MT4 Support for Brokers in 2026

FXSUPPORT

MetaTrader 4 server support

MetaTrader 4 licences are no longer sold and several brokers have set MT4 shutdown dates. FXSUPPORT keeps existing MT4 servers stable, secure and monitored while you plan the move to MT5.

MT4 support for brokers in 2026: keep legacy MetaTrader 4 servers stable, track build cut-offs and broker MT4 retirements, and plan the move to MT5.

By the FXSUPPORT Editorial Team · Updated 8 October 2026

Short answer: MT4 support for brokers in 2026 means keeping an existing MetaTrader 4 server stable, patched and monitored, because MetaQuotes no longer sells MT4 licences. It covers builds, backups, plugins, bridges, feeds, sessions and incidents, plus a dated plan for migrating clients to MT5 before MT4 becomes a liability.

What does MT4 support for brokers cover in 2026?

MT4 support for brokers is the server-side work that keeps a MetaTrader 4 brokerage running: trade server, access points, manager terminals, gateways, data feeds, plugins and the infrastructure under them. It is not the same as helping a trader install the terminal.

MetaQuotes describes the MT4 back office as a complete set of components:

Trade servers, access points, manager terminals, various gateways and data feeds — all the elements are already provided in MetaTrader 4 back office, so that you can use them in your business.— MetaQuotes, MetaTrader 4 for brokers (accessed October 2026)

Each of those components needs an owner. For a broker running MT4 in 2026, support usually breaks down into the areas below.

MT4 server support areas and why they matter in 2026
Support area	What it covers	Why it matters now
Builds and updates	Server and terminal build tracking, staged updates, rollback plans	MetaQuotes sets minimum client builds. Terminals older than the minimum can no longer connect to broker servers.
Monitoring	Trade server, access points, feeds, bridge sessions, disk, CPU, network	An ageing platform with fewer people who know it well needs earlier warnings.
Backups and recovery	Scheduled backups, offsite copies, tested restores	A backup that has never been restored is not a recovery plan.
Configuration	Groups, symbols, sessions, swaps, margin, holidays, DST	Mistakes here go straight to client P&L and complaints.
Plugins and APIs	Server plugins, Manager API tools, reports, web integrations	Custom plugins are often the hardest part of an MT4 setup to keep or to move.
Bridge and liquidity	Bridge configuration, LP sessions, symbol mapping, FIX connectivity	Most execution incidents show up at the bridge first.
Security	Access control, hardening, DDoS protection, admin account hygiene	Brokers retiring MT4 cite security requirements as the main reason.
Migration planning	Inventory, MT5 design, client and EA communication, cut-over	New MT4 licences are not available, so growth will eventually happen on MT5.

MetaTrader 4 exposes several interfaces for this work. MetaQuotes lists the Server API (server plugins), Manager API, DataFeed API, Report API and WebServices API on its MT4 API page. A support team has to be able to read, maintain and, where needed, replace whatever your brokerage built on them. For a wider view of both platforms, see our MetaTrader support overview and the MT5 support page.

Where does MT4 stand in 2026?

In 2026, MetaQuotes no longer sells MT4 licences and says new conceptual development goes into MetaTrader 5 only. Existing MT4 brokers still receive client builds, but the minimum supported build keeps rising.

The MetaTrader 4 trading platform licenses are no longer available for purchase. We focus our efforts on the development of MetaTrader 5, and further conceptual updates will only be released for this multi-asset platform.— MetaQuotes, MetaTrader 4 for brokers (accessed October 2026)

This has three practical consequences for a broker:

You cannot start a new MT4 brokerage with your own licence. An existing MT4 server is the only route, and everything new has to happen on that existing installation.
Build cut-offs are enforced. MetaQuotes announced that from 1 July 2025 the minimum supported MT4 build is 1440, released on 21 February 2025, and that "older versions of desktop terminals will no longer be able to connect to broker servers". An earlier cut-off made build 1420 the minimum from 1 December 2024, as Finance Magnates reported.
MT4 builds are still being released. The official MT4 release notes list build 1460 (5 March 2026), build 1470 (12 March 2026) and build 1490 (2 October 2026). MetaQuotes describes build 1490 as including "several important security enhancements, bug fixes, and changes designed to improve the platform's overall stability".

