Checked on: 2026-08-12 | Broker terms, regulation, and pricing can change. Always verify at the official HFM site before opening an account.

Affiliate Disclosure: HNL Growth may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, at no additional cost to you. Risk Warning: CFDs and leveraged forex products are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 65-95% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs, depending on the HFM entity and account type. Trading forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors. Consider your objectives, experience, and risk appetite before trading, and ensure you understand the risks involved. Broker Disclosure: HFM (HF Markets Group) is a live, regulated multi-entity broker (not a simulated prop-firm evaluation) — trades are executed with real capital in live market conditions, subject to normal market risk. Protections vary significantly by the specific legal entity that onboards your account.

MetaTrader 4 for Windows: Install, Login and First Trade

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, at no extra cost to you.

MetaTrader 4 for Windows is a free desktop trading platform available to all HFM account holders. You can download the HFM MT4 installer from the HFM platforms page, run the setup wizard, and log in with the credentials provided in your myHF client portal.

If you already have an HFM account, keep your MT4 login number, password, and server name ready before you begin. If you do not yet have an HFM account, you will need to open one before you can connect to live market data.

---

Get MT4 for Your Windows PC

MetaTrader 4 is free to download and use with any HFM trading account. HFM lists MT4 as an available platform across all its account types—InfinityX, Cent, Zero, Pro, and Premium—according to the account comparison table published on the HFM website.

To download MT4: navigate to the HFM MT4 platforms page and follow the download prompt. If you are directed to log in to your myHF client portal first, use your existing HFM credentials to access the download link.

Download MT4 from HFM

Do not download MT4 from third-party software sites. Using the HFM-provided installer ensures the correct server configuration is pre-loaded, which simplifies login and reduces setup errors.

---

Before You Install: Quick Readiness Check

A brief check before running the installer prevents most setup failures.

Windows Version and Hardware Check

• Operating system: Windows 7 or later is generally supported by MetaTrader 4 desktop builds.
• Disk space: At least 200 MB free for the installation and chart history data.
• Screen resolution: 1024 × 768 minimum. A higher resolution is recommended for multi-chart layouts.

For current Windows compatibility information specific to HFM's MT4 distribution, consult the HFM platforms page before installing.

Firewall, Antivirus, and VPN Prep

• Antivirus and Windows Defender SmartScreen may flag the MT4 installer as an unknown application. You may need to allow an exception or click "Run anyway" when prompted.
• Firewall: MT4 requires outbound access to connect to the trading server. If you use a strict firewall, you may need to allow the MT4 application through your firewall settings.
• VPN: Disable your VPN during installation and first login. Some VPNs route traffic through IP ranges that the trading server rejects, causing "No Connection" errors. You can re-enable the VPN after confirming a successful login, but connection stability may vary.

---

Installing MT4 on Windows: Step by Step

Running the Installer

1. Locate the downloaded .exe file (usually in your Downloads folder).
2. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator to avoid permission errors during file extraction.
3. If Windows SmartScreen displays a warning, click More info → Run anyway.
4. The MetaTrader 4 Setup wizard opens. Click Next to accept the license agreement.
5. Choose an installation folder. The default path is C:\Program Files (x86)\MetaTrader 4. You can change this if needed.
6. Click Next and wait for the files to extract. The installer also creates a desktop shortcut by default.
7. Click Finish to launch MT4 for the first time.

Completing Setup and First Launch

On first launch, MT4 opens a registration window asking you to create a new demo account or log in to an existing account. If you already have HFM credentials, select Connect with an existing trade account and proceed to the login section below. If you want to explore the interface first, you can open a demo account.

Note: HFM states that there is a limit to the number of trading accounts a client can open across MT4, MT5, and other HFM platforms. If you have reached the limit, you may need to close an unused account before creating a new one.

---

Logging In to Your HFM Account on MT4

This is the step where most users encounter friction. Follow the sequence below carefully.

Where to Find Your HFM MT4 Credentials

Your MT4 login details consist of three parts:

• Account number (also called login number)
• Password (the trading password, not your myHF portal password)
• Server name

These credentials are provided when you open an MT4 trading account through your myHF client portal. If you have lost them, log in to your myHF portal to retrieve or reset them. HFM customer support is available via email, live chat, or telephone at +44-203 097 85 71—contact details are listed on the HFM website.

Choosing the Right HFM Server

In the MT4 login window, you will see a Server dropdown. You must select the exact HFM server that matches your account. The correct server name is listed in your myHF portal alongside your account number—always retrieve it from there. Using the wrong server will cause an "Invalid Account" error even if your login and password are correct.

If the HFM server does not appear in the dropdown, you can add it manually: click the server field, type the full server name exactly as shown in your myHF portal, and press Enter.

