How to connect TradingView to MT5

Step-by-step guide to set up OrderRailEA Expert Advisor

OrderRailEA connects your MetaTrader 5 terminal to OrderRail, allowing you to execute TradingView webhook signals automatically in MT5.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

MetaTrader 5 terminal installed
MT5 account with a broker
OrderRail account with an active MT5 terminal configured
API key from OrderRail (generated in the config page)

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Installation

Step 1: Download the EA file

Download the OrderRailEA.mq5 file below, or copy it from your OrderRail installation.

Download OrderRailEA.mq5

Step 2: Install in MT5

Open MetaTrader 5
Go to File → Open Data Folder
Navigate to MQL5 → Experts
Copy OrderRailEA.mq5 into this folder
Restart MT5 or press F5 in the Navigator window to refresh

Step 3: Compile the EA

In MT5, open the Navigator window (View → Navigator or Ctrl+N)
Find OrderRailEA under Expert Advisors
Right-click and select Compile
Check the Toolbox window for any compilation errors

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Configuration

Step 1: Get your API key

Log into your OrderRail account and navigate to the config page. In the MT5 settings section, create or view your MT5 terminal. Copy the API key that is displayed.

⚠️ Important: The API key is only shown once. Save it securely before closing the dialog.

Step 2: Configure the EA

Drag OrderRailEA from Navigator onto any chart
In the EA settings dialog, configure the following:

BaseUrl:

Your OrderRail API URL (e.g., https://api.orderrail.net)

ApiKey:

Paste your MT5 API key from OrderRail

TerminalId:

Unique identifier for this MT5 terminal (e.g., vps-1)

PollSeconds:

How often to check for commands (default: 2 seconds)

DeviationPoints:

Slippage tolerance in points (default: 20)

Click OK to start the EA.

Step 3: Enable algorithmic trading

Before the EA can execute trades, you must enable algorithmic trading in MT5:

Look for the AutoTrading button in the MT5 toolbar (usually at the top)
Click the button to enable it (it should turn green/active)
Alternatively, go to Tools → Options → Expert Advisors and check "Allow algorithmic trading"

⚠️ Important: If algorithmic trading is disabled, the EA will reject all trade commands with "Trading not allowed now" error.

Step 4: Verify connection

Check the Experts tab in the Terminal window
You should see "OrderRailExecutorEA initialized" message
The EA will automatically poll for commands every PollSeconds seconds

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Symbol Mapping

MT5 uses different symbol names than TradingView. Configure symbol mappings in the OrderRail config page to map TradingView tickers to MT5 symbols.

For example, a TradingView ticker like BTCUSD might map to an MT5 symbol like BTCUSD or a broker-specific name like BTCUSD.ecn.

The EA will use the symbol name as provided in the command from the backend, so ensure your symbol mappings are configured correctly.

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Troubleshooting

EA not starting

Check that the EA is compiled without errors
Verify BaseUrl and ApiKey are set correctly
Check MT5's Experts tab for error messages

Commands not executing

Verify API key is correct in EA settings
Check that AutoTrading button is enabled (green/active) in MT5 toolbar
If you see "Trading not allowed now" error, ensure algorithmic trading is enabled in MT5 settings
Check backend logs for command creation
Ensure symbol name matches your broker's symbol format
Check MT5's Journal tab for execution errors

Network errors

Ensure MT5 is allowed through firewall
Verify BaseUrl is accessible from your network
Check that the OrderRail backend is running and accessible

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Security Notes

Never share your API key
The API key is stored in MT5's EA settings (encrypted by MT5)
Regenerate API key if compromised
Use HTTPS for BaseUrl

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Next Steps

Once your EA is configured and running, configure your symbol mappings and TradingView webhooks in the OrderRail config page.

Go to Config Page Download EA File