XM (XMTrading): Why isn’t my automated trading (EA) working? We’ll explain the most common reasons and causes in the latest version. Even if you think that your EA is fully automatic and can be left alone once you set it up, there are cases where it doesn’t work in unexpected places.
- XMtrading
- Why is XM’s automated trading (EA) not working?
- This may be due to a misconfiguration of MT4.
- EA stopped due to trading environment
- Possibility of suspension due to spreads and contract conditions
- Checking the error log and how to deal with it
- Summary of points to note when using XM’s automated trading (EA)
XMtrading
| Operating company | Tradexfin Limited Fintrade Limited |
| Head office location | Unit E, F28, Eden Plaza, Eden Island, Republic of Seychelles |
| Founding year | 2009 |
| Financial License | （FSA）SD010：Tradexfin Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC：)：Fintrade Limited Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)：Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd |
| Language support | English、日本語、Malay、Thai |
| Platform | MetaTrader 4 (MT4)／MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
| Service Countries | Over 190 countries |
| Number of users | Over 1 million accounts |
| Max Leverage | 1000x |
| Eligible products | Forex、Metal、Stocks、Equity Indices / Index CFD、Energy CFD、Commodities、Cryptocurrency |
Why is XM’s automated trading (EA) not working?
If your automated trading (EA: Expert Advisor) doesn’t work on XM (XMTrading), there are several possible reasons. When using EA with MT4/MT5, you need to pay particular attention to the platform settings, account conditions, and the specifications of the EA itself. The main reasons are summarized below.
1️⃣ The EA’s automated trading function is not enabled
- MT4/MT5 have settings that allow EAs to run.
- For MT4: Make sure the “AutoTrading” button on the toolbar is enabled and green.
- For MT5: Make sure “Allow Automated Trading” is checked in the EA settings in the Navigator.
- Also make sure that “Disable Automated Trading” is not set in the EA settings.
2️⃣ Misconfiguration/parameter errors
Some EAs may only work with certain currency pairs or time frames.
If the configuration parameters are entered incorrectly, the EA may not place orders.
Examples:
The maximum position size is set to 0.
The order lot size is 0 or too large for the account’s equity.
The EA is being used with a currency pair or account type that it does not support.
3️⃣ Difference between demo account and real account
- Some EAs may be designed for use with real accounts only or demo accounts only.
- Some EAs may not work with XM Micro or Zero accounts due to incompatible trading units or minimum lots.
4️⃣ Insufficient margin/leverage restrictions
- If your account balance or margin is insufficient for the number of lots ordered by the EA, the order will not be processed.
- XM may impose leverage restrictions on large balances, which may prevent you from securing the trading volume expected by the EA.
5️⃣ Server/Connection Issues
- If your internet connection is unstable or there are problems with the MT4/MT5 server connection, the EA will not be able to send orders.
- Please check that the connection between your account login server (XM’s designated server) and MT4/MT5 is correct.
6️⃣ Platform/EA Compatibility
- MT4 EAs generally do not work on MT5 (and vice versa).
- For MT5, you will need to use an “EA for MetaTrader 5.”
- Older EAs or EAs optimized for specific brokers may not work properly under XM’s server conditions.
7️⃣ Other causes
- If the EA does not support the stop level or minimum order unit, your order will be rejected.
- The EA may be designed to refrain from placing orders near the stop loss level or during times when the spread is wide.
- The EA may also be configured to stop working on certain days of the week or during certain times of the day.
This may be due to a misconfiguration of MT4.
If your EA (automated trading) doesn’t work when using MT4 with XM, it is very likely due to a setting error on the MT4 side. Here we will explain some common setting errors and how to check them.
1️⃣ Automated trading is disabled
If the “AutoTrading” button at the top of MT4 is red or disabled, your EA will not function.
How to check
Check if the “AutoTrading” button on the MT4 toolbar is green.
If it is red, click it to turn it green.
2️⃣ The automatic trading setting of the EA itself is turned off
The EA will not function unless the “Allow live trading” option is checked in its properties.
How to check
Double-click the EA icon on the chart.
Check that “Allow live trading” is checked in the “Common” tab.
3️⃣ Mismatch in currency pairs and time frames
- EAs are sometimes designed to work only with specific currency pairs or time frames.
- Example: If an EA is set to only place orders on the 1-hour EUR/USD chart, but is set to place orders on the 15-minute USD/JPY chart, it won’t work.
- Solution: Switch the chart to the currency pair and time frame that the EA supports.
4️⃣ Impact of minimum lot size and lack of funds
If the order lot set by the EA is smaller than the account’s minimum lot size, or if the account does not have sufficient funds to secure the required margin, the order will not be executed.
