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All categoriesProp Firm Robots AppUsing the Robots in MetaTraderBacktest a robot in MetaTrader before you trade it
Backtest a robot in MetaTrader before you trade it

The app's stats come from its own backtest (a test of the robot on past prices). Before a robot trades your account, test the file you downloaded in MetaTrader's Strategy Tester, on your broker's prices. The app itself asks you to.

Plan: a plan that includes the Prop Firm Robots App.

Note what to compare

  1. In the app, choose the Stats period, for example 1Y. The dates under the card's chart show the period tested.
  2. Write down the card's name (symbol and timeframe), Profit, Profit factor (money won divided by money lost; above 1 means profit), Trades and Drawdown (the largest fall from a high point, in %). Note your account size too.

Stats period set to 1Y, and a card's name and stats: Profit, Profit factor, Trades, Drawdown, Entry lots and Stop Loss

Run the test in MetaTrader

  1. Install the robot first (see the install guide).
  2. Press Ctrl+R or open View › Strategy Tester.
  3. Choose the robot under Expert (MetaTrader 4) or Expert Advisor (MetaTrader 5).
  4. Choose the same symbol and timeframe as the card, and the same dates.
  5. Set the deposit to your account size in the app.
  6. For the model, Open prices only is quick, because the robot decides when a bar opens. Every tick (MetaTrader 4) or Every tick based on real ticks (MetaTrader 5) is closer to real trading.
  7. Click Start, then read the results and the graph.

Compare the results

  • Look for a similar number of trades, a profit factor above 1 and a drawdown your prop firm allows. The exact profit will differ.
  • Results differ because brokers' prices, spreads, commissions and server time zones differ from the app's data. A small difference is normal; a robot that loses badly on your broker's data is a reason to choose another.
  • A randomised robot is a new robot: your backtest is the only test of it.

The app's note: always backtest any downloaded strategy in MetaTrader or in Expert Advisor Studio

Good to know

  • No trades in the test? Check that the dates have price history (press Home on a chart to load more), and that Max spread isn't lower than the tester's spread. Some prop firm servers keep little history; a broker demo account often has more.
  • The news filter and the daily and account protections only work on a demo or live chart, not in the tester.
  • A good backtest doesn't promise future results. Run the robot on a demo or trial challenge next.
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