Installing MetaTrader 4 on a Windows system is relatively easy. It is not surprising considering that the desktop application was designed specifically for Windows. But that makes installing the application on a Linux system relatively complicated. This guide explains different ways you can install MetaTrader 4 on Linux.
The guide uses Ubuntu LTS as an example of a Linux system. It also assumes you know how to install MetaTrader 4 on Windows.
As MetaTrader 4 is a native Windows application, the most obvious solution is to launch it using Wine. Wine is a compatibility layer that is used to launch Windows applications on Linux.
In theory, the easiest way to install Wine is using Ubuntu Software (or a similar application center if you are using a different Linux distribution). To do so, launch Ubuntu Software and then enter wine in the search field.
Click on the Wine application and then click Install.
Theoretically, this should be enough to launch a MetaTrader 4 installer. Unfortunately, there is a chance that this method will not work (as has happened in our case). If this has happened to you, you will have to use the alternative method of installing Wine.
The alternative way to install Wine is to use the Terminal application. Using the text command line can be daunting for a newcomer but there is nothing too complex. Just enter the provided commands. You can even copy and paste them, though remember that you need to use the CTRL+Shift+v key combination when you want to paste into the terminal instead of the regular combination of CTRL+v. Remember to wait for a command to complete its execution before entering the next one. Some commands require you to enter the administrator password. You should know it and enter it when asked.
First, download and add the repository key by using the following couple of commands:
Next, add the repository with the following two commands:
Update packages using this command:
Afterward, you need to install one of the provided packages. The Stable should be the safest option. In theory, you should be able to install it using the following command:
Unfortunately, in our case, it could not be found. If that is also the case for you, try installing the Development branch. Here is the command:
When the terminal warns you about the additional space being used and asks if you want to continue, press y.
If the terminal warns you about missing dependencies, you will need to install them and then repeat the last two steps (updating and installing packages).
If you are using a bit system, you may also need to enable bit architecture with the following command:
Instructions for installing Wine on other distributions of Linux as well as other versions of Ubuntu can be found on the WineHQ site.
You will need to download the MetaTrader 4 installer for Windows. As MetaQuotes no longer provides the MetaTrader 4 installer, you will need to download it from one of the brokers that still provide it.
Go to the folder where you have downloaded the installer and right-click on it. Choose the Open With Other Application option. Choose Wine Windows Program Loader from the list of applications and click Select.
This opens the regular MetaTrader 4 installation application. Use it to install MetaTrader 4 the same way you would do on Windows.
After the installation has finished, click Finish.
After that, the regular MetaTrader desktop app opens, and you can use it in a usual manner.
Next time you will want to launch the app, you can do it through the Show Applications dashboard.
The installation program also creates two icons on the desktop: for the MetaEditor and the MetaTrader 4 terminal itself.
To use them for launching the appropriate app, you have to right-click on each one of them and choose Allow Launching from the menu.
For those who do not want to use text commands of the Linux terminal and prefer using GUI, there is an alternative option — PlayOnLinux. It is a front-end application for Wine.
Go to Ubuntu Software and enter playonlinux in the search field.
Click Install.
After installing and launching PlayOnLinux, click on Install a program in the Actions menu.
Click on Install a non-listed program.
PlayOnLinux will show several messages. Read them if you wish and then click Next on each of them.
Afterward, PlayOnLinux Installation Wizard will launch. Click Next to continue the installation.
If the Wizard asks you to install additional packages, do so by clicking Install.
When prompted, choose Install a program in a new virtual drive and then click Next.
Enter the name for your virtual drive and click Next.
In the next window, do not select anything and just click Next.
Choose 32bits windows installation and click Next.
Click Browse.
Go to the folder to which you have downloaded the installation file for MetaTrader 4 and double-click it. Then click Next.
The regular MetaTrader 4 installer will open. Go through the usual steps to install the MetaTrader 4 desktop application. Click Finish after installation completes.
Afterward, MetaTrader 4 will launch but PlayOnLinux may display an error message. If that happens, try to close the MetaTrader 4 app and click Next on the message.
PlayOnLinux then offers to make shortcuts for applications you have installed. At the very least, you should make a shortcut for the MetaTrader 4 terminal. To do so, choose eunic-brussels.eu in the list and click Next.
Enter the name for the shortcut and click Next again.
You can create shortcuts for other applications (MetaEditor for example) in the same way. Choose I don't want to make another shortcut and click Next when you are finished with creating shortcuts.
