example to deal with the transaction, the machine still does not take any action.

Then it's time to go to the tab Strategy log in the Terminal window and analyze the records there.

"Trading disabled"

Fragment of the list of symbols, MT4 LMAX

If you found such a message, it means that the option of trading on your account is inactive. And it's on the broker's side. This happens when our account has not yet been fully activated (or has been deactivated), i.e. we can only log in to the platform, view the charts, but we can not open the position. There is also a second option. In case we can conclude transactions manually, it means that the broker in the platform settings has completely disabled the automatic trading option. Then we have to ask for service and make sure it is.

In the event that we received a negative answer, we need to look further. A third possible scenario comes up - we added EA to the wrong chart (instrument). By "wrong graph" I mean an instrument with incorrect labeling. On some platforms you can see that we have access to the same instruments but with different symbols. A good example is the LMAX Exchange, on the platform of which, for example, EURUSD and EURUSD.lmx are visible. Instruments intended for trading have an added suffix .lmx, while those unavailable for trading appear on the list of quotations as "gray", inactive.

"Indicator is mising"

A message saying that there is no indicator that the strategy uses. Without it, the machine will not take action. Solution? Adding it to the appropriate MT4 catalog and restarting the platform.

See: How do I add a pointer to MT4?

"Trade context is busy"

This is another popular problem that traders face. What does this message mean? Usually occurs when too many strategies are running simultaneously on one platform (10 or more). In such situations, the platform has a problem with reworking all actions provided by EA. The solution is to divide the strategy into several different MT4s, even logging into the same accounts. Just do not overdo it - with a weaker computer, more MT4, EA and active charts can effectively "silt up" and even crash your computer.

EA error codes on MetaTrader 4

Below are the error codes that you may encounter when using (or attempting to run) automated strategies on MT4.