Can You Run an EA on Your Phone? MT5 Android and iPhone Explained

No, you can't run an Expert Advisor (EA) on your phone. The MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 apps for Android and iPhone let you see charts, place trades and use built-in indicators, but they cannot run EAs. An EA has to run in MetaTrader on a Windows computer, a Mac, or a VPS (a computer that stays on in a data centre). You can then watch it and receive its alerts on your phone.

What the MetaTrader mobile apps can and can't do

• Can: show charts and about 30 built-in indicators, place and close trades, show your history, news and messages.
• Can't: run Expert Advisors, custom indicators or scripts.

"Trading bot for MT5 Android" apps outside the official stores are a red flag: they are either signal services or something you shouldn't install. Treat any app that asks for your trading login with suspicion.

How to run an EA 24/5 and control it from your phone

1. Run the EA on a computer or VPS. Install it in desktop MetaTrader (see how to install an EA in MT5). If your computer can't stay on, move it to a VPS: MetaTrader's built-in hosting lets you migrate your charts and running EAs from the desktop in a few clicks, from about $13-$15 a month. EAs that need DLL files can't use it; a Windows VPS can.
2. Log in on your phone with the same account. Every trade the EA opens appears in the mobile app, and you can close or adjust trades by hand.
3. Turn on push notifications. Link your MetaQuotes ID from the mobile app to desktop MetaTrader (Tools > Options > Notifications). EAs that send notifications will then alert you on your phone, even when the app is closed.

For the trade-offs between running at home and on a VPS, see do you need a VPS for forex EAs?

What about Nebula on a phone?

Nebula, the EA software we make, runs on Windows and macOS and compiles the systems it builds into standard MT4 and MT5 EAs. Those run in desktop MetaTrader or on a VPS, and you monitor them from your phone the same way. See how Nebula works.

Sources: MetaTrader 5 mobile trading features, MetaTrader 5 virtual hosting migration, MetaTrader push notifications, MQL5 VPS plans (checked 2 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Can I run an EA on MT5 Android or iPhone?

No. The MetaTrader 4 and 5 mobile apps can show charts and place trades but cannot run Expert Advisors. Run the EA in desktop MetaTrader or on a VPS, then monitor it on your phone.

How can I run an EA without leaving my computer on?

Use a VPS. MetaTrader's built-in virtual hosting lets you migrate charts and running EAs from desktop MetaTrader, from about $13 to $15 a month. EAs that need DLLs need a Windows VPS instead.

Can I see my EA's trades on my phone?

Yes. Log in to the same trading account in the mobile app and every trade the EA opens appears there. You can also receive push notifications from EAs running on desktop or a VPS.

Are trading bot apps for Android safe?

Be careful. Official MetaTrader apps can't run EAs, so apps claiming to be MT5 trading bots are usually signal services or worse. Never give your trading login to an app you can't verify.

Screens show backtests and simulations. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Trading involves risk to your capital.