If you have created a shortcut for the MetaTrader 4 terminal, you should see it in the PlayOnLinux window. You can just double-click on it to launch the application. You can also launch the app by selecting the shortcut and clicking Run in the tools panel at the top or in the Actions menu on the left. You can also click Create a shortcut in the Actions menu to create a shortcut on the Linux desktop, though PlayOnLinux usually does that automatically. If the shortcut on the desktop does not work, right-click on it and choose Allow Launching from the menu.
If you forgot to make a shortcut for the MetaTrader 4 terminal app or want to make a shortcut for another app, click on the Configure button in the tools panel at the top. There, choose the virtual drive with your MetaTrader4 app and click Make a new shortcut from this virtual drive in the General tab. Proceed to make a shortcut the same way as it was discussed previously.
Installing MetaTrader 4 on Ubuntu Linux takes just a few simple steps. Even though the installation process is a bit more difficult than it is on Windows, it is still manageable for any Forex trader, even a non-tech-savvy one. It is also worth noting that the process is fairly the same for other Linux flavors, however Ubuntu is likely the most popular Linux distro in the trader community.
If you want to share your opinion, ideas, or objections, or simply to ask questions regarding installation of MetaTrader 4 on Linux, feel free to join our Forex forum.
If you want to get news of the most recent updates to our guides or anything else related to Forex trading, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
MetaTrader 5 is not natively supported for Linux, however, it is still possible and easy to get it running on Linux.
The trading platform can be installed and used on computers that run Linux using Wine. Wine is a free and open source software application that aims to allow applications designed for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems.
*Note that Wine is a virtualization software that emulates a Windows enviornment as such you might encounter some bugs with MT5, however, core functionality shouldn't be impacted.
To install the platform on Linux, we recommend that you use the open source software PlayOnLinux. PlayOnLinux is a Wine-based free software providing easy installation and use of Windows applications on Linux.
*Note that every Linux distribution has its differences and some have stability issues with Wine. We have successfully tested XBTFX MT5 on Solus OS and Ubuntu using PlayOnLinux.
Follow the tutorial below for a non-PlayOnLinux installation.
For this list, we have searched and tested several forex brokers with platform for Linux.
We opened live accounts and made real deposits between $4, and $8, with each broker respectively. We placed trades in each market to get the real spreads. We also reached out to customer support to solve issues that we had encountered. Finally, we withdrew our funds to see if there are any issues with the deposit/withdrawal processes.
We selected the best forex brokers with a trading platform for Linux based on our trading data and experience as a trader.
Linux trading platform is a software system offered to traders and investors who prefer trading on a Linux operating system.
Trading can be done by any operating system. The main problem here is the availability of the trading software for Linux by the broker. The only solution here is either to use a web-based trading platform or to use Wine Linux compatibility software to install the trading platforms on the Desktop.
Heres a list of trading platforms available on Linux:
Trading Platforms | Programming Language |
🖥️ MetaTrader 4 | MLQ4 |
📈 MetaTrader 5 | MLQ5 |
💻 NinjaTrader | EasyLanguage |
📱 IQ Option | Python |
📊 IB Trader Workstation | Java |
Most online traders across the globe use Windows or macOS for trading; however, theres a minority of users who prefer trading on Linux, those are typically programmers who use Linux to build robots or auto systems on Linux.
Generally, trading platforms are not designed for operating systems but rather aligned to suit the versions of the software and device trader uses, so tools and main features will be almost alike. However, compatibility may be the major issue to deal with; this is mainly because of the absence of online support resources for Linux based systems. Not so many trading platforms are available on Linux and those available are typically plagued by bugs and issues that need to be addressed.
Heres a comparison of Windows vs Linux:
Characteristics | Linux OS | Windows OS |
Free OS | ✔️ | ❌ |
Free Software | ✔️ | ❌ |
Security | ✔️ | ❌ |
Customization | ✔️ | ❌ |
Ease of Use | ❌ | ✔️ |
User Friendly | ❌ | ✔️ |
There are not so many brokers with their platforms supporting Linux operating system; however, brokers with APIs might allow the connection of robots and extensions written on Linux. The majority of brokers offer and support both Mac and PC Windows versions of the trading platforms.
To come up with this list, we searched and reviewed several forex brokers with their platform for Linux. We opened real accounts with money deposited. Then we placed real trades to see the spreads and conditions offered.