Recent MetaTrader 4 build milestones (from MetaQuotes release notes and announcements)
Date	Event	What a broker should do
23 May 2024	MT4 build 1420 released	Became the minimum terminal build from 1 December 2024
21 February 2025	MT4 build 1440 released	Minimum terminal build from 1 July 2025; clients on older builds cannot connect
5 March 2026	MT4 build 1460 released	Described as security improvements, bug fixes and stability
12 March 2026	MT4 build 1470 released	Translations, bug fixes, stability
2 October 2026	MT4 build 1490 released	Security enhancements and FIFO-mode SL/TP handling changes; review before rolling out to FIFO accounts

Note the tension in what brokers read. Some brokers retiring MT4 state that MetaQuotes no longer maintains it, while MetaQuotes keeps publishing MT4 builds with security wording. Both are on public record. What matters for your server is simple: track every build, test it before your clients receive it, and treat MT4 as a platform with a limited future rather than a growing one.

Which brokers are retiring MT4, and on what dates?

Several regulated brokers have published dated MT4 shutdown schedules, usually in three steps: stop new accounts, stop new orders, then switch the server off. The examples below come from the brokers' own notices.

Verified MT4 retirement announcements (broker notices, accessed October 2026)
Broker	Notice date	Schedule	Reason given by the broker
OANDA Japan (OANDA証券)	27 March 2026	New MT4 Tokyo sub-accounts stopped 27 March 2026; new MT4 orders stopped after close on 25 September 2026; MT4 service ends after close on 27 November 2026	Stricter cybersecurity standards; says MT4 is outside MetaQuotes' system maintenance
OANDA Japan (earlier step)	26 September 2024	Tokyo server MT4 discretionary plan ended 13 December 2024; positions moved to the MT5 plan	Recommends MT5 (64-bit, more timeframes, better backtesting)
KCM Trade	31 July 2026	MT4 discontinued after market close on Friday 30 October 2026	Cybersecurity standards; says MT4 is no longer in MetaQuotes' maintenance and security support plan
EARN	21 August 2025	MT4 Standard migrated 20–21 September 2025; MT4 NDD migrated 27–28 September 2025 (UTC+2)	MT4 "no longer supported by its developer"

OANDA Japan's notice shows the pattern clearly. It stopped new sub-accounts eight months before the end date, stopped new orders two months before, and told clients without open positions to move balances to other account types early. EARN took a different approach: it migrated accounts automatically over two weekends, with servers offline during each window, and warned clients directly:

If you use automated strategies, please note that MT4 EAs are not compatible with MT5. You will need to adapt or reconfigure them.— EARN, Migration of MT4 accounts to MT5 (accessed October 2026)

The lesson for your brokerage: regulated brokers use a phased, dated plan, communicated early. Clients, introducing brokers and EA users need months, not days. Our MT4 to MT5 migration page covers the cut-over itself.

How do you keep a legacy MT4 server stable until you migrate?

You keep a legacy MT4 server stable by freezing what you can, testing every change, and watching the components that fail most often: feeds, bridge sessions, plugins, storage and scheduled jobs. This is the checklist we work through with brokers who are staying on MT4 for now.

