How to properly install MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash drive?

As we've said many times before, the modern trader lives on the Internet. Modern technology provides access to the web from virtually anywhere in the world and from any mobile device. However, with all the advantages of mobile trading platforms provided by brokers, their functionality, due to their peculiarities, is still inferior to the most popular among traders trading platform MetaTrader 4. Not even all standard indicators are available, there is no possibility to carry out graphical constructions in the usual mode, and so on.

How to always have your trading terminal at hand broker with all its indicators, scripts, advisors, templates and settings? In this case, the trader comes to the aid of a flash drive or, as it is called, USB flash drive. Consider, How to properly install MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash drive.

Installing MT4 on a USB flash drive

How to properly install MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash drive?

It should be noted that the old builds of MetaTrader 4 were installed on a flash drive a little easier, and the installation process for the new builds is slightly different, as we describe below.

First you need to download the installation file of the terminal MetaTrader 4 from the broker's website and run it. By default, the terminal is installed on the system drive in the folder Program Files. Since we are installing the terminal on a flash drive, the installation path should be changed manually by pressing the "Settings" button.

Setting up the installation of the MetaTrader 4 terminal on a USB flash drive.
Fig. 1. Setting up the installation of the MetaTrader 4 terminal on a USB flash drive.

In the settings window you need to select a flash drive (in our example it is drive F, which is named as such - "USB flash drive") and specify the installation folder of MetaTrader 4 terminal files, which is better to create in advance. In our case, the folder is created and named "MetaTrader 4.0". Do not forget to check "Create a shortcut on the desktop" box, it will come in handy.

Installing the MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash drive.
Fig. 2. Installing the MetaTrader 4 terminal on a USB flash drive.

After the program installs the necessary files of the MetaTrader 4 terminal to the selected folder on the flash drive, proceed to the next step. The terminal shortcut created on the desktop should be moved to the folder with the terminal on the flash drive.

Moving the terminal shortcut from the desktop to the flash drive.
Figure 3. Moving the terminal shortcut from the desktop to the flash drive.

Now you need to make sure that all the data the terminal saves exactly on the flash drive, not on the computer. To do this, work with the terminal shortcut. Press PCM to call contextual window and enter "Properties" menu.

Context window of the MetaTrader 4 terminal shortcut.
Fig. 4. Context window of the MetaTrader 4 terminal shortcut.

In the "Properties" menu, go to the "Label" tab and move to the "Object" field.

The "Object" field of the "Shortcuts" tab of the "Properties" menu of the MetaTrader 4 terminal shortcut.
Fig. 5. Object" field of the "Shortcut" tab of the "Properties" menu of the MetaTrader 4 terminal shortcut.

In the "Object" field after the space (important!) add /portable and click "Apply".

Changing the Object field.
Fig. 6. Changing the Object field.

This completes the installation of MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash drive, the terminal takes less than 25 megabytes. The terminal works, quotes are received, all data is saved not on the computer, but on the flash drive.

The size of the folder with the installed MetaTrader 4 terminal on the flash drive.
Fig. 7. Size of the folder with the installed MetaTrader 4 terminal on the flash drive.

It is important to remember that the MetaTrader 4 terminal installed on a flash drive should not be run via the terminal.exe executable file, but via the shortcut, in the properties of which we have made changes.

Testing the indicator in the MetaTrader 4 platform on a flash drive

Let's try to install the custom indicator in order to check if the terminal works. Run the terminal from the shortcut, enter the login and password of your trading account.

Let's take the following as an example exclusive FX Levels v1.5 PRO support and resistance indicator. The indicator should be moved to the MQL4/Indicators/ folder of the MetaTrader 4 terminal installed on the flash drive.

Installing the indicator in the MetaTrader 4 terminal.
Fig. 8. Installing the indicator in the MetaTrader 4 terminal.

After restarting the MetaTrader 4 platform (do not forget - start from the shortcut), in the "Indicators" tab of the "Navigator" window of the MetaTrader 4 terminal we see the FX Levels PRO indicator. Drag and drop the FX Levels PRO indicator onto the currency pair chart.

Installing the indicator on the chart of the currency pair.
Fig. 9. Installing the indicator on the currency pair chart.

As a result, we get a working indicator on the chart.

FX Levels PRO indicator on a currency pair chart via flash drive
Fig. 10. FX Levels PRO indicator on a currency pair chart.

Scripts, Expert Advisors and templates are installed in the same way. All changes in their settings will remain on the flash drive.

Thus, having learned How to properly install MetaTrader 4 terminal on a flash driveand by moving all of your work there indicatorsIf you have a computer at home, you will have access to your "personal" MetaTrader 4 terminal anywhere you have a computer with an Internet connection.

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