TROUBLESHOOTING · METATRADER 5
EA greyed out in MT5 Navigator
SYMPTOM
The EA appears greyed out in the Navigator panel, or will not attach to a chart.
Causes, most likely first
1. It is an MT4 file in an MT5 terminal
An .ex4 will never run in MetaTrader 5. The languages and platforms are separate products, not versions of each other, and no conversion tool produces a working result for anything non-trivial. See MT4 vs MT5.
2. The file did not compile
A source file placed in the folder without compiling shows in the tree but cannot be attached. Open MetaEditor and compile it; the errors appear there rather than in the terminal, which is why the terminal gives no explanation.
3. The terminal has not rescanned the folder
Files copied in while MetaTrader is running are not always picked up. Right-click in Navigator and Refresh, or restart the terminal. See EA not in Navigator.
4. It was placed in the wrong directory
Expert Advisors belong in MQL5/Experts, not MQL5/Indicators or MQL5/Scripts. Use File then Open Data Folder rather than navigating to Program Files, which is a different location and a common mistake.
Why this happens
The Experts and Journal tabs tell you which of these it is within seconds, and almost nobody looks at them. A compile failure names the file and the line; a wrong-platform file simply never appears as attachable.
If the EA is a compiled product from a vendor rather than source, a greyed-out entry after a correct install usually means the wrong platform build was downloaded.
Related problems
- EA does not appear in the MT5 NavigatorThe EA file was copied in but does not appear under Expert Advisors in the Navigator.…
- No smiley face on the MT5 chartThe chart shows a sad face, an X, or no face at all in the top-right corner.…
- AutoTrading is disabled in MT5The Algo Trading button is red, or the Journal logs "Autotrading disabled by client".…
Educational information only, not financial advice. Trading leveraged products carries substantial risk of loss. Last updated 2026-08-11.