Inventory everything. Server build, terminal builds in use, every server plugin and its version, Manager API tools, report jobs, bridge, LP sessions, data feeds, hosting and who has admin access.
Enforce the build floor. Check which client builds still connect and tell clients on old builds before a cut-off locks them out. Since 1 July 2025, terminals below build 1440 cannot connect.
Stage every update. Test new builds and plugin changes in a demo or staging environment first, take a backup right before, schedule the change for a low-activity window, and monitor closely afterwards.
Prove your backups. Run scheduled backups with offsite copies, and restore one regularly to a separate machine. Write down how long the restore took.
Monitor the whole chain. Trade server, access points, data feed, bridge, disk space and network, with alerts that reach a person 24/7, not just a dashboard.
Check sessions, holidays and DST. Review trading sessions, holiday schedules and daylight-saving changes before they happen, not after clients complain about closed markets or wrong swaps.
Harden access. Remove old manager and administrator accounts, restrict IPs, review permissions and put DDoS protection in front of public access points. Brokers that shut MT4 down cite security as the reason, so security is where an ageing server is judged.
Write the runbook. Document restarts, failover, feed and bridge reconnection and who to call.

Server hosting and hardening are covered on our MetaTrader server hosting page.

What should you check first when an MT4 incident starts?

Start with the layer the symptom points to, and confirm whether one client, one group or everyone is affected. The table maps common MT4 symptoms to the first checks a support engineer makes.

MT4 incident triage: symptom, likely layer, first checks
Symptom	Likely layer	First checks
Some clients cannot connect	Terminal build or access point	Client build against the current minimum; access point status; IP blocks
No one can connect	Trade server, network or hosting	Server process, network path, DDoS activity, disk space
Quotes frozen on some symbols	Data feed or bridge	Feed session, LP connection, symbol mapping, session times
Orders rejected or "market closed"	Symbol or group configuration	Trading sessions, holidays, DST shift, group permissions
Slow or delayed execution	Bridge, plugin or server load	Bridge logs, recently changed plugins, CPU and I/O
Wrong swaps or margin	Configuration	Swap settings, rollover schedule, margin settings per group
Reports or EOD files missing	Scheduled jobs or Report API tools	Job logs, storage, credentials, time zone settings
Manager or CRM tools disconnecting	Manager API integration	API credentials, connection limits, recent build changes

For error messages your clients see, our MetaTrader common errors guide explains the usual causes. Server-side failure patterns are covered in forex server troubleshooting.

Running MT4 with fewer people who know it?

Send us your server build, plugin list and bridge setup. We will review the setup and tell you what to fix first, with no obligation.

Request a free technical review WhatsApp Telegram

Should you stay on MT4, run both, or migrate to MT5?

Most brokers with a working MT4 server should keep it stable for now, open new business on MT5, and set a dated exit for MT4. The right option depends on your client base, plugins and licence position.

MT4 options for brokers in 2026
Option	When it fits	Main risks
Stay on MT4 (short term)	Stable server, loyal EA users, migration budget not yet approved	No new MT4 licences; build cut-offs; security due-diligence questions; dependence on a few people
Run MT4 and MT5 side by side	New clients go to MT5 while existing MT4 clients move gradually	Two platforms to monitor, two sets of plugins, bridge and CRM connections to both
Full migration to MT5	Clear date, plugins replaced or rebuilt, clients warned months ahead	EA incompatibility, client churn if communication is late, cut-over weekend risk

The technical case for MT5 comes from the server side as much as from the terminal. MetaQuotes' own comparison for brokers lists these limits:

MT5 vs MT4 server limits (MetaQuotes comparison for brokers)
Feature	MetaTrader 5	MetaTrader 4
Server architecture	Distributed	Single
Account groups	Unlimited	512
Security groups	Unlimited	32
Symbols	Unlimited	1,024
Orders database size	Unlimited	Up to 10M orders
Position accounting	Netting and hedging	Hedging
Manager API	C++, ASP.Net, PHP	C++
Automated SQL export	Native (MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle)	Limited (MySQL)
Timeframes / pending order types	21 / 6	9 / 4

On licensing, MetaQuotes lists three MT5 tiers: Entry (1,000 real accounts), Standard (25,000 default real accounts) and Enterprise (200,000 default real accounts). MetaQuotes does not publish licence prices on that page, so ask for a quote. If you are comparing your own licence with a white label, see MetaTrader white label. Our MT4 vs MT5 comparison goes further into client-facing differences.