We chose Interactive Brokers as the best forex broker with platform for Linux.
Interactive Brokers is one of the most sophisticated forex and CFD brokers operating since Clients can trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and funds on markets from a single integrated account with low spreads.
Interactive Brokers offers a powerful trading platform IB Trader Workstation compatible with Linux operating system giving direct access to trading, order, live quoting, technical research and analysis tools all in a single window.
We picked Admiral Markets as the best for brokers with platform for Linux for Beginners.
Operating since , Admiral Markets is a global forex and CFD brokerage company expanding its offerings worldwide. The broker provides competitive low spreads and deep liquidity with no restriction on trading styles or strategies. In addition to this, the broker ensures a high speed of execution.
Admiral Markets provides MT4 platform available on Linux with all features included. Admiral Markets allows opening free MT4 accounts for beginners to learn all techniques and features. Furthermore, the broker offers decent educational resources.
We chose OANDA as the best crypto trading forex broker with platform for Linux.
Operating since , OANDA is a global CFD and spread betting company. It offers a wide range of instruments across all the markets
OANDA offers CFD trading through MT4 Linux on 4 major cryptos like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Spreads start from $80 and margin from 10% for Bitcoin.
In order to install MT4 on Linux it is highly recommended to use the latest version of Ubuntu which is considered the best Linux dostro for crypto trading.
We picked TD Ameritrade as the best stock trading broker with platform for Linux.
TD Ameritrade is one of the top-tier stock trading brokers with $0 commissions and a top-of-the-line educational program that caters to both experienced traders and beginners who are just learning the ropes.
TD Ameritrade offers its Linux clients the Thinkorswim trading platform. To install Tnikorswim on your Linux first you need to install Zulu OpenJDK 11 to run on your OS.
Apart from the above-mentioned list of forex brokers, here are the top forex brokers with platform for Linux. Not so many brokers allow their platforms to operate on Linux:
Many traders have different questions related to trading queries. We tried to comprehensive answers to some of the questions related to platform for Linux.
Most of the trading platforms developed with Java are compatible with Linux operating system.
Here are some of the platforms written in Java mainly used for the creation and writing of trading robots:
Linux distro shortened from Linux distribution is an open-source operating system version packed with specific software collections.
Here are some of the best Linux distros for day trading:
Here is how you can begin trading with your linux computer by downloading and installing Metatrader 4 or 5. Unfortunately, Metaquotes has not developed any Linux version of MT4 or MT5. For this to work, I am going to show you how you can install the same MT4 or MT5 for Microsoft Windows OS on Linux, that is Ubuntu and DEbian systems.
Well its possible by installing a compatibility layer that allows application software developed for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. A good example of this is a sofware called WINE.
Instead of simulating internal Windows logic like a virtual machine or emulator, Wine translates Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and memory penalties of other methods and allowing you to cleanly integrate Windows applications into your desktop.
Wine.
Open your terminal and paste the command below. You dont have to install Wine. The script below will install everything for you.
If you are not able to copy the commands above, simply download the TXT file having all codes.
Download codes
Open your terminal and paste the command below. You dont have to install Wine. The script below will install everything for you.
After the installation is done, simply go to your app list and you will see it.
Now you can click on it to open and go through the installation process and search for your broker. The appearance is going to be slightly different but its going to work just fine.
Categories ForexTags forexThe terminal runs on Linux using Wine. Wine is a free compatibility layer that allows application software developed for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems.
We have prepared a special script to make the installation process as simple as possible. The script will automatically detect your system version, based on which it will download and install the appropriate Wine package. After that, it will download and run the platform installer.
To start the installation, open the command line (Terminal) and specify the relevant command:
For Ubuntu:
wget eunic-brussels.eu ; chmod +x eunic-brussels.eu ; ./eunic-brussels.eu |
For Debian:
wget eunic-brussels.eu ; chmod +x eunic-brussels.eu ; ./eunic-brussels.eu |
This command downloads the script, makes it executable and runs it. You only need to enter your account password to allow installation.
If you are prompted to install additional Wine packages (Mono, Gecko), please agree, as these packages are required for platform operation. The installer will launch after that. Once you complete the standard steps, the platform is ready to go.
It is highly recommended to always use the latest versions of the operating system and Wine. Timely updates increase platform operation stability and improve performance.
