How to Install and Activate an EA in MT5: AtlasFX TrendGuard

Before you start

You need MT5 desktop, an internet connection, a working demo login and the ZIP linked above. An MT4 file ending in .ex4 will not work in MT5. This installation procedure does not apply to the MT5 mobile apps or web terminal. Use your existing compatible demo account if you have one; this download does not require opening or funding a new broker account.

1. Download and extract the EA

Save the ZIP, right-click it in Windows and choose Extract All. Open the extracted AtlasFX_TrendGuard folder. The main files are:

Do not rename the ZIP to EX5. Extract it first. The package also includes checksums and a software licence; keep the original package for reference.

2. Put the files in the correct MT5 folder

In the MT5 terminal you intend to use, select File → Open Data Folder. Open MQL5, then Experts, and create a folder named AtlasFX_TrendGuard. Copy the EX5 and, optionally, the MQ5 into it:

MT5 data folder
└── MQL5
    └── Experts
        └── AtlasFX_TrendGuard
            ├── AtlasFX_TrendGuard.ex5
            └── AtlasFX_TrendGuard.mq5

Keep Default_Demo.set somewhere easy to find; you will select it with Load later. If you have several MT5 installations, each may have a different data folder. Always open the folder from the correct terminal. MetaQuotes’ folder reference.

3. Make the EA appear in Navigator

Return to MT5 and open View → Navigator. Under Expert Advisors, right-click and select Refresh. Expand the new folder and find AtlasFX_TrendGuard. If it is still missing, restart that terminal and check the file location.

The supplied EX5 is already compiled. Recompilation is optional: open the MQ5 in MetaEditor, press F7, and resolve any compilation errors before using the new binary. This EA uses MT5’s standard trade library and needs no additional indicator installation, DLL imports or WebRequest permission.

4. Run an initial Strategy Tester check

Open View → Strategy Tester and select AtlasFX. Use your broker’s exact EURUSD symbol, including any suffix, and H1. This is a convenient tutorial example, not a validated pair recommendation.

Choose a historical period with available data, keep optimization off, and select Every tick based on real ticks where supported. Load Default_Demo.set in the tester’s Inputs tab. Use visualization to inspect behaviour, then run the test and read its journal. Verify the cost assumptions, including commissions and swaps; a smooth chart or a completed test alone does not prove profitability. Official tester instructions.

The toolbar’s Algo Trading switch controls EAs on account charts. It is not the start button for a historical Strategy Tester run. A short installation check and a full performance evaluation are separate tasks.

5. Attach it to a demo chart

Confirm that the connected account is Demo and that quotes are updating. Open its EURUSD chart and set the displayed timeframe to H1. Drag AtlasFX_TrendGuard from Navigator onto that chart.

Use one AtlasFX instance per symbol in one terminal. Keep this tutorial account free of other EAs and manual positions so that ownership checks and account-wide equity changes are easy to understand. MT5 permits only one EA on an individual chart; attaching another replaces it.

6. Load and review the settings

In the EA properties window, open Inputs, choose Load, and select the extracted Default_Demo.set. Check these values before continuing:

These are release defaults, not optimized profit settings. On a usual five-decimal EURUSD quote, 20 points equals 2 pips. Check your symbol’s convention. A 0.25% sizing input is an estimate before commission, swaps and slippage, not a guaranteed maximum loss. The daily brake does not close positions or guarantee a daily loss cap.

Leave MagicNumber at its default for this single-instance walkthrough. Changing it changes the scope of the stored daily state. Read the complete input table before adding charts or changing the configuration.

7. Enable the two MT5 trading permissions

For the demo-chart run:

1. In the EA’s Common tab, enable Allow Algo Trading or Allow algorithmic trading, depending on the build. Click OK.
2. Enable Algo Trading on MT5’s main toolbar. Its platform-level setting is also available under Tools → Options → Expert Advisors.

Both levels must permit trading. Keep DLL imports and WebRequest disabled for this EA. Keep the platform’s protective options for account/profile changes enabled, and recheck permissions after making such changes. Enabling the global switch also affects other EAs that already have individual permission. MetaQuotes’ permission controls and platform settings.

EnableLiveTrading is a third, AtlasFX-specific guard. Keep it false throughout this guide. On a real account it would have to be true for the EA to submit any trade request, including trailing-stop updates. That explains the switch; it is not a recommendation to deploy this research release with real funds.

8. Confirm that it initialized, then let it wait

Check the chart’s EA label and open View → Toolbox → Experts. Look for AtlasFX’s initialization message and check Journal for connection or order errors. Successful initialization confirms loading, not a profitable strategy or a completed trade.

AtlasFX deliberately skips the current bar when attached. It then evaluates new H1 bars and only enters when its breakout, EMA, ADX, spread, session and other checks agree. No immediate trade is normal. Do not raise risk or remove filters to force activity.

Keep the terminal connected and the computer awake during observation. The EA cannot manage trailing stops while the terminal is offline. Record the broker, symbol, version, inputs, date and any error messages in a demo journal.

Troubleshooting

How to stop or remove the EA

Turn off the toolbar’s Algo Trading switch to stop automated trade requests across the terminal, or disable the individual EA’s permission. To remove it, use the running EA’s context menu in Navigator or the chart’s Expert Advisor menu.

Disabling or removing the EA does not close an existing position. It also stops the EA’s protective modifications, including trailing updates. Inspect any open positions separately. Existing broker-side stop-loss and take-profit orders normally remain, subject to the broker’s order rules.

Your next step

Continue the demo evaluation using the AtlasFX testing protocol. Keep a later historical period untouched and compare expected behaviour with actual demo trades. Successful installation is the beginning of evaluation.

Need a compatible platform? Compare broker eligibility, MT5 access and costs before choosing an account. You can also install a chart indicator or browse the EA library. Broker reviews may contain clearly marked affiliate links; a referral can earn us a commission.

Checked 8 September 2026 against the downloadable source and official platform documentation. This is an installation guide, not a claim of tested trading performance.