Getting Started
New? Start Here
A plain-English walkthrough of the current RegimeTrader setup flow.
This guide is written for someone using the app for the first time. The goal is simple: get the Windows bot package running, connect it to MT5, and confirm the dashboard is in sync.
Step 1 — Create Your Dashboard Account
Open the RegimeTrader dashboard and create your account. Once you are signed in, the main pages you will use are Billing, Download Bot, Setup, Bot, Accounts, and Settings.
Step 2 — Activate a Plan and Copy Your License Key
Go to Billing and activate your trial or paid plan. When your subscription is active, your license key appears on both the Billing page and the Download page.
Keep that key handy. The Windows bot runner may ask for it on first launch.
Step 3 — Install MetaTrader 5
Install MT5 from your broker, open it, and log in to the trading account you want the bot to use. RegimeTrader does not replace MT5. It works through it.
Tip: If you are testing for the first time, use a demo account first. The setup steps are the same as live.
Step 4 — Download and Start the Bot Package
Go to Download Bot, download the Windows package, unzip it, and runstart-bot.bat.
Note: Some releases may still be packaged as a single Windows executable. If your build ships that way, run it and follow the same license and dashboard setup steps below.
Step 5 — Enter the License Key If Prompted
On first run, the bot may show a console prompt asking for your license key. Paste the key from the dashboard and press Enter. The bot validates it and saves it locally so you do not have to keep entering it every time.
Step 6 — Save Your MT5 Login from the Dashboard
Open the dashboard Setup page or go to Accounts and use the Local MT5 Login card. Enter:
When you click save, the app tests the connection and stores those credentials locally on the machine running the bot. Users do not need to edit files for this.
Step 7 — Confirm the App Is Live
Once the bot runner and credentials are in place, check these pages:
Bot
Start or stop the bot, choose auto or forced strategy mode, and set trading pairs.
Accounts
Confirm your Local MT5 Login is saved and sync MT5 account data.
Dashboard
View account balance, equity snapshots, and open positions.
Settings
Adjust risk limits, trade timeout, drawdown cap, and Telegram notifications.
Common First-Time Questions
Do I need to edit settings.json or .env to connect MT5?
No. The supported user flow is the Setup Wizard or Accounts page. settings.json and environment variables are for advanced/self-hosted configuration, not routine MT5 login entry.
Why do I get a credentials error in Setup?
Most of the time the local bot API is not running yet. Start the Windows package first, then refresh the dashboard and try again.
Why is the bot not placing trades immediately?
It only trades when the session, risk checks, market regime, strategy, and filters all line up. Seeing it wait is normal behavior.
Can I stop the bot without closing the Windows windows?
Yes. Use the Bot page in the dashboard. That lets you stop trading while keeping the local services available.