A migration plan we would expect to see on paper:

Audit MT4. Groups, symbols, plugins, reports, bridge, CRM and who uses EAs.
Design MT5. Group structure, netting or hedging per group, symbol set, plugins to replace or rebuild.
Connect liquidity and CRM. Bridge, LP sessions, Manager/Web API integrations and payment flows on the MT5 side.
Set dates and tell clients. Stop new MT4 accounts, then stop new orders, then switch MT4 off, as OANDA Japan did.
Test and rehearse. Move test accounts and balances, check history and reports, run the cut-over on a copy first.
Cut over and support. Migrate over a weekend window, keep MT4 read-only if needed, and staff support for the first trading days.

What does FXSUPPORT do on MT4?

FXSUPPORT provides outsourced MT4 server support for forex brokers and prop firms: day-to-day administration, monitoring, backups, plugins, bridges and migration planning, with 24/7 monitoring and a 99.9% uptime target.

Server setup and administration

Groups, symbols, sessions, swaps, access points and demo environments. Single-server, multi-server and failover setups across data centres.

Monitoring and alerting

24/7 monitoring of server components, feeds and bridge sessions, with alerts for connection problems, performance drops and service disruptions.

Builds and updates

Builds tested in staging first, backups taken before every change, updates scheduled in low-activity windows and checked afterwards.

Backup and recovery

Automated backups, point-in-time recovery, offsite replication and tested disaster-recovery procedures for MT4 data.

Bridges and liquidity

Bridge and gateway configuration. Technologies we work with include PrimeXM XCore, oneZero Hub, Match-Trade, FXCubic and FIX API connections.

Plugins and integrations

Server and manager plugin development and maintenance, Manager/Web API integrations, CRM connections and Expert Advisors.

Risk operations

End-of-day and evening reports, toxic-flow lists, and session, holiday and DST schedule checks.

Infrastructure and security

Hosting on servers in the UK and the Netherlands, VPS, DDoS protection and security hardening.

MT4 to MT5 migration

Audit, MT5 design, plugin replacement, client communication plan and cut-over support.

Related services: PrimeXM XCore integration, oneZero Hub integration, MetaTrader plugin development, forex risk management and MetaTrader administration. FXSUPPORT is an independent provider and is not affiliated with MetaQuotes Ltd. or with any vendor named on this page.

How does MT4 support start, and what affects the cost?

MT4 support starts with a technical review of your current server, then an agreed scope and handover. Cost depends on how much of the platform we run and how complex it is. We do not publish fixed prices.

Free technical review. You share your builds, plugin list, bridge, hosting and current issues. We point out the risks we see.
Scope. We agree what we run (monitoring, administration, risk reports, plugins, migration) and how incidents are escalated.
Access and baseline. Agreed access, documentation of the current state, a first backup and restore test, and monitoring set up.
Ongoing operations. Daily administration, scheduled checks, staged updates and regular reports to your team.

The main cost factors are:

Number of MT4 servers and environments (live, demo, staging), and whether MT5 runs alongside.
Number of custom plugins and integrations that need maintaining.
Bridge and liquidity setup, including how many LP sessions are connected.
Monitoring coverage required and the incident response you expect.
Whether hosting, DDoS protection and risk reporting are included.
Whether an MT5 migration is in scope, and its timeline.

Tell us about your setup through the contact form, by email at [email protected], on WhatsApp or on Telegram, and we will send a quote based on the review.

Frequently asked questions

Can a broker still buy an MT4 licence in 2026?

No. MetaQuotes states on its MetaTrader 4 for brokers page that "the MetaTrader 4 trading platform licenses are no longer available for purchase". New brokerages start on MetaTrader 5. Existing MT4 brokers can keep running their current servers.

Is MT4 still supported by MetaQuotes?