To update Wine, open a command prompt and type the following command:
sudo apt update ; sudo apt upgrade |
For further information, please visit the official Wine website.
Wine creates a separate virtual logical drive with the necessary environment for every installed program. The default path of the installed terminal data folder is as follows:
Home directory\.mt4\drive_c\Program Files\MetaTrader 4 |
Use the terminal on Linux: install with a single command and enjoy all the platform features.
MetaTrader MT4 or MT5 is the popular application for Forex, commodity, and Metal trading, here we will learn the steps to install it on Linux such as Ubuntu , Debian, Linux Mint, and others including Windows.
As we know MetaTrader 4 or 5 are not available natively for Linux operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Android. Thus, to install MT4 on Linux, we have to use WineHQ, a Windows program loader for Linux distros.
MT4 or MT5 installation on Windows 10/8/7 operating systems is the same as any other software available for Microsoft platforms. Just double-click on it and follow the wizard. Therefore, we will discuss how to install MT4 or MT5 on Linux in detail.
The steps given here to install MT4 or MT5 MetaTrader will be the same for all kinds of Linux based on Ubuntu to Debian such as Linux Mint, MX Linux, Deepin, and more…
First of all, add the GPG key for Wine that will confirm the packages we are about to download and install on our system are from the genuine source.
wget -O - eunic-brussels.euThis is a question that I get from time-to-time, so I thought that it would be useful to create a tutorial.
If you are using the Linux operating system on your computer, this post will show you how to run MetaTrader 4/5 and Forex Tester on your computer.
If you have never heard of Linux before, I will also get into why it might be something that you would want to use on one of your computers, instead of installing the dreaded Windows as your primary operating system.
However, if you have some money to spend and really want a trouble free computer I recommend a Mac.
But Linux does have its benefits.
If you haven't heard of Linux before, it is a free operating system that was first released in and was supposed to rival Windows and the Mac OS. But it never gained a lot of mainstream popularity due to all of the technical know-how that was needed to even install the simplest things.
It is open source software (free) and just like the Android mobile operating system, the functionality that you can get with a particular version will depend on the company that customizes it.
One version has emerged as the clear leader for the general public is Ubuntu. They even have versions for phones and tablets. This is the flavor of Linux that I will be talking about in the rest of this post.
My friend Adam Jowett uses it for social media and web browsing when he is trading. Here is a picture that I totally stole from his blog.
However, don't let the ugly stepsister status on the desktop fool you, it is still a very powerful and secure operating system that several major stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange currently use it to run their servers.
I have personally installed it on a couple of PCs and it is actually pretty nice. If you are looking for something to just do email and some web surfing, it is perfectand free. But if you want to run other programs on it, that is when compatibility becomes an issue.
It is also optimized to run using much less computing power, compared to other operating systems. So if you want to revive an old computer, Ubuntu would probably run quite well on computers that would otherwise freeze up with Windows.
But can Ubuntu Linux be used as a legit trading platform?
Yes it canwith a little tweaking.
The first way to get MetaTrader Linux working is to use Wine. The good news is that it is free and it can be used to run Windows programs on Linux, BSD, Solaris and Mac OS X. It is basically a lightweight Windows emulator that allows Windows programs to run within these operating systems.
The bad news is that it cannot run Forex Tester 2. That is when you will have to use the the solution in the next section.
If you are having issues with Wine, you can also try CrossOver. It is a paid product, but they do have a free trial. The CrossOver programmers have contributed a lot to Wine however, so you probably want to try Wine first.
Another way that you can go about this is to download VMWare Player. Unlike VMWare Fusion for the Mac (which I love), Player is free.
The best part about Player is that you can create snapshots of the operating system and you can just save it for later, in case something gets messed up. However, there is a catchyou have to install Windows on it.
This is where you would have to buy Windowsor you could obtain it through other means, which I know nothing about. Regardless of how you get it, I recommend Windows 7 at this point. Microsoft just stopped support for Windows XP and although that was my go to Windows version, the risk of vulnerabilities is just too high to make it worthwhile.
Yup, there is no way around it, sometimes you really do need Windows. However, the upside is that you will have maximum compatibility with Forex Tester 2, MetaTrader, and any other Windows program that you need to use.
The question then becomes, why not just install Windows as the main operating system? You could do that, but let's face the factsWindows sucks blue whale balls. You will spend more time fixing it than actually using it.
