How to install an EA on MetaTrader 4 and activate your license (step by step)

From the email to a green, authorized chart in three minutes: drop in the .ex4, allow the license server in MT4, paste your key, and verify on /verify.

What you need before you start

You have paid, received the email with your license key and download link, and you have MetaTrader 4 installed. If you have not bought yet, see how to buy an EAbase EA with USDT. The whole process takes about three minutes.

Step 1 — Get the .ex4 file

Open the email from EAbase. Click the secure download link and save the .ex4 file somewhere you can find it (your Desktop is fine). Do not rename it — the file name is how MT4 matches the EA to its settings.

Step 2 — Open the MT4 data folder

In MetaTrader 4, click File → Open Data Folder. This opens the MQL4/Experts directory where all EAs live. Drop your .ex4 into:

MQL4/Experts/

If you downloaded a .mq4 source instead, put it in the same folder — MT4 will compile it on next restart.

Step 3 — Restart MT4 (or refresh)

Close and reopen MetaTrader 4, or right-click the Navigator → Expert Advisors panel and choose Refresh. Your EA should now appear under Expert Advisors with its exact name.

Step 4 — Allow the license server (important)

EAbase EAs check your license against https://eabase.pro on start. MT4 blocks external web calls by default.

1. Go to Tools → Options → Expert Advisors.
2. Tick Allow WebRequest for listed URL(s).
3. Add https://eabase.pro to the list and click OK.

Skip this and the EA will refuse to activate — it is the single most common "it won't start" issue.

Step 5 — Load it on a chart

Drag the EA from the Navigator onto the chart of the instrument it trades (for example NEXTUS Gold Scalper goes on an XAUUSD M1 chart). A smiley face in the top-right of the chart means it is attached and running.

Step 6 — Enter your license key

Open the EA's Inputs tab (double-click the EA on the chart, or right-click → Expert Properties). Paste your license key into the InpLicenseKey field exactly as it appears in the email — no spaces, case-sensitive. Click OK, then re-attach or refresh. The EA calls home, validates the key, and switches to Authorized.

Step 7 — Verify on the account page

Open /verify and enter your key. You will see the product, expiry, and activation status. If it shows Active there but the chart shows unauthorized, the WebRequest allow-list (Step 4) is the usual culprit.

Troubleshooting

• No smiley face → WebRequest not allowed, or the EA is not attached to a chart.
• "Invalid license" → key copied with a trailing space, or the key is for a different product. Re-check the email.
• EA does nothing → AutoTrading button (top toolbar) must be green, and the chart symbol must match what the EA trades.

Once it is green and authorized, leave it running. Most EAbase EAs are set-and-forget; the guardian tools such as PropGuard Sentinel run silently in the background and only act when your risk rules are breached.

Risk disclaimer: Forex and CFD trading with leverage can lose more than your deposit. This guide is technical setup help, not investment advice. Test every EA on a demo account before trading live.