First, download MT4. You can do this by logging into your secure client area and navigating to ‘access trading platforms’. You'll be guided through the download process and once your platform has loaded, you’ll be asked for your account number, password and server name. 

If you have issues with inputting these details, try this: 

1. Copy and paste your password (ensure you’re not adding any spaces). 

2. Manually type your server IP address. 

3. Delete the server and manually type ‘edge<server number>.pepperstone.com'. For example: edge03.pepperstone.com 

If this doesn’t work, please open a live chat with us so we can help. 

To view an order: 

1. Open a window and tap ‘new order’ or simply use your hotkey F9. 

2. Add your trading volume – this is based on standard FX lots ($100,000 exposure and $10 of the base currency per pip). 

3. After you enter your volume, enter your stop-loss and take-profits (this can be added before or after entering the trade).

4. The ‘type’ field will display the order type you want to place. ‘Market execution’ is an instant order and ‘pending order’ allows you to set the price at which you want to trade.

To modify an order, simply right-click on the trade within the ‘terminal – trade’ section and select ‘modify’ or ‘delete’ order. 

You can modify stop-loss or take-profit orders in two ways: 

1. Input the point distance you want away from the current price. For example, 200 points is a 20-pip stop-loss from the current market price.  

2. Alternatively, you can add the exact price at which you wish to exit in the stop-loss field. 

It’s easy to load your Expert Advisor (EA) or indicator. 

1. Download your EA or indicators as a file on your computer. 

2. Enter 'MT4' and select 'file.' 

3. Open the 'data' folder. 

4. Enter MQL4, which will allow you to drag and drop the file into either the 'Expert Advisors' or 'indicators' folder. 

5. Restart the MT4 platform and your Expert Advisor or indicator will appear in your ‘navigator’ list. 

Customising your templates is a great way to make your MT4 platform unique and easier to use. Templates let you control how your MT4 charts are displayed and show you what indicators are on your charts. 

To create a template, you’ll need to: 

1. Add any Expert Advisors (EAs) or indicators that you’d like to have on your chart. 

2. Right-click on your chart. 

3. Select 'properties', which is where you can update your colour scheme and change common settings. 

4. Once you’ve made your custom changes, simply right-click on the chart. 

5. Select 'templates' and name the file you’ve just edited. You can have multiple templates for different strategies. 

Tip: Name this template as 'default' to have all charts open with this template as default. 

MT4 and MT5 are both popular trading platforms, but they differ in their scope and functionality. MT4 is a straightforward, intuitive and globally popular trading platform, suitable for both beginners and advanced traders because of its broad functionality. 

MT5 though, is here to change the game. It’s a platform known for its wide range of time frames, analytical prowess and variety of pending orders, on stocks, commodities, indices and more. 

MT5 offers: 

• A wider range of time frames: 21, compared to MT4’s 9. This can be extremely attractive for scalpers and advanced traders who are looking to do in-depth analysis of the market. 

• Pending orders: MT4 offers stop and limit orders which are generally the most commonly used ones, whereas with MT5 you have the functionality to use stop-limits too, which can help control execution price and avoid unfavourable trades in volatile markets. 

• The programming language MQL5: Although there is more likely to be a larger amount of research and guidance for MQL4 due to its popularity, users are starting to migrate to the MQL5 programming language as it’s more efficient and easier to use, and traders can write and alter scripts. 

• Built-in fundamental economic calendar: delivering live macroeconomic news. MT5 also contains an inbuilt MQL5 Community Chat and email system. 

Generally, for beginner traders or clients who are looking to just trade forex, MT4 is a straightforward and efficient choice. For traders looking for even smarter software, with a broader range of additional features and more in-depth analysis, then MT5 is more suitable. If you’re looking to trade the top US share CFDs around the clock,⁵ then consider MT5.