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Keep Your Expert Advisor (EA) Running 24/7: Home PC or VPS?
By Jesse Lau · Updated 2026-08-05
First, understand where the EA runs
The EA runs inside MT5 on your computer, not on the broker's server. Shut down, close the laptop lid, lose internet, or let Windows Update reboot overnight — the EA stops working and misses every entry and exit it should have made.
Key distinction: the stop loss / take profit already attached to an order lives on the broker's server and will trigger even while your MT5 is offline — every EA generated on this site carries a stop loss on every trade, so the worst case is bounded. But trailing stops, breakeven moves, and new entries are performed by the EA, and all pause when MT5 is offline.
Option 1: keep your home PC on (temporary use)
Disable sleep in power settings; on laptops, set "do nothing on lid close".
Set Windows Update active hours to avoid overnight reboots.
Risks: power cuts, dropped internet, family members turning it off. Fine for the demo phase, not recommended for live money long-term.
Option 2: a VPS in the cloud (recommended for live)
A VPS is simply a remote computer that stays on 24/7. Rent a Windows VPS (roughly $5–15/month), connect by remote desktop, install MT5 and your EA — after that it no longer matters whether your own computer is on.
What to look for: 1–2 GB RAM is plenty for MT5; pick a data center near your broker's server (ask support where it is — London, New York and Amsterdam are common) for low latency and less slippage.
Connecting: Windows' built-in Remote Desktop (mstsc); the RD Client app lets you check in from your phone.
Once connected, follow the normal installation guide — identical to local setup.
MT5 has VPS rental built in: right-click your account in the Navigator → Register a Virtual Server, pick the node closest to your broker, then click "Migrate" to sync your current charts and EA settings. Usually $10–15/month; the upside is zero maintenance and minimal latency, the downside is you can't install anything besides MT5.
Operations checklist
Algo Trading button green; EA name on the chart with no red mark.
Run the EA for one trading account on one machine only — two simultaneous logins interfere with each other.
Every few days, glance at the logs (Toolbox → Experts / Journal) to confirm the EA is alive.
MT5 reconnects automatically after network drops; after a reboot, confirm MT5 auto-started and logged in.
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