If you’ve just cleared your prop firm challenge and received the green light on your funded account — congratulations, first of all. That is a milestone. But before you can trade with the firm’s money, you’ll need to integrate your bright new account into MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
Now, if you haven’t done this before, don’t worry about it. It’s not rocket science, but a few things can catch people out — such as putting the wrong server name in or getting the login credentials confused. In this tutorial, I’ll take you through it step by step, throw in a few expert tips, and steer you away from the type of small errors that can throw away your trading time.
Why MT5 Is Prop Firms’ Platform of Choice
Before we begin, let’s have a quick overview of why so many prop firms utilize MT5 in the first place.
- Multi-asset support: MT5 is not solely forex. Numerous prop firms provide access to indices, commodities, crypto, and even stocks, and MT5 is capable of operating them all within one platform.
- Speedier execution: It’s typically faster than MT4, which is a welcome bonus when you’re trading high-volatility markets where milliseconds matter.
- Sophisticated tools: Intrinsic economic calendar, Depth of Market (DOM), additional chart timeframes — all these give MT5 greater flexibility for prop traders who must quickly modify.
- Automated strategies compatibility: If you use expert advisors (EAs) or personalized indicators, MT5 has you covered.
Prop firms love it because it’s stable, widely available, and doesn’t require traders to learn some proprietary system from scratch.
Step 1: Get Your Funded Account Details from the Prop Firm
The very first thing you’ll need is the login information for your funded account. Your prop firm will send this over once your account is activated. Usually, this comes via email or through your trader’s dashboard on their website.
Here’s what you’d usually find:
- Login ID – Your own unique account number (not your email).
- Password – Many companies provide a temporary password that you’ll eventually change.
- Server Name – Pay attention here. MT5 won’t be able to connect if you don’t have the very same server name (for example, “PropFirm-Demo” or “PropFirm-Live”).
- Account Type – Occasionally they’ll note whether it’s a standard, raw spread, or some other type of account.
Pro tip: Cut and paste the information exactly as given. One little typo in the server name will have you gazing at “Invalid account” all day.
Step 2: Download and Install MT5
If you already have MT5, you can skip this step but just double-check you’re using the version that’s compatible with your prop firm’s servers. Some firms prefer you to use their branded MT5 version.
How to obtain MT5:
- From the website of the prop firm: This is often the most secure method because it’s already set up for their servers.
- From MetaQuotes’ official website: If your firm indicates that you can use the generic MT5, you can also do MT5 download from MetaQuotes directly.
- From your broker’s website: If your firm uses a particular broker, you might need their version.
Installation is easy:
- Download the installation file.
- Double-click to execute.
- Follow the instructions.
- Once done, start MT5.
Step 3: Open Login Window in MT5
When you open MT5 the first time, you’ll not be seeing any price charts running on a blank platform. That’s because you’re not yet logged in to any account.
Here’s how to do it:
- Navigate to the File menu at the top left.
- Click Login to Trade Account.
- A login window will appear.
- You’ll notice three spaces:
- Login (your account number)
- Password (as given by your prop firm)
- Server (the exact server name from your firm)
Step 4: Select the Right Server
This is where some traders get stuck. The server name has to be an exact match. If you’re using your prop firm’s custom MT5, the server is probably already in the list.
But if you’re on a generic MT5:
- Click the Server dropdown.
- If your company’s server is not there, click Add new broker and enter part of the name they provided. MT5 will look for matching servers online.
- Choose the right one from the search results.
- If you still can’t see it, you might need to download the prop firm’s version of MT5 after all.
Step 5: Enter Your Login Details
Now, simply type (or paste) your Login and Password into the fields.
Tips to prevent login problems:
- Ensure that you are not unwittingly copying an extra space at the end or start of your password/login.
- Use the password as provided — MT5 passwords are sensitive to case.
- If you have both trader and investor password, use the trader one (investor password is read-only).
- Once you’ve input the information, press OK.
Step 6: Verify Your Connection Status
If all worked out, you’ll be able to view your account balance and your charts will begin updating with live price information.
- Check the bottom-right of MT5 — you should find:
- Green/red bars – This indicates connection quality.
- Ping time – Preferably less than 100 ms for speedy execution.
If you’re seeing “No connection” or “Invalid account,” check:
- The server name is accurate.
- The login number is what the firm gave you.
- The password is accurate.
If everything seems okay but you still can’t log in, reach out to your prop firm’s support. They sometimes have to reset your credentials.
Step 7: Set Up Your Workspace
Getting your account connected is just the beginning. You’ll want MT5 configured to suit your style of trading.
- Install your favorite charts – Right-click in the Market Watch window and add the instruments you trade.
- Set timeframes – Utilize the toolbar to rapidly jump between 1-minute, 15-minute, 1-hour, etc.
- Apply templates – Store your most commonly used chart configuration (indicators, colors, etc.) so you can apply it to new charts in a matter of seconds.
- Enable One-Click Trading – This is crucial if you want to implement fast execution, particularly in volatile markets.