Confirming You Are Connected

After entering your credentials and clicking Login, check the bottom-right corner of the MT4 window:

• Green icon with signal bars and a data counter (e.g., "12.45 Kb") means you are connected and receiving live data.
• Red icon or "Invalid Account" means the login was rejected—verify your credentials and server name against your myHF portal.
• "No Connection" means MT4 cannot reach the server—check your internet connection, firewall, and VPN status.

Open a HFM account to get your MT4 credentials

---

First Steps After Login

Once connected, take these steps to confirm your setup is trading-ready:

1. Populate Market Watch. Press Ctrl+M or go to View → Market Watch. Right-click inside the window and select Show All to display all symbols available through HFM. Symbols are grouped by asset class: forex pairs, metals, indices, energies, and others depending on your account type.

2. Open a chart. Double-click any symbol in Market Watch, or right-click and select Chart Window. The chart opens with default settings.

3. Add an indicator. Press Ctrl+I or go to Insert → Indicators. For a quick test, add a Moving Average or Bollinger Bands to confirm indicators render correctly.

4. Verify order execution (demo only). If you are logged into a demo account, press F9 or click New Order on the toolbar. Place a small market order (0.01 lot) to confirm the order window functions and the trade appears in the Terminal → Trade tab at the bottom of the screen.

5. Customise your layout. Right-click on a chart to adjust colours, timeframes, and grid settings. You can save your preferred layout as a template (Charts → Template → Save Template) for future sessions.

---

Windows System Requirements for MT4

The figures below represent typical hardware and software requirements for running MetaTrader 4 desktop applications on Windows. Specific technical requirements for HFM's MT4 distribution have not been verified from official HFM documentation for this article—consult the HFM platforms page for current system requirements before installing.

Specification	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system	Windows 7	Windows 10 or later
Processor	Dual-core 1 GHz	2 GHz or faster
RAM	1 GB	2 GB or more
Free disk space	200 MB	1 GB (for extended history)
Screen resolution	1024 × 768	1920 × 1080 or higher
Internet connection	Broadband	Stable broadband (5 Mbps+)

Windows 11 note: Check the HFM platforms page for current platform support information before installing on Windows 11.

---

Fixing Common MT4 Problems on Windows

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
Installer blocked or will not run	SmartScreen or antivirus flagging unknown .exe	Right-click → Run as administrator; allow exception in SmartScreen or antivirus
"Invalid Account" on login	Wrong server selected, or credentials mistyped	Retrieve exact server name, account number, and password from your myHF portal
"Authorization Failed"	Account not yet activated, or password recently changed	Confirm account status in myHF; wait for activation email; use latest password
"No Connection" or persistent timeout	Firewall blocking outbound traffic, VPN active, or ISP issue	Disable VPN; check firewall settings for MT4; try alternative network
Blank charts or "Waiting for update"	Insufficient data feed or symbol not available on your account type	Check that the symbol is available for your HFM account type; restart MT4
Missing custom indicators or DLL errors	Indicator files deleted or not copied during reinstall	Re-copy indicator files to the MT4 data folder; restart MT4
MT4 crashes on launch	Corrupted installation or incompatible third-party plugin	Perform a clean reinstall (see below)

Installer Blocked or Fails to Run

Windows Defender SmartScreen may display "Windows protected your PC" when you run the MT4 installer. This is standard behaviour for applications that are not digitally signed with a Microsoft-trusted certificate. Click More info and then Run anyway. If your antivirus quarantines the file, restore it from quarantine and add an exclusion for the MT4 installation folder.

Login Rejected: Invalid Account or Authorization Failed

This error almost always relates to one of three issues:

1. Wrong server. The server name must match exactly the value shown in your myHF portal. Even a small difference will cause authentication to fail.
2. Password confusion. Your MT4 trading password is different from your myHF portal login password. If you recently reset your password, make sure you are using the new one.
3. Account not activated. If you just opened the account, wait for the confirmation email before attempting to log in.

No Connection or Persistent Server Timeout

If the connection indicator stays red:

• Confirm your internet connection is working by opening a browser.
• Disable any active VPN and retry.
• Check that your firewall allows outbound connections for the MT4 application.
• In MT4, go to Tools → Options → Community and verify the proxy settings are empty (unless you intentionally use a proxy).
• Restart your router and MT4.

Blank Charts, Missing Indicators, or DLL Errors

Blank charts with a "Waiting for update" message usually mean MT4 is connected but not receiving price data for the selected symbol. Right-click the chart and select Refresh. If the symbol is not available on your HFM account type, it will show no data—check the available instruments for your account using the account comparison table on the HFM website.

For missing custom indicators, ensure all indicator files are placed in the correct MT4 data folder subfolder. DLL-based indicators require you to enable DLL imports in Tools → Options → Expert Advisors.

---

MT4 vs MT5: Which Platform Fits Your Trading?

Both MT4 and MT5 are available on all HFM account types according to the HFM account comparison table. The choice depends on your trading approach.

