Speed and accuracy can distinguish between success and failure in proprietary trading challenges like those from FTMO, FundedNext, and The5ers. One delayed order, one platform freeze, or one pip of pointless slippage can break your drawdown limit or make you miss your daily profit target.
Although MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a strong trading tool, traders must tweak it for speed, stability, and reliability to get the most out of it during high-stakes prop challenges.
This article offers a full installation manual to enable faster execution and higher performance on MT5 during prop firm tests.
- Pick the correct broker server:
First and foremost, important is you access to the broker’s server. High latency and bad fills result from a sluggish or far-off server.
Tips:
- Choose the data center nearest to your physical site or VPS.
- On MT5, examine the ping (ms) beside each server on the login page. Select one with the least number—preferably below 10ms.
- For faster speed, go with brokers offering ECN or RAW spread accounts—they provide faster execution and better fills.
- Employ a high-speed VPS (Virtual Private Server):
Unstable internet, power problems, or low latency to broker servers can all cause delays when trading from a home PC or smartphone device. Use a low-latency VPS, therefore, near to the server of your broker (e.g., London for most European brokers, New York for US-based brokers).
Suggested VPS Specifications:
- Place: Match broker’s server location
- RAM: At least 2 GB
- One to two vCPU
- SSD Storage: 99.9% or more of uptime
- Latency: Under 2 ms to broker
Top MT5 VPS Providers:
- BeeksFX is advised by FTMO.
- For tech-savvy consumers: Amazon AWS or Google Cloud
- Adopt the MT5 64-bit Desktop Version:
32-bit and 64-bit variants of MetaTrader 5 are available. For execution, charting, and running EAs, the 64-bit version is faster because it can manage more processes and memory.
From MetaQuotes or your broker’s official website, get it.
Under rapid market circumstances, stay away from relying on the mobile or web version as your main terminal.
- Improve indicator and chart settings:
MT5 can be slowed down by too many open charts, indications, and timelines. Cleaning your workstation is a necessary step for swing trading and all other forms of trading.
Tips:
- Use only basic indicators; too many tailored indicators may overburden memory.
- Set the chart history to a minimum.
- Open Tools > Options > Charts.
- Set “Max bars in chart” and “Max bars in history” to 5,000–10,000.
- Trade with one click:
Activate one-click trading to let you open and close transactions without confirmation windows instantaneously. To enable:
- Tools >> Options >> Trade will enable this.
- Tick the box: “One Click Trading.”
- Right-click on the chart and activate the “One Click Trading” pane.
This enables immediate execution from the chart panel without the order form filling requirement.
- Define trade templates ahead of time:
Setting order types, default lot sizes, and SL/TP distances will help you save time.
Steps:
- Establish a trade with your desired parameters (e.g., 1 lot, SL 20 pips, TP 40 pips).
- Store it as a trade template.
- Automatically execute that setup using a hotkey or script.
Otherwise, create personalized MT5 scripts to:
- Unrestricted transactions with pre-set risk
- Close all your positions immediately.
- Settle SL at breakeven.
- Cut log and data bloat:
MT5 houses records and data that, over time, would cause sluggish performance.
Regularly clean:
- Delete older log files from the /logs and /MQL5/Logs directories.
- Clear the folder /Tester/Cache (for strategic tester performance)
- Employ fast execution brokers:
Faster execution rates with better infrastructure are available with certain brokers.
Search for:
- Not requotes
- Narrow spreads with reduced commission
- Favorite brokers among property traders:
- RAW (IC Markets)
- Track execution speed:
Utilizing the built-in Journal and Trade tabs of MT5, keep tabs on your own trade performance. You will view logs as:
- Order send time
- Server response time
- Order accepted or rejected messages
Tools such as Myfxbook AutoTrade or MT5 Trade Reports can also help you to examine trade slippage and latency.
- Use scripts or EAs to automate entries:
Manual execution is prone to delays and faults. Automation of entries with scripts or expert advisors will assist during prop challenges in:
Examples:
- Risk-based lot size script calculates lot size based on SL and % balance.
- News breakout EA with time-based execution
- Master account to challenge account copier trade EA.
- Ensure these instruments adhere to the conditions set by the prop firm.
Conclusion:
An improved MT5 setup will be your edge for prop firm challenges when every second and pip matter. Add a strong plan, rigorous risk management, and you’ll be well on your way to passing your following difficulty and keeping funded accounts consistent.