MetaQuotes still publishes MT4 builds: build 1490 was released on 2 October 2026 with security enhancements and bug fixes. It also says further conceptual updates will only be released for MetaTrader 5. Some brokers, such as OANDA Japan and KCM Trade, state that MT4 is no longer covered by MetaQuotes maintenance. Check the current release notes before planning.

Which MT4 build do clients need to connect?

MetaQuotes announced that from 1 July 2025 the minimum supported MetaTrader 4 build is 1440, released on 21 February 2025. Older desktop terminals can no longer connect to broker servers. Minimums change over time, so check MetaQuotes announcements regularly.

Which brokers have announced an MT4 shutdown?

Examples with published dates include OANDA Japan (MT4 ends after close on 27 November 2026), KCM Trade (after market close on 30 October 2026) and EARN (MT4 accounts migrated to MT5 in September 2025). Each cited security or the end of vendor support.

How long can we keep running MT4?

There is no single date that applies to every broker. MT4 keeps working as long as your server, builds, plugins and third-party systems stay compatible. The practical limits are build cut-offs, security reviews and the fact that you cannot grow with new MT4 licences. We recommend setting your own dated exit plan.

What does outsourced MT4 server support include?

At FXSUPPORT it covers server administration, 24/7 monitoring, staged build updates, backups and recovery, plugin and API maintenance, bridge and feed configuration, risk reports, session and DST checks, security hardening and migration planning.

Can you support MT4 and MT5 at the same time?

Yes. Many brokers run both during a transition, with new clients on MT5 and existing clients on MT4. We monitor and administer both, including the bridge and CRM connections to each platform.

Will our MT4 Expert Advisors and plugins work on MT5?

Not directly. EARN told its clients that "MT4 EAs are not compatible with MT5". Server plugins also need to be rebuilt or replaced for MT5. We inventory them early so this does not delay the cut-over.

Why are brokers retiring MT4 for security reasons?

OANDA Japan and KCM Trade both cited stricter cybersecurity standards and said it was difficult to keep MT4 meeting the latest security requirements. If you keep MT4, hardening, access control and DDoS protection are where the server will be judged.

What uptime do you work to on MT4?

We work to a 99.9% uptime target with 24/7 monitoring. Actual availability also depends on hosting, liquidity providers and third-party systems, which we agree on in the scope.

How much does MT4 support cost?

We do not publish fixed prices. Cost depends on the number of servers, plugins, LP connections, monitoring coverage and whether hosting or migration is included. A free technical review comes first, then a written quote.

Are you affiliated with MetaQuotes?

No. FXSUPPORT is an independent technical provider and is not affiliated with MetaQuotes Ltd. or with the bridge and liquidity vendors whose technologies we work with.

I am a trader with an MT4 problem. Can you help?

Your broker controls your MT4 account and server, so contact their support first. If you run a brokerage and your clients report MT4 problems, we can review the server side for you.

Sources

MetaTrader 4 for brokers — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
MetaTrader 4 API — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
Support for older versions of MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 to end on July 1 — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
Release Notes: MetaTrader 4 — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
MetaTrader 4 Platform Build 1490 — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
MetaQuotes to End Support for Older MetaTrader Versions in December — Finance Magnates (accessed 8 October 2026)
Comparison of MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4 — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
Buy the MetaTrader 5 Platform — MetaQuotes (accessed 8 October 2026)
MT4サブアカウント作成停止ならびにMT4提供終了に関するご案内 — OANDA証券 (accessed 8 October 2026)
東京サーバーMT4裁量プラン提供終了のお知らせ — OANDA証券 (accessed 8 October 2026)
MT4 Service Ending Soon — Please Migrate to MT5 — KCM Trade (accessed 8 October 2026)
Important Notice: Migration of MetaTrader 4 (MT4) Accounts to MetaTrader 5 (MT5) — EARN (accessed 8 October 2026)
OANDA Japan to stop offering MT4 — FX News Group (accessed 8 October 2026)

FXSUPPORT is not affiliated with MetaQuotes Ltd. or the vendors named on this page. General information, not legal or investment advice.

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