Guides
MT4 / MT5 on a Mac: run it locally, or on a VPS?
Last updated: October 2026
MetaTrader was built for Windows. You can run MT5 on a Mac today using MetaQuotes’ official installer — but if you run an EA, or want MT4, there are good reasons to run it on a Windows VPS and simply connect from your Mac.
Option 1: install MT5 directly on your Mac
MetaQuotes provides an official MT5 installer for macOS. It sets up Wine — a compatibility layer that runs Windows software — and installs MetaTrader 5 inside it. It supports Apple Silicon (M1 and later) and needs macOS Catalina 10.15.7 or newer.
Fine for:
- Manual trading while you are at your Mac
- Charting and analysis
Where it falls short:
- An EA only runs while the Mac is awake and online. Close the lid, let it sleep, or lose Wi-Fi, and trading stops.
- MetaTrader runs through Wine rather than natively, which adds one more layer that can behave differently from Windows — particularly for EAs or indicators that rely on Windows-only components.
- MT4 is a different story: MetaQuotes documents a Mac installer for MT5 only, so MT4 on a Mac depends on whatever package your broker provides.
- Your orders still travel over home broadband — typically 100–300ms to a Hong Kong broker.
Option 2: run MT4/MT5 on a Windows VPS
The terminal runs on a Windows server in a data centre, 24 hours a day. Your Mac is just the screen you look through — you can close it, travel with it, or turn it off, and the EA keeps running.
1
Real Windows
MT4 and MT5 run as designed, no compatibility layer.
2
Always on
Your EA keeps trading when your Mac sleeps.
3
Close to the broker
Low single-digit ms to Hong Kong brokers.
How to connect to a VPS from your Mac
- 01
Install Windows App
Microsoft’s free remote-desktop app for Mac (formerly called Microsoft Remote Desktop), from the Mac App Store.
- 02
Add your VPS
Click + → Add PC, and enter the IP address from your fxVPS.io welcome email.
- 03
Sign in
Use the username and password from the same email. Accept the certificate prompt the first time.
- 04
Open MT4/MT5 and log in to your broker
Both are pre-installed on fxVPS.io. Log in with your trading account, attach your EA, and enable algorithmic trading.
- 05
Close the window — don’t sign out
Closing the Windows App window keeps everything running. Signing out of Windows stops MT4/MT5.
Which should you choose?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Trade manually, only while at your Mac | MT5 on your Mac |
| Run an EA or copy trading | VPS |
| Need MT4 | VPS, or your broker’s Mac build |
| Scalp or trade news | VPS near your broker |
| Run several terminals or accounts | VPS |
Run MT4/MT5 on Windows, control it from your Mac
MT4 and MT5 pre-installed on a Windows VPS in a Hong Kong data centre. Connect from any Mac, iPhone or iPad. Cancel any time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run MT5 on a MacBook?
Yes. MetaQuotes provides an official macOS installer that runs MT5 through Wine, including on Apple Silicon Macs. It needs macOS Catalina 10.15.7 or later.
Can I run MT4 on a Mac?
It depends on your broker — MetaQuotes documents a Mac installer for MT5 only. Running MT4 on a Windows VPS and connecting from your Mac works with any broker.
Will my EA keep running if my Mac goes to sleep?
Not if MT4/MT5 is running on the Mac itself. On a VPS it keeps running regardless of what your Mac does.
Do I need Parallels or Boot Camp?
No. Boot Camp is not available on Apple Silicon Macs, and a VPS gives you real Windows without installing anything except the free Windows App.
Can I check my EA from my iPhone too?
Yes — install Windows App on your iPhone or iPad and connect to the same VPS.
Related: MT4/MT5 VPS setup · Why EAs need a VPS · Forex VPS comparison
VPS by broker: Ultima Markets · Vantage Markets · IC Markets · Pepperstone · Exness · XM
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