How to install a custom indicator in MetaTrader 5
Install an MT5 indicator on desktop: use MQL5\Indicators, compile .mq5 source in MetaEditor, refresh Navigator and test it on a demo chart.
Start here
The short version: on desktop MT5, open File → Open Data Folder, put .mq5 or .ex5 in MQL5\Indicators, compile .mq5 source with F7, refresh Navigator and attach the indicator to a demo chart. MT4 files do not run in MT5.
Need a different workspace? Install a custom indicator in MT4 or Set up TradingView for practice.
Know what you downloaded.
An .mq5 file is readable MQL5 source code; an .ex5 file is compiled for MetaTrader 5. MT4 files such as .mq4 and .ex4 are not interchangeable with MT5 files.
Prefer source you can inspect, a stated version, a checksum and documentation that explains inputs, repaint behaviour and permissions. Never treat a free indicator as safe merely because it compiles.
Place the file in the platform data folder.
In MT5, choose File, then Open Data Folder. Open MQL5 and Indicators, copy the file into that folder, return to MT5 and refresh the Navigator or restart the platform.
For .mq5 source, open MetaEditor with F4, compile with F7 and read every warning or error. The compiled .ex5 should appear in the corresponding Indicators folder.
Test the output before trusting the display.
Drag the indicator from Navigator onto a demo chart, record the inputs and confirm that the expected buffers or objects appear. Change timeframe and reload the platform to check persistence.
Use historical bar replay or a documented observation test to see whether earlier signals move, disappear or use future information. A 'non-repainting' label is a claim to test, not accept.
MT5 mobile is not desktop MT5.
The standard MetaTrader 5 apps for iPhone and Android provide a fixed collection of built-in indicators. They do not load ordinary desktop .mq5 or .ex5 custom indicators.
A desktop or hosted terminal can run the indicator, but merely viewing the same account on mobile does not reproduce custom chart output. Avoid websites that imply a normal mobile install where the platform does not support one.
When the indicator does not appear
Confirm that you opened the data folder for the terminal you are actually using, the file is in MQL5/Indicators rather than Experts, and the code compiled for MT5 without errors. Refresh Navigator and inspect the Experts and Journal tabs.
If output is blank, check symbol/timeframe assumptions, minimum bars, input ranges and whether the tool depends on data that has not downloaded. Remove the indicator if it requests unexplained DLL or network permissions.
- Correct MT5 data folder
- Correct file type and subfolder
- Successful compile
- Enough price history
- No unexplained external permissions
- Demo verification before broader use
Match the symptom to the next check
| What you see | Check first | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| The indicator is missing from Navigator | Open the Data Folder from the same MT5 terminal. Confirm MQL5\Indicators and the real .mq5 or .ex5 extension. | Compile source, then right-click Navigator and refresh. Restart MT5 if the list still has not updated. |
| The .mq5 file is present but will not attach | Compile with F7 in MetaEditor and read the Errors pane. Source code alone is not the executable indicator. | Fix every compile error and confirm that MetaEditor created the matching .ex5 file. |
| It attaches but the chart is blank or different | Match symbol, timeframe, input values and applied price. Load enough history and inspect the Experts and Journal tabs. | Test on a clean demo chart. Change one input at a time and compare completed candles, not a moving candle. |
| It works on desktop but not on the phone | The official mobile apps provide their own built-in chart indicators; the desktop MQL5 file is not installed there. | Keep the custom chart on desktop or use a supported built-in mobile version of the same idea. |
Platform setup FAQ
Can an MT4 indicator run in MT5?
No. MT4 uses .mq4 and .ex4 files, while MT5 uses .mq5 and .ex5. Renaming the file does not convert the code; it needs a genuine MQL5 port and a new test.
Why does my MT5 indicator not appear in Navigator?
The usual causes are the wrong terminal data folder, the wrong MQL5 subfolder, a hidden or doubled file extension, or a failed compile. Check MQL5\Indicators, compile .mq5 source with F7, refresh Navigator and read MetaEditor errors.
Can I install a custom MT5 indicator on mobile?
The normal .mq5 and .ex5 installation workflow is for desktop MT5. MetaQuotes lists built-in analysis tools for its mobile apps; do not expect a desktop custom file to appear simply because the same account is open on a phone.
Checked against the platform owner
These instructions were checked against current official help pages on 13 August 2026. Platform features can change, so use these links if a menu or limitation has moved.