MT4 Alerts & Notifications: Setup Guide (2026)

I run multiple EAs across several accounts, and staying informed about what my Expert Advisors are doing is critical without sitting at my desk all day. MT4 alerts and notifications let you monitor price levels, track EA activity, and receive real-time updates on your phone -- even when you are away from your computer. This guide on configuring MT4 alerts and notifications covers every notification method from basic sound alerts to mobile push notifications, including the exact configuration steps that most guides skip.

Types of MT4 Notifications

MT4 offers three built-in notification channels, each suited for different situations:

For EA traders, push notifications are the most valuable because they deliver instant alerts to your phone when trades open or close, without requiring you to watch charts constantly.

Setting Up Push Notifications

Push notifications send real-time alerts directly to the MetaTrader 4 mobile app on your phone. Here is the exact setup process:

Step 1: Get Your MetaQuotes ID

1. Install the MetaTrader 4 app on your phone (App Store or Google Play)
2. Open the app and log in to any account (demo works fine)
3. Go to Settings (gear icon)
4. Tap Messages or Chat and Messages
5. Your MetaQuotes ID is displayed at the top -- note this down

Step 2: Configure Desktop MT4

1. In desktop MT4, go to Tools → Options
2. Click the Notifications tab
3. Check "Enable Push Notifications"
4. Enter your MetaQuotes ID in the field provided
5. Click Test -- you should receive a test notification on your phone within seconds
6. Click OK to save

Configuring Email Alerts

Email alerts require SMTP server configuration. This is useful for creating a record of all alerts and for receiving notifications in your regular inbox:

Gmail SMTP Setup

1. Go to Tools → Options → Email
2. Check "Enable"
3. Configure these settings:
   • SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com
   • SMTP port: 465
   • SMTP login: your Gmail address
   • SMTP password: your App Password (not regular password)
   • From: your Gmail address
   • To: the email address to receive alerts
4. Click Test to verify the configuration

Other Email Providers

Creating Price Alerts

Price alerts notify you when XAUUSD or any other symbol reaches a specific level:

1. Open the Terminal window (Ctrl+T)
2. Click the Alerts tab
3. Right-click in the empty area and select Create
4. Configure the alert:
   • Enable: Checked
   • Symbol: Select the instrument (e.g., XAUUSD)
   • Condition: Choose Bid > or Bid < (or Ask variants)
   • Value: Enter the price level
   • Source: Select notification type (Sound, Email, Notification, or File)
5. Set Expiration if you want the alert to auto-delete
6. Set Maximum iterations to control how many times it triggers
7. Click OK

EA Trade Notifications

Getting notified when your EA opens or closes trades is essential for monitoring automated systems without watching screens. There are several approaches:

Method 1: Built-in EA Notifications

Many EAs include notification settings in their Inputs tab. Look for parameters like:

• EnablePushNotifications: Sends alerts to your mobile when trades execute
• EnableEmailAlerts: Sends email when trades open/close
• NotifyOnTrade: General notification toggle

If your EA supports these features, simply enable them and ensure push notifications or email are configured in MT4's Options (as described above).

Method 2: Trade Notifier EA

If your trading EA does not include notifications, you can run a separate "notifier" EA on the same account (on a different chart) that monitors for new trades and sends alerts. Several free notifier EAs are available on the MQL5 community forums.

Method 3: Myfxbook Notifications

If your account is connected to Myfxbook, you can enable trade notifications through their platform. See our guide on connecting MT4 to Myfxbook.

Myfxbook Notification Alternative

Myfxbook offers its own notification system that works independently of MT4's built-in alerts:

• Trade notifications: Get alerted when trades open or close
• Drawdown alerts: Notified when drawdown exceeds your threshold
• Balance milestones: Alerts when account reaches specific values
• System status: Warned if EA stops trading or connection drops

This is especially useful for tracking multiple accounts across different brokers from a single dashboard.

Troubleshooting Notification Issues

Push Notifications Not Working

• Verify MetaQuotes ID has no extra spaces before or after
• Ensure the mobile app is installed and logged in (any account works)
• Check your phone's notification settings -- MT4 app must have notification permission
• Test with the built-in Test button in Tools → Options → Notifications
• If the ID changed (app reinstall), update it in desktop MT4

Email Alerts Not Sending

• Verify SMTP credentials -- use App Password for Gmail, not regular password
• Check port number (465 for SSL, 587 for TLS)
• Ensure "Enable" is checked in Tools → Options → Email
• Check spam/junk folder in your email
• Firewall may block outgoing SMTP connections -- add MT4 as exception

Alerts Not Triggering

• Verify the alert is enabled (green checkbox in Alerts tab)
• Check if expiration time has passed
• Confirm the condition and price level are correct
• Maximum iterations may have been reached