MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is one of the platforms XM offers alongside MT4 and the XM App. Connecting it is simple once you understand one point that trips up many new users: MT5 does not use your Members Area email and password. It uses a separate trading account number, a trading password and a server name. This ExemSignup guide, independent of XM, explains each step and the fixes for the errors people hit most often.
Members Area login versus trading account login
When you register with XM you end up with two kinds of credentials:
- Members Area credentials, used on XM's website to manage your profile, verification, deposits and withdrawals.
- Trading account credentials, one set per trading account: an account number (often called the login or ID), a trading password, and the name of the server that account lives on.
MT5 only understands the second set. If you type your email address into the MT5 login box, it will fail. The trading account details are usually sent by email after the account is opened and are also visible in the Members Area account list.
Step 1: Download MT5 from a trusted source
Download MetaTrader 5 from XM's official platform page or from the official app store for your device. Avoid copies from file-sharing sites or unofficial mirrors, which can be modified. A broker-branded installer usually comes preconfigured with that broker's servers, which saves a step later.
Step 2: Log in with your trading account number
On desktop, the general process in MT5 is:
- Open MT5 and go to File, then Login to Trade Account.
- Enter your trading account number in the Login field. This is a number, not an email address.
- Enter your trading password. Passwords are case-sensitive; if you copy and paste, make sure no extra space is included.
- Select the server that matches your account, as described below.
- Tick the option to save the password only if the device is yours and secure.
- Click Login and look at the connection indicator in the bottom-right corner.
On mobile MT5, the equivalent is in the settings or accounts menu: add an account, search for the broker's server list, then enter your account number and password.
Step 3: Choose the right server
This is where most connection failures happen. A broker typically runs several MT5 servers, separated into real and demo, and sometimes into more than one real server. Your account exists on exactly one of them. Choosing a different server, even one with a very similar name, produces an authorisation error.
- Find the exact server name in the email you received when the trading account was opened, or in the account details inside the Members Area.
- Copy the name exactly, including any numbers at the end.
- Demo accounts live on demo servers. Real accounts live on real servers. They are never interchangeable.
- If the server is not in the drop-down list, type the broker's name in the server search box so MT5 can look it up, or type the full server name exactly.
Fixing "invalid account" and other login errors
| Error or symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid account | Wrong server, MT4 account in MT5, or wrong account number | Check the server and platform type in the account email; retype the number |
| Invalid password | Using the Members Area password, a typo, or an old password | Use the trading password; reset it from the Members Area if needed |
| No connection | Internet or firewall issue, or server name not found | Check your connection, then rescan or retype the server name |
| Logged in but cannot trade | Logged in with the read-only investor password, or the market is closed | Log in again with the main trading password; check market hours |
| Balance shows zero | Connected to a different account, often a demo | Compare the account number in MT5 with the one you funded |
If the account was archived after a long period without activity, it may no longer log in at all. Contact XM support to ask about reactivation or open a new trading account from the Members Area. For broader login trouble, including the Members Area, see our XM login guide.
After you connect
Once the bottom-right indicator shows a live connection and ping, a few checks are worth doing before your first trade:
- Open the Navigator and confirm the account number and that it is labelled as a real or demo account as you expect.
- Open the Toolbox and check the Trade tab shows the balance you deposited.
- Right-click Market Watch and choose to show all symbols if the instrument you want is hidden.
- Check contract specifications for the symbol: minimum lot, margin and swap values. Our trading costs guide explains how to read them.
Using several accounts in one MT5 terminal
MT5 can store several accounts and switch between them from the Navigator, but only one is active at a time in a single terminal window. If you hold a demo and a live account, or two live accounts with different account types, label them clearly and always check the account number in the title bar before placing an order. Placing a live trade while believing you are on demo is an easy and expensive mistake.
Security basics
Your trading password controls real money. Do not share it with signal sellers, account managers who contact you unexpectedly or anyone offering to "trade for you". If you want someone to view the account, MT5 supports a read-only investor password, but even that should be shared with care. ExemSignup will never ask for any XM password.
Not sure MT5 is the right choice? Compare it with MT4 and the XM App in our XM trading platform guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do I use to log in to XM on MT5?
Use your trading account number, your trading password and the exact server name for that account. Your Members Area email and password will not work in MT5.
Where do I find my XM MT5 server name?
It is shown in the email sent when the trading account was opened and in the account details inside the XM Members Area. Copy it exactly.
Why does MT5 say invalid account?
The most common causes are choosing the wrong server, trying to log in with an MT4 account, or mistyping the account number. Check the platform type and server in your account email.
Can I use my XM MT4 account in MT5?
No. The platform is fixed when the trading account is created. Open a separate MT5 trading account from the Members Area if you want to use MT5.
I logged in but cannot place trades. Why?
You may have logged in with the read-only investor password, or the market for that instrument may be closed. Log in again with the main trading password and check trading hours.
How we checked this guide: XM changes its products, entities and forms over time, and conditions differ by country. We describe the process in general terms and say so when a detail could not be confirmed. Always treat the information on XM's own registration pages and client agreement as final. Read our fact-checking policy.