Complete Guide to Running MT5 EAs on Exness (2026 Edition)

Exness is one of the world's highest-volume brokers, renowned for its three defining strengths: tight spreads, instant withdrawals, and leverage up to unlimited. It pairs exceptionally well with EAs and is especially popular among advanced traders running scalping EAs.

The entire process takes approximately 25 minutes the first time.

Exness vs. XMTrading: What's the Difference?

If you're trying to decide between the two, here's a comparison from an EA trading perspective.

XM is a better fit for starting small; Exness wins if spread costs are your priority. Ideally, once you're comfortable, hold accounts at both brokers and switch depending on the EA type.

Step 1: Create Your Account (approx. 5 minutes)

1-1. Register via the affiliate link

1-2. Enter your basic information

Fill in the registration form with the following.

• Country of residence: Select Japan
• Email address: The address you'll use to log in
• Password: 8–15 characters including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols

After clicking "Continue," a confirmation email will be sent to your registered address. Click the link to complete verification.

Step 2: Create a Live Trading Account (approx. 5 minutes)

2-1. Review the My Account screen

After logging in, you'll see the My Account screen. Click "+ Open New Account" in the upper right.

2-2. Choose your account type

Select the account type for running EAs. Beginners should choose Standard; if spread is your priority, choose Raw Spread.

2-3. Configure your account details

Recommended settings:

• Account type: Live account
• Maximum leverage: 1:2000 (default)
• Currency: USD — or your preferred base currency
• Account nickname: Something easy to recognize (e.g., "Standard")
• Account password: Used to log in to MT5. You cannot retrieve this later, so write it down immediately

Click "Create Account" and the new account will appear in your My Account screen.

Step 3: Complete Identity Verification (KYC)

Identity verification is required before you can make withdrawals. You can start depositing and running EAs beforehand, but it's strongly recommended to complete KYC early.

Documents required:

• Proof of identity (passport, driver's license, or national ID card)
• Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or residence certificate issued within the last 6 months)

You can upload photos taken with your smartphone. Review typically takes 1–3 business days.

Step 4: Install MT5 (approx. 5 minutes)

4-1. Download MT5

Download MT5 from your Exness My Account page or from the MetaQuotes official website.

Some EAs may not work properly on the Mac version. The Windows version is recommended.

4-2. Log in to MT5

Launch MT5, go to "File" → "Open an Account," and log in.

Step 5: Make a Deposit

Recommended deposit methods

Minimum deposit: $10 (For a Standard account, $150 is the practical recommended minimum)

Deposits in local currency are accepted. Exness handles the conversion automatically.

Step 6: Install and Activate Your EA

6-1. Install the EA file

1. In MT5, go to "File" → "Open Data Folder"
2. Copy your EA file (.ex5) into the MQL5 → Experts folder
3. Restart MT5

6-2. Attach the EA to a chart

Open the chart for the target symbol and timeframe, then drag and drop the EA from the Navigator panel onto the chart.

Items to check in the settings window:

• "Allow automated trading" → Check ON ✓
• "Allow DLL imports" → ON ✓ for EAs that require it
• Verify parameters such as RiskPercent and MagicNumber

6-3. Turn on automated trading

Confirm that the "AutoTrading" button at the top of MT5 is green, and that the EA icon in the upper-right corner of the chart shows a smiley face.

Troubleshooting Checklist: EA Not Running

Summary: Setup Completion Checklist

• Exness account registered and email verified
• Live trading account created (account number and password noted)
• MT5 downloaded and successfully logged in to Exness server
• Deposit completed (minimum $10 or more)
• EA file placed in MQL5/Experts and MT5 restarted
• EA attached to chart with "Allow automated trading" ON
• AutoTrading button at top is green; EA icon shows smiley face
• No errors in the Experts tab (bottom of MT5)

FAQ

Q: Is it true that Exness offers unlimited leverage?

Leverage is automatically adjusted based on your account balance and margin ratio. Higher leverage is available when your balance is lower, but the ceiling decreases as your balance grows. "Effectively unlimited" is closest to reality when your balance is small.

Q: Can I trade without completing KYC?

Depositing and trading are possible before KYC is complete. However, KYC is required before you can withdraw funds. To avoid a situation where you've made profits but can't withdraw them, it's strongly recommended to complete KYC before making your first deposit.

Q: What is the Exness MT5 server time?

The Exness MT5 server operates on GMT+0 (winter time) or GMT+1 (summer time). The difference from Japan Standard Time (JST) is +9 hours in winter and +8 hours in summer. For time-based EAs (e.g., those targeting the Asian session), make sure the session hours are configured in server time.

Q: Are there any special settings needed when using Exness on a VPS?

The basic setup is the same as on a local machine. If the VPS IP address differs from the one used during initial login, you may receive a security confirmation email — simply approve it and you can continue as normal. For information on choosing a VPS, see the VPS information page.