How to check:
Check for order errors in MT4’s “Terminal → Experts” tab.
Adjust the EA’s lot size to match your account balance and account type.
5️⃣ Server connection issues
If your MT4 server connection is down, your EA will not be able to send orders.
How to check:
Check the “Connection Status” in the bottom right of MT4.
Make sure there are no “Invalid Account” or “Disconnected” messages.
6️⃣ Other configuration errors
- The EA is not working due to internal settings such as “day/time restrictions” or “maximum number of positions set to 0.”
- If the EA smiley face icon does not appear on the chart, the EA itself may not be set on the chart.
EA stopped due to trading environment
The trading environment itself plays a major role in why XM’s EA (automated trading) may stop working. Even if the EA is configured correctly on MT4/MT5, environmental factors may prevent orders from being processed or cause it to stop working. Below are some common causes and solutions.
1️⃣ Unstable server connection
If MT4/MT5 cannot connect to the XM server, the EA will not be able to send orders.
Example causes:
Unstable internet connection
Temporary XM server outage
Communication restrictions due to VPN or firewall
Solution:
Check the connection status in the lower right corner of MT4/MT5 (is it showing “Connection Good”?)
If necessary, improve your connection and log in to the server again.
2️⃣ Sudden widening of spreads and lack of liquidity
EAs often have a “spread threshold” setting, and some are designed to refrain from placing orders when the spread widens.
Spreads tend to widen rapidly during news events and immediately after market opening.
Solution:
Stop the EA before and after news events and during periods of low market activity.
Adjust settings to place orders within acceptable spread limits.
3️⃣ Stop-out level and margin shortage
If the EA order size is too large compared to your account balance or required margin, the order will be rejected.
XM has leverage limits and automatic adjustments based on your account balance. If the required margin is insufficient, the EA will stop.
Solution:
Adjust the lot size to your account’s equity.
Manage multiple positions in a diversified manner to avoid capital shortages.
4️⃣ Market trading hours and holidays
Stock CFDs, stock indices, crude oil, etc. depend on the opening hours of the exchange.
EA orders cannot be placed when the exchange is closed or closed.
Solution:
Align the EA’s operating hours with the target market.
Avoid off-hours on Sundays and holidays.
5️⃣ Platform and account type restrictions
At XM, minimum lot sizes and leverage vary depending on the account type and product.
If the conditions of an MT4/MT5 EA do not match those expected, orders may be suspended and orders may not be placed.
Solution:
Use an account type that supports the EA.
Adjust the EA settings to suit your trading conditions.
6️⃣ Other external factors
- PC or VPS power off or sleep
- MT4/MT5 crash or freeze
- Pause due to EA internal control (logic conditions)
Possibility of suspension due to spreads and contract conditions
One of the reasons why XM’s EA (automated trading) may stop is due to the influence of spreads and execution conditions. EAs are designed to take into account trading costs and execution conditions when placing orders, so if the conditions are not met, the order itself may not be processed and may stop. This is explained in detail below.
1️⃣ Impact of sudden widening of spreads
- EAs often set a “Max Spread” and are designed to automatically stop placing orders if the spread widens.
- During economic indicator releases and important news events
- During low trading volume times (early mornings, just before weekends)
- Low-liquidity currency pairs and CFDs
- countermeasure:
- Review acceptable spreads in EA settings.
- Stop EAs during news events or periods of low liquidity.
- Use highly liquid stocks and major currency pairs.
2️⃣ Execution rejection (slippage/order rejection)
- At XM, orders may not be executed at the desired price depending on market conditions (slippage).
- If your EA has a “Slippage Limit (Max Slippage)” set, your order may be canceled and halted if a deviation greater than the specified amount occurs.
- Susceptible situations:
- Highly volatile markets
- Sudden price fluctuations due to unexpected news or incidents
- CFDs with low liquidity (crude oil, cryptocurrencies, etc.)
- countermeasure:
- Review your EA’s slippage tolerance.
- Avoid trading during periods of high volatility.
- Prioritize trading highly liquid currency pairs and stock indices.
3️⃣ Differences in conditions depending on account type and stock
- At XM, spreads, fees, and execution methods may vary depending on the account type.
- Example: Zero accounts have narrow spreads but incur trading fees.
- Standard accounts have wider spreads but no fees.
- If the conditions do not match those expected by the EA, the order conditions may not be met and the order may be suspended.
- countermeasure:
- Select an account type to match your EA.
- Check the spreads, fees, and contract conditions for the instruments you wish to trade.
4️⃣ Checkpoint Summary
- Check your EA’s acceptable spread settings.
- Check your EA’s slippage limit settings.
- Avoid news releases and periods of low liquidity.
- Understand the differences in terms and conditions for each account type and product.