Feature	MetaTrader 4	MetaTrader 5
Built-in indicators	Standard indicator library	80+ technical indicators
Timeframes	9	21 different timeframes
Pending order types	4 (Buy/Sell Limit, Buy/Sell Stop)	6 (adds Buy/Sell Stop Limit)
Programming language	MQL4	MQL5
Expert Advisor ecosystem	Larger legacy library	Growing, not backward-compatible with MQL4
Depth of Market	Not available	Available
Built-in economic calendar	Not available	Available
Simultaneous charts	Limited by system resources	Up to 100 charts simultaneously
Hedging	Supported	Hedging allowed
Asset coverage on HFM	Forex, metals, indices, energies, and more	All HFM asset classes

Choose MT4 if: You rely on existing MQL4 Expert Advisors, prefer a simpler interface, or follow established strategies built around MT4's indicator set.

Choose MT5 if: You need more timeframes, additional order types, built-in economic calendar data, or plan to develop new strategies using MQL5.

Try MT5 with your HFM account

MT4 and MT5 can run side by side on the same Windows machine without conflicts. They install to separate folders and connect independently.

---

Updating, Reinstalling, or Removing MT4

How MT4 Updates Work

MT4 can check for updates when it connects to the trading server and may apply them on the next restart. If you experience persistent issues, download a fresh installer directly from the HFM platforms page rather than waiting for an automatic update.

Clean Reinstall Without Losing Your Setup

If MT4 is malfunctioning and a restart does not fix it, a clean reinstall often resolves the issue. Before uninstalling, back up your custom files:

1. In MT4, go to File → Open Data Folder.
2. Copy any custom Expert Advisors, indicators, scripts, chart templates, and workspace profiles you wish to preserve to a safe location outside the MT4 folder.
3. Uninstall MT4 via Windows Settings → Apps → MetaTrader 4 → Uninstall.
4. Download a fresh installer from the HFM platforms page.
5. Install MT4 and log in.
6. Copy your backed-up custom files into the new MT4 data folder (File → Open Data Folder).
7. Restart MT4 to load your custom files.

Full Uninstall from Windows

1. Close MT4 completely (check the system tray for a running instance).
2. Go to Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
3. Find MetaTrader 4, click the menu, and select Uninstall.
4. To remove all residual data, delete the MT4 data folder (location shown in File → Open Data Folder before uninstall) and the installation folder if you wish to remove all traces of the application.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MetaTrader 4 free? Yes. The MT4 platform software is free to download and use with an HFM account. Trading costs—spreads, commissions, and swaps—are determined by your HFM account type and the instruments you trade. HFM's account comparison table lists spreads starting from 0.3 pip on InfinityX, from 1.4 pip on Cent, from 0 on forex pairs on Zero, from 0.6 pip on Pro, and from 1.4 pip on Premium accounts.

Is MetaTrader 4 a broker? No. MetaTrader 4 is trading software developed by MetaQuotes Software. It is a front-end application that connects to a broker's trading server. HFM is the broker that manages your account, credentials, and funds. For account-related issues, contact HFM support, not MetaQuotes.

Does MT4 work on Windows 11? Check the HFM platforms page to confirm current Windows 11 support before installing. Windows compatibility can vary by MT4 build version.

Can I run MT4 and MT5 at the same time? Yes. Both platforms install to separate directories and can run simultaneously on the same Windows PC.

How do I get help if login fails? First, verify your credentials and server name in your myHF client portal. If the issue persists, contact HFM customer support via email, live chat, or telephone at +44-203 097 85 71—contact options are listed on the HFM website. HFM manages all account-level support; MetaQuotes handles platform software bugs.

Can I use MT4 on other devices? HFM also offers MT4 for Mac, a web-based terminal (HFM WebTrader), and the HFM mobile app for iOS and Android. The HFM App supports all HFM trading accounts and has been awarded Best Forex Trading App by Capital Finance according to HFM's homepage.

---

Summary

MetaTrader 4 for Windows installs in a few steps: download the official installer from the HFM platforms page, run it as administrator, and log in with the account number, trading password, and server name from your myHF portal. The most common setup failures—wrong server name, antivirus blocks, and VPN interference—are all preventable with the steps in this guide. If you do not yet have an HFM account, you need one before MT4 can connect to live data.

HFM has been trusted since 2010 and offers competitive pricing with spreads from 0.0 pips on selected accounts, according to the HFM homepage. All HFM account types support MT4, and the platform gives you access to forex, metals, indices, energies, and other asset classes depending on your account configuration.

Open a HFM account

---

Risk Warning

Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex products are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your capital. Check the entity, terms and protections that apply in your jurisdiction before trading.

HF Markets (SV) Ltd is incorporated in St. Vincent & the Grenadines as an International Business Company with registration number 22747 IBC 2015. HFM does not offer services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Canada, Sudan, Syria, Iran, North Korea, UAE, Türkiye, and others.

---

---

Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex products are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with most providers; the exact percentage varies by HFM entity and account type. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Check the entity, terms and investor protections that apply in your jurisdiction before opening an account or trading.