By using another operating system like Linux or OS X as your primary operating system and only using Windows when absolutely necessary, you keep your hair and remain a generally pleasant person to be around.
But these aren't your only options.
Although MetaTrader and Forex Tester 2 are the industry standards when it comes to charting and backtesting, if you are willing to experiment with other platforms, you may find that they work well enough for your needs.
One thing that you can try is the desktop version of Trade Interceptor. As you probably know, I'm a big fan of their mobile app, but their desktop software leaves a little be desired.
Still, it runs on Java, so it will run on almost any PC and it has backtesting functionality. So it is something you may want to try. I'm really rooting for TI, I think they can really do some amazing things in Forex.
Another thing you can try for charting is using the Java version of your trading platform, like the platform that Oanda has.
Charting is generally not great with these platforms, but it may be good enough for you and save you the headache of trying to figure out a Metatrader solution.
However, you would still need to figure out a way to install Forex Tester for backtesting.
So that is how you can turn your Linux computer into a Forex trading computer.
It can take a little time to setup, but it will work.
There is a certain satisfaction that comes with using a free operating system like Linuxeven if it does require some additional steps to get working.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links where this site gets a small commission if you purchase through these links. But it doesn’t cost you anything extra and it supports this website. A portion is also donated to my charity partner.
Category: Trading Software TutorialsTag: Forex Tester Tutorials, MetaTrader 4 Tutorials, MetaTrader 5 Tutorials
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a widely used free trading platform for Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile. While most commonly used on a Forex VPS for Forex trading, it can also be utilized to trade cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, and more.
Put simply, a Forex VPS is a remote, private server with network speed and hardware performance that is well-suited to Forex trading. They typically have fast SSDs, low latency to trading platforms, and high uptime.
While various providers market themselves as solely as Forex VPS providers, the truth is that a VPS server from any provider is fine so long as it has the requisite specs.
If you're using a Windows RDP VPS, installing the MT4 client is very simple. It works essentially the same way as any other Windows program:
2. Go to the MetaTrader website and download the MT4 installer
3. Run eunic-brussels.eu, press "Next", and wait for the client to install
4. Select your broker and press "Next"
5. Log in and start trading
Installing MetaTrader on a Linux VPS involves using Wine, a tool that allows you to run Windows apps on the OS. This makes the process a little more complicated, but it's still relatively easy:
Open your terminal app and run the command
2. Press to agree to continue prompt and wait for Wine to install.
3. Download the MT4 setup and open eunic-brussels.eu with "Wine Windows Program Loader"
4. Press "Install" on the Wine Mono Installer
5. Click "Install"2 on the Wine Gecko Installer
6. Press "Next" on the MetaTrader setup
7. Log in to your trading account and start trading
After that, according to your Linux system add one of the repositories given below.
sudo add-apt-repository 'deb eunic-brussels.eu groovy main'
Now, run the update command so that the system could rebuild the repository cache and also make sure the installed packages on the system are up to date.
sudo apt update
After all this, we can easily download and install Wine packages for MT4 or MT5 installation on the Linux system. Just run this command:
sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stableSet Prefix
Once the installation is done run these two commands:
export WINEARCH=win32 export WINEPREFIX=~/.wine32
Go to the official website of MetaTrader and download the MT4 or MT5 windows version on your Linux system. However, whatever you download from the official website will only install metatrader5. Thus, it is recommended if you are interested in MT4 then download it from your broker website only. Whereas MT5 can easily get from the official one. Here is the link to the website.
Remember– you have to download the Windows version of MT4 or 5.
Go to the Downloads folder where the Windows executable file of MT4 or MetaTrader 5 is located and right-click on it to select “Open with Other Application“. Then select “Wine Windows program loader” and click the Select button.
You will get a pop-up for Wine Mono and Gecko installer, click the Install button to set them up.
You will see two desktop shortcuts on the Linux desktop for MetaTrader, to make them work, right-click on them one by one and select the “Allow Launching” option.
You will now see the Desktop shortcuts with Metatrader icons.
You Might Also Like:
аналитика форекс gbp кaртa мирa форекс вспомогательные индикаторы форекс как платят налоги трейдеры валютного рынка форекс лучшие индикаторы для входа индикаторы измерения температуры щитовые дмитрий котенко форекс клипaрт для форекс имхо на форексе дц форекс брокер отзывы безрисковая комбинация форекс индикаторы рынка ферросплавов