Python + MetaTrader 5 Broker Setup Guide: Safe Demo-First Integration

Example

Exness publishes an educational Python-and-MT5 tutorial using an MT5 login and an account-specific symbol such as XAUUSDm. That is a useful broker example of the terminal workflow, not proof that every Exness account uses the same server string or suffix. XM's official MT5 page confirms EA support, which is relevant to automation, but Python integration and MQL5 Expert Advisors are different execution methods.

Example

This connection code rejects a non-demo account and always shuts down cleanly:

import os
import MetaTrader5 as mt5
from dotenv import load_dotenv

load_dotenv()
login = int(os.environ["MT5_LOGIN"])

if not mt5.initialize(
    os.environ["MT5_PATH"],
    login=login,
    password=os.environ["MT5_PASSWORD"],
    server=os.environ["MT5_SERVER"],
    timeout=60_000,
):
    raise RuntimeError(f"MT5 initialize failed: {mt5.last_error()}")

try:
    terminal = mt5.terminal_info()
    account = mt5.account_info()
    if terminal is None or account is None:
        raise RuntimeError(f"MT5 state unavailable: {mt5.last_error()}")
    if account.login != login:
        raise RuntimeError("Connected account does not match configuration")
    if os.getenv("MT5_EXPECT_DEMO", "true").lower() == "true" and not account.trade_mode == mt5.ACCOUNT_TRADE_MODE_DEMO:
        raise RuntimeError("Safety stop: account is not demo")
    print({"login": account.login, "server": account.server, "connected": terminal.connected})
finally:
    mt5.shutdown()

Example

from datetime import datetime, timezone
import pandas as pd
import MetaTrader5 as mt5

matches = mt5.symbols_get(group="*EURUSD*") or ()
print([item.name for item in matches])  # choose the exact demo symbol manually

symbol = "EURUSD"  # replace after discovery
if not mt5.symbol_select(symbol, True):
    raise RuntimeError(f"Cannot select {symbol}: {mt5.last_error()}")

info = mt5.symbol_info(symbol)
tick = mt5.symbol_info_tick(symbol)
account = mt5.account_info()
rates = mt5.copy_rates_from(
    symbol, mt5.TIMEFRAME_M15, datetime.now(timezone.utc), 200
)
if info is None or tick is None or account is None or rates is None or len(rates) == 0:
    raise RuntimeError(f"Missing MT5 data: {mt5.last_error()}")

frame = pd.DataFrame(rates)
frame["time"] = pd.to_datetime(frame["time"], unit="s", utc=True)
print(frame[["time", "open", "high", "low", "close", "spread"]].tail())
print({"balance": account.balance, "equity": account.equity, "bid": tick.bid, "ask": tick.ask})

Treat a tick as stale if its timestamp exceeds your documented market-hours threshold. Weekends, holidays, and instrument breaks require different expectations from an active session.

Example

import os
import MetaTrader5 as mt5

def guarded_demo_buy(symbol: str, daily_pnl: float, max_daily_loss: float = 50.0):
    account = mt5.account_info()
    info = mt5.symbol_info(symbol)
    tick = mt5.symbol_info_tick(symbol)
    if account is None or info is None or tick is None:
        raise RuntimeError(f"State unavailable: {mt5.last_error()}")
    if account.trade_mode != mt5.ACCOUNT_TRADE_MODE_DEMO:
        raise RuntimeError("Blocked: demo accounts only")
    if os.getenv("MT5_KILL_SWITCH", "false").lower() == "true":
        raise RuntimeError("Blocked: kill switch active")
    if daily_pnl <= -abs(max_daily_loss):
        raise RuntimeError("Blocked: maximum daily loss reached")
    if mt5.positions_get(symbol=symbol):
        raise RuntimeError("Blocked: existing symbol position")
    if not mt5.symbol_select(symbol, True):
        raise RuntimeError(f"Symbol unavailable: {mt5.last_error()}")

    volume = info.volume_min
    request = {
        "action": mt5.TRADE_ACTION_DEAL,
        "symbol": symbol,
        "volume": volume,
        "type": mt5.ORDER_TYPE_BUY,
        "price": tick.ask,
        "deviation": 10,
        "magic": 26091001,
        "comment": "FTL_DEMO_TEST",
        "type_time": mt5.ORDER_TIME_GTC,
        "type_filling": mt5.ORDER_FILLING_RETURN,  # verify broker support
    }
    checked = mt5.order_check(request)
    if checked is None or checked.retcode != 0:
        raise RuntimeError(f"order_check rejected: {checked}; {mt5.last_error()}")

    if os.getenv("MT5_ALLOW_ORDER_SEND", "false").lower() != "true":
        return {"sent": False, "reason": "dry run", "check": checked._asdict()}

    result = mt5.order_send(request)
    if result is None or result.retcode != mt5.TRADE_RETCODE_DONE:
        raise RuntimeError(f"order_send failed: {result}; {mt5.last_error()}")
    return {"sent": True, "deal": result.deal, "order": result.order}

This function does not calculate a strategy, stop distance, or suitable risk. Its fixed cash ceiling is illustrative only. In a real test harness, derive volume from a validated stop and lot-size/risk tool, normalize it to volume_step, and reject rather than round up.

Example

A safe service loop writes structured JSON logs containing UTC timestamp, strategy version, account ID hash, symbol, decision, request ID, check retcode, send retcode, and latency—never passwords. A watchdog alerts on missed heartbeats but does not automatically relaunch multiple copies. On restart, the service first reconciles positions and daily P/L, then enters dry-run mode until health checks pass.