- Check “Order Rejections/Errors” in the Experts tab.
Checking the error log and how to deal with it
If your EA (automated trading) stops at XM, the most basic and important thing to do is to check the MT4/MT5 error log. By looking at the log, you can determine why your order was not placed and why the EA stopped. The details are summarized below.
1️⃣ Error log location
For MT4
- Lower terminal window → “Experts” tab
- Displays orders executed by the EA, any errors and warning messages that may have occurred
- You can also check the connection status and EA start/stop history in the “Journal” tab.
For MT5
- Lower terminal window → “Experts” tab
- As with MT4, the operations performed by the EA and the details of errors are displayed in chronological order.
- You can also check the history in files in the “Logs” folder (e.g., C:\Users\username\AppData…)
2️⃣ Common errors and causes
| Error content | Examples of causes | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not enough money | Margin Shortage | Decrease lot size, increase account balance |
| Trade context busy | EA tried to place another order while the order was still being processed | Adjusted order interval and changed to separate thread compatible EA |
| Off quotes / Invalid price | Refusal of contract/price discrepancy | Review your slippage settings and trade during times of high liquidity |
| Trade disabled | Automated trading not permitted, account restrictions | AutoTrading button ON, EA “Allow live trading” checked |
| Wrong symbol / Wrong timeframe | Currency pairs and time frames that the EA does not support | Change the chart to the supported currency pair and time frame |
| Maximum open positions reached | EA maximum position limit | Adjust the maximum number of positions in the EA settings |
| Requote | Re-quote due to price fluctuation | Enable EA reorder processing and adjust slippage tolerance |
3️⃣ Procedure for checking error logs
Open the Experts tab
MT4/MT5: Terminal → Experts
Check the log chronologically
Identify the problem from messages displayed immediately after launching the EA
Check the error code and message
Check keywords such as “Not enough money” and “Trade context busy”
Check the EA settings, account status, and market conditions
Check the lot size, slippage, margin, and time zone based on the log contents
Modify and restart
After changing the settings, reset the EA on the chart and check its operation
4️⃣ Key points to consider
Eliminate the causes one by one.
First, check the basic MT4/MT5 settings (AutoTrading, EA permissions).
Next, check the EA parameters, lot size, slippage, timeframe, and currency pair.
Finally, check your account balance, leverage, and liquidity.
Check for errors.
Some EAs may stop trading whenever an error occurs, so check the log frequently.
Refer to the EA provider’s manual.
The manual often contains solutions to specific errors.
Summary of points to note when using XM’s automated trading (EA)
While using automated trading (EA) with XM is convenient, there is a risk of unexpected stoppages or losses depending on the settings and environment. We have summarized the points to be aware of for beginners to intermediate traders.
1️⃣ Check the basic settings of MT4/MT5
Allow automated trading
Turn on the “AutoTrading” button at the top of MT4/MT5
Check “Allow live trading” in the EA properties
Check the currency pair and time frame
Set up the chart with the currency pair and time frame supported by the EA
Check the minimum lot size and margin
Confirm that the EA’s lot size setting matches your account requirements
2️⃣ Be aware of the impact of the trading environment
Server Connection Stability
Ensure that your MT4/MT5 is always connected to the XM server
24/7 operation possible with VPS
Liquidity/Spreads
Spreads tend to widen during news events and light trading periods
EAs may stop due to widening spreads
Execution Conditions
Orders may be rejected if slippage or re-executions occur.
3️⃣ Money and risk management
Lot Size/Maximum Position Count
Operate at a reasonable size relative to your margin.
Effects of Leverage
Running an EA with high leverage increases the risk of forced stop losses due to sudden losses.
Diversified Operations
Reducing risk by diversifying across multiple currency pairs and instruments.
4️⃣ EA compatibility and specification check
MT4/MT5 Compatibility
MT4 EAs do not work with MT5
Account Type Compatibility
Zero Account,
5️⃣ Utilizing error logs
- Check for EA errors and warnings in the “Experts” tab at the bottom of MT4/MT5.
- Common errors and solutions:
- Not enough money → Insufficient margin
- Trade context busy → Adjust order interval
- Off quotes / Invalid price → Adjust slippage tolerance
- Check logs → Identify cause → Fix → Restart
6️⃣ Pre-test on a demo account
- Before switching to a live account, check the EA’s operation, trading conditions, and profit/loss simulation on a demo account.
- Check spreads, slippage, and behavior during news events, among other things.
7️⃣ Key points for stable operation
- Run on a VPS or in a stable internet environment
- Consider trading hours and market conditions
- Adjust EA settings to account conditions and capital requirements
- Regularly check logs
- Test with a small amount or demo before using in production
コメント