Gold Trading Bot Setup Guide: From Download to First Trade

This is the complete, no-skipped-steps setup guide for running a gold bot on MetaTrader 5. Follow it in order and you will go from nothing to your first automated XAUUSD trade in under ten minutes — safely.

Before you start — the checklist

• MetaTrader 5 installed (free)
• A broker account with XAUUSD (use a demo account first)
• Your EA file (.ex5)
• 10 minutes and a coffee

1. Open the data folder

In MT5: File → Open Data Folder. This opens the folder where MT5 stores everything. Navigate into MQL5 → Experts.

2. Copy the EA in and refresh

Paste your .ex5 file into the Experts folder. Back in MT5, right-click the Navigator panel → Refresh. Your bot now appears under Expert Advisors.

3. Open a gold chart

Open a XAUUSD chart. Set the timeframe to M1 (one minute) unless the bot's guide says otherwise. Make sure it is the exact gold symbol your broker uses (sometimes GOLD or XAUUSD.m).

4. Attach and configure

Drag the EA onto the chart. In the settings dialog, tick 'Allow Algo Trading'. Leave risk on the standard/auto profile unless you know exactly what you are changing — a good bot sizes lots for you.

5. Turn on Algo Trading

Click the 'Algo Trading' button in the top toolbar so it is green. Without this, the bot will not trade. You should now see it monitoring the chart, ready to take its first setup.

6. Watch the first trades on demo

Let it run on demo. Confirm the lot sizes look reasonable for your balance, it uses a stop loss, and it stops after the daily loss limit. When you are comfortable, repeat the process on a small live account.

Troubleshooting

• No trades? Check the Algo Trading button is green and 'Allow Algo Trading' is ticked.
• 'Invalid stops' errors? Your broker's minimum stop distance may be large — contact support.
• Bot stops when PC sleeps? Move to a VPS for 24/5 uptime.

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