Why MT4 Strategy Tester Shows Zero Trades (and how to fix it)

It may be irritating to run a backtest in MetaTrader 4 Technique Tester and have it cease instantly with no trades.

This has occurred to me many occasions and I had to determine what was going fallacious. So on this tutorial, I will present you why this occurs and what you are able to do to troubleshoot every trigger.

MetaTrader 4 Technique Tester is not going to present any trades for one of many following causes:

1. The settings are incorrect
2. It’s not a great market to make use of that EA with
3. Tright here have been no legitimate setups
4. The coding logic is defective
5. The technique would not work on the timeframe you are backtesting on
6. The EA is not absolutely automated or would not execute trades
7. The EA is made for MT5

Now I will get into the small print of every situation and what you’ll be able to presumably do to repair every drawback.

If that does not work, then I will provide you with one remaining factor that you are able to do that’s assured to present you a solution to your situation.

The best way to Correctly Setup an Automated Backtest in MT4

First, make sure that you are following the proper process for organising a backtest in MT4 Technique Tester.

The EA must be in your MT4 consultants folder so the platform can use it in a backtest. As soon as the file is in there, restart MT4 so Technique Tester has entry to it.

If you wish to get an entire tutorial on methods to run your first backtest within the MT4 Technique Tester, learn this tutorial.

This tutorial is about methods to troubleshoot points. So after you know the way to set issues up, come again right here if you happen to’re operating into any roadblocks.

Alright, let’s get into it…

The Settings are Unsuitable

The commonest purpose why a backtest would not work is as a result of the settings within the EA aren’t set appropriately.

Many occasions, that is an oversight of the developer. If a developer would not put in one of the best EA settings because the default, then this will result in plenty of confusion.

So double test with the developer what one of the best settings for the EA are.

They’ll often be obtainable on the web site the place you downloaded the EA.

Then click on the Skilled Properties button within the Technique Tester to vary the settings of the EAs.

Backtesting within the Unsuitable Market

Not all buying and selling methods will work in all markets.

In reality, there is a good likelihood {that a} technique will not work in a number of markets.

Some methods solely work in shares. Others will solely work on crypto.

So it’s a must to perceive which market the technique was designed for and solely use it in that market.

For instance, this buying and selling technique solely works with one Foreign exchange pair. In the event you use it with different pairs, you will lose cash.

Many people who find themselves new to buying and selling are beneath the impression {that a} buying and selling technique ought to work properly in all markets.

Buying and selling would not work like that.

Considering {that a} technique will work in all markets is like saying that since a V8 engine works properly in a Ford F150 truck, it ought to work properly on a Ducati Superleggera motorbike too.

Now, you can (and doubtless ought to) take a look at the technique in a number of markets.

You by no means know, it’d work.

However do not be shocked if it would not.

No Legitimate Commerce Setups

All the pieces may very well be setup correctly within the EA, however possibly there are simply no trades.

This does not occur usually, however it may possibly.

It is extra doubtless that the logic or settings of the EA aren’t appropriate.

But when you aren’t getting any trades, strive operating a backtest on one other Foreign exchange pair, or on one other timeframe.

In the event you get trades on one other pair or timeframe, then it may very well be that there have been merely no trades.

Additionally test to see when you have downloaded all the obtainable historic knowledge for that market.

You may solely have a couple of months of knowledge and that is why your take a look at is ending so shortly.

The Logic of the EA is Damaged

In some circumstances, the coding of the EA merely would not work.

The developer might have missed an essential piece of code or they did not take a look at the EA correctly.

This occurs rather a lot with EAs within the MT4 Code Base. Lots of them are half-baked.

So if you do not get any trades once you run a Technique Tester backtest, then see if you will discover out how the EA works and why it won’t be executing trades.

Many occasions automated backtesting makes it exhausting to see what goes fallacious. That is why usually, I extremely advocate beginning with handbook or partially automated backtesting first.

Then once you discover one thing that works, you’ll be able to flip that into a completely automated system.

If you wish to get into handbook or partially automated backtesting, I like to recommend utilizing NakedMarkets.

Backtesting on the Unsuitable Timeframe

Some buying and selling methods will not work on larger or decrease timeframes due to how they’re constructed.

For instance, for example that you simply created a buying and selling technique that solely enters trades on the open of the London Session.

In the event you attempt to use that technique on the day by day chart, it most likely will not execute trades as a result of the day by day candles do not shut on the proper time of day.

On the opposite finish of the spectrum, if you happen to use a day by day chart buying and selling technique on the 1-hour chart, it could commerce too ceaselessly and the unfold will most likely take a big chunk out of your income.

So just be sure you understand how your EA works and if it is meant for use on a selected chart timeframe.

The EA Is not Totally Automated or Would not Execute Trades

There are some EAs that solely deal with entries or solely deal with exits.

The do not do each.

Different EAs solely present info, they do not execute any trades.

I’ve additionally seen EAs that require enter from the consumer in the course of the backtesting course of.

I really favor EAs that are not absolutely automated. In my view, it is best if an EA handles the entry or exit, however not each.

You could find our MT4 commerce administration and informational EAs right here.

So make sure that the EA you need to backtest is definitely constructed to execute trades.

Some aren’t.

The EA is Made for MT5

Lastly, if you happen to’re making an attempt to make use of a MT5 EA in MT4, it will not work.

MT5 makes use of a very completely different programming language.

I understand how it’s although. It is simple to obtain a bunch of EAs from the web and overlook which platform they’re for.

To be able to work out which EAs work with MT4, have a look at the file kind. MT4 recordsdata will finish with .mq4 or .ex4.

In case your file has .mq5 or .ex5 on the finish, it is for MT5 and will not work in MT4.

The Finest Resolution for No Trades in MT4 Technique Tester

If not one of the options above give you the results you want, then one of the best factor to do in ALL conditions is to contact the developer of the Skilled Adviser (EA).

They’ll often know why you aren’t getting trades and will help you perceive their EA higher.

I gave you a couple of concepts on why a technique might not be working, however the actuality is that I do not understand how each single EA works.

The one one that is aware of that’s the developer.

So once more, if you happen to’re nonetheless having issues after making an attempt all the above, then contact the creator of the EA.

Conclusion

So these are some explanation why your MetaTrader 4 Technique Tester backtest might not be exhibiting any trades.

It may be very irritating to run a take a look at and have it cease instantly.

However now that you recognize why this occurs and what to do, you will by no means get caught once more.

Get extra MT4 tutorials right here.