How to Backtest an EA in MT4 (Complete Guide)

This is the first video I've seen on the subject showing the same type of results mine is giving. I'm not sure I understand the multiple results it's giving. I just ran one for 3 previous months that gave me 170 results varying wildly from $50 to $1000 profit.
I would have thought that an algo ran on the settings I gave it would have one set of results and I could see maybe a list of trades.
I had MT4 with a different broker a while back that DID work like that. Got out of FOREX for a while and recently picked it back up with a different broker.

I tried doing a backtest with a simple and fast running EA
but when you do it with a rather complicated ea you made yourself it takes a very long time, why?

Amazing! Thank you! This is powerful

Sir how to backtest ea..which have 2 file one buy and one sell please reply

Maybe im missing a file or something, but i have files from a bot that and just dragging that file ex4 file over works. Then i can get the name to show on the top right of the chart(disappears shortly after). I click start(ran test for the current week which i know the bot ran in) but at the end there are all zeroes in the results. It never shows a single trade. How to i get it to trade in my backtest ??

Can you test a MT4 EA that uses multiple currencies?

Im trying to do this but, is showing blank results why? i have downloaded the data and when i click start looks like is working but if i click graph is blank and results too.

Bonsoir, j'aimerais savoir quelle sont les conditions ou critères pour valider un robot de trading apres l'avoir backtester?

Does this also work with custom EAs?

Edit: yep! Trying it now

Hi I have an EA that is currently running in a remote server, I would like to back test it with different inputs and different amount, would this affect the function/performance of the EA, am not tech savvy, bought the EA from someone and would not like to mess it up as I have a limited version of the EA.

Is it possible to test multiple symbols at the same time?

as someone already mentioned you forgot the most important step. Downloading the M1 data. BTW I also have the double in a day ea. I've done it 3 times, it's almost impossible to do it with that EA. I do have the top up calculator and that's a much better one to double 20 bucks 40 bucks even 100 and beyond.

The "Use date" feature doesn't seem to have any effect at all. Different EAs behave randomly. One only tests during one week in July 2022 (it's September 2022 now), and that's it. The time frame also didn't make a difference, it's always somewhere in July. Another EA starts from a few months ago, seems to make more sense, although the date feature still has no effect at all.

I don't have the "visual mode" section available at all.

i dont know why my Strategy Tester doesn't show me the time frames to select

mine wont test when i add a time frame- when i choose no date it works... whats wrong?

Hey thanks for the video, when I load my EA to the chart it loads fine but it says waiting for tick. Any idea how to fix this? Thank you.

noiceee - gonna come back to this one. Left it sitting for a few months whilst focussing on my actual trading!! But refinement and mastery in all areas of course ;);) :) ))) )

if i click on Report to see backtesting result, why Report showing nothing. what to click to see the no.

Quick question, what is the library’s section of the MT4?

Do you have a bitcoin tip jar? If you do, please post it on this question, if you do happen to answer. I would love to tip you for your information.

Time for a tough question. Working with an EA that needs leverage 1:1000 how do you change the leverage on the strategy tester? 😬

On your strategy tester it doesn't show up model option. It only gives me which expert advisor and which pair and what hour on my mt4 .how can add that

🍋It keeps loading then after doing a squeaky sound. From there nothing happens.

Do I need download data from history center before I do backtesting?

you forgot to mention that you have to download the data from the historical center in order to get the best result.

why when i pressed start button nothing happened except the sound of squeezing rubber duck 😆

You don't need to restart MT4, you can just refresh it.

I tested my first EA today but it doesn’t show the report, graph, or chart on mine, and it only works on one pair. Have you ever had this issue? Great video, thanks for sharing.🇨🇦

whenever i click the start button to start the EA it never works theres just a squeak sound and nothing happens
Help please!!

Hey bro.. I have an amazing EA would you be able to help do some back tests?

So if you have one of the variables ticked and not checked 'optimize' what will happen?

Great lesson Trading Heroes: Thanks: Question: when I load the strategy tester on my MT4 there is not tick box for Visual mode.... do i have something turned off.... can anyone help with this..

i fail to test 2020 whole year of strategic tester

Thanks for this video. Is there anyway to test the strategy only during Asian and London sessions? I want to completely avoid US. thanks

i have a problem , i can only load data up to 3 months max same goes with backtesting, couldn't do 6 to 12 months how to do that?

Why does the date of test depends on the period frame?
the bigger frame can run earlier date !!!
is the a solution? I want to test M15 for 10 years ago

Hi, can you help to show how to test EA which requires other indicators to complement its execution?

is there any difference between the result of strategy tester and real account?

i watch about 20 videos about how to set up ea an mt4 for 2 weeks now and ur video is the only one that went to ground zero, u said to go to mt4 platform and click on file. thank u very much. i had watch many video on how to get started and could never find the file mt4 that thay said to find, did every thing thay said, got no were until i found ur video. god bless u. please keep making videos showing us ground zero for us beginners. now i can move on.

Thanks for Video. I know you did a video on manually backtesting but do you have a way, independent of MT4, to test and optimize EA's. Thanks

Pls can i hv trading conditions that i want to be programmed as an EA...Pls i will neva a professional to do that for me...i will importantly need ur help pls

heyyy I need help backtesting because it is not working

Nice video. Thanks ! In the strategy tester I tested the same EA twice in a row and got way different results. 80 dollar profit and 120 dollar profit. Any idea what might cause this ? ( I wrote the EA )

Is it me or you cant go past 3 months when testing?

does it take into account the spread and the commission you are paying on your current broker?

Do you prefer Forex Tester to the MT4 strategy tester?

I seen in end of my backtest trades in minus shown ''close at stop'' I assume its not s/l trades cuz then there will be shown S/l mark. I dont know what this means

I wish there was backtest mode for mobile ,it really should be as standard as indicators

how can you see the orders that are still open when the ea has reached a date you have chosen?