Opening MQ4 Files

The MQ4 file type is primarily associated with MetaTrader 4.

MQ4	File extension: MQ4
	File type:	source code file

What is an MQ4 file

MQ4 files mostly belong to MetaTrader 4. MQ4 files are source code files written in MetaQuotes Language 4, used in the MetaTrader trading platform. They store the instructions that power automated trading systems, custom indicators, and scripts.
These files are plain text documents that can be opened with a text editor or, preferably, with the MetaEditor tool that comes with MetaTrader 4. They are sometimes encoded in UTF-16 (LE), so correct encoding settings may be needed to view all characters properly.
Users often modify MQ4 files to adjust trade execution rules or technical indicators, and then compile them into executable files (EX4) for use in the trading terminal.

Trading automation: Implement Expert Advisors for automated trading

Custom indicators: Develop personal technical analysis tools

Scripts: Execute one-time trading tasks

FilExt.com tip: Find more details at the MetaTrader 4 website.

How do you open MQ4 files?

You need a suitable software like MetaTrader 4 to open an MQ4 file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your MQ4 file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a MQ4 file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online MQ4 Text Viewer

Choose your .mq4 file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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MQ4 file format:

To view or edit MQ4 files you need to know the file format, because it determines how the data in this file is stored. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). File extension, signature and file format must match; otherwise errors will occur when the file is opened. When there is a problem with a file, the first step to solving it is to determine the file format. Below is our analysis of the MQ4 files:

MQ4 is not that commonly used as a file extension. This file type is used by different programs with different formats. But the following two file formats are common:

• 50% of all MQ4 files are MetaQuote / MetaTrader indicator files. These files are text files and can therefore be read using a text editor. The files are on average 6 KB in size and range from 2 KB to 26 KB. It is a modern file type. The following keywords are characteristic: //+------------------------------------------------------------------+ and Copyright. Such MQ4 files store data about cross.
• 25% of all MQ4 files save the data in UTF-16 (LE) file format. UTF-16 (LE) is an character encoding system for Unicode. UTF-16 files can be viewed in any modern text editor. These files start with the two bytes FF FE, the so called byte order mark (BOM). They consist of illegible, cryptic characters. Most of these files are 7 KB to 46 KB in size. The keywords //+------------------------------------------------------------------+ and copyright are typical for these files. Such files are related to alerts.

All the rest of the MQ4 files (25%) have different formats, frequently e.g. property. These files sometimes refer to trend, indicator or pivot. If you want to find out what your MQ4 file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.