Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EA Token?

An EA Token is a unique key that links your ChartsConnect automation to your destination — such as MT4/MT5, Telegram, or Binance. It's how the two systems recognise each other and communicate securely. You generate one from your dashboard when setting up an automation, then enter it into the EA on your MT4/MT5 terminal, Binance, or Telegram bot.

How do I install the Expert Advisor on my MT4/MT5?

Here's the quick version:

1. Open MT4/MT5 and log into your trading account → click File → Open Data Folder.
2. Navigate to MQL4/MQL5 → Experts (use MQL4 for MT4, MQL5 for MT5).
3. Copy and paste the ChartsConnect EA file into that folder.
4. Restart MT4/MT5.
5. Make sure Algo Trading is enabled (triangle button on the top panel). Then drag the EA from the Navigator panel onto your chart.
6. Enable DLL imports and under "Inputs" enter your ChartsConnect user email and EA Token.

Your connection is successful when the hat icon at the top right corner of the chart turns blue, and the Expert Advisor dashboard shows "Connected" along with your ChartsConnect plan.

💡 A full walkthrough with screenshots is available in our documentation at docs.chartsconnect.com.

The Expert Advisor icon is grey — what does that mean?

A grey hat means the EA is not active. A blue hat means it's connected and ready to trade. To fix it: make sure Algo Trading is turned on in MT4/MT5 (the triangle button on the top panel should be green), and confirm your ChartsConnect email and EA Token have been entered correctly. Once both are done, the icon should turn blue. On MT4, an active EA is shown as a smiley face at the top right corner of the chart, and a sad face if it is disconnected.

Can I run multiple MT4/MT5 accounts with one ChartsConnect account?

Yes — the number of accounts you can run simultaneously depends on your subscription plan. Each account you send to is a destination. You can send alerts to MT4, MT5, or even Telegram. The Starter plan supports automation to 1 destination, Advance allows 3 different destinations, and Professional allows 25 different destinations. For even more destinations, you can contact ChartsConnect for a custom quotation.

Does the EA support hedging / FIFO restrictions?

Execution behaviour can vary depending on your broker's rules. Some brokers require FIFO (First In, First Out) order closing, while others allow hedging. ChartsConnect passes the instruction to your broker as configured — your broker then applies its own rules. Check with your broker to confirm what's allowed on your account type.

Do I have to update the EA every time there's a new version?

Yes, and it's worth doing promptly. EA updates include performance improvements, bug fixes, and compatibility enhancements with broker platforms. The good news: you don't need to rebuild your automations or tokens. Simply download the latest EA file, replace the old .ex4 or .ex5 file in your MQL4/MQL5 → Experts folder, restart MT4/MT5, reattach the EA to your chart, and configure your risk settings. That's it.

How can I avoid multiple trades at the same time?

The best approach is to control this at the strategy level rather than relying on the EA alone:

• Set your TradingView alert to trigger "Once per bar close" — this prevents multiple signals firing during the same candle.
• Add exit conditions to your strategy (e.g. close the previous trade before a new one can open).
• In your EA settings, set Max Open Trades = 1 if you only ever want one position open at a time.
• Add a time buffer between signals if your strategy allows.

💡 If multiple alerts fire within milliseconds, the system processes each one — so the safest place to control this is your strategy logic in TradingView.

What are the TradingView Alerts in the members area?

The TradingView Alerts section shows your signal history inside ChartsConnect. It displays every signal received from TradingView, including the timestamp, strategy name, asset, direction (Buy/Sell), execution result, and routing details. Use it to verify your alerts are arriving correctly, diagnose issues, and review performance over time.

Why is my EA not taking trades?

This is the most common question we get. There could be many reasons — here's a step-by-step checklist to work through:

• AutoTrading is off — The Algo Trading button (triangle button on the top panel) in MT4/MT5 must be green. If it's grey or red, click it to enable it. On MT4, the EA icon at the top right corner of the chart should show a smiley face when active; on MT5, it should show a blue hat.
• Wrong token — Double-check that the Master Token URL in your TradingView alert matches exactly what's in your ChartsConnect dashboard. One wrong character will break the connection.
• Incorrect alert message format — Your TradingView alert message must use the exact JSON format required by ChartsConnect. Even a small formatting error will cause the signal to be rejected.
• Check that the automation is routed to the correct destination.
• MT4/MT5 is not connected to the internet — Make sure your terminal is online and logged into your broker account. If you're on a VPS, check that it hasn't gone offline.