How to Switch Between Accounts on MT4

MetaTrader 4 is designed to handle more than one trading account from a single installation. Whether you are switching between a demo and a live account, running parallel strategies across different account types, or testing changes on a separate balance before applying them, knowing how to switch accounts quickly is a basic platform skill.

This guide covers the two main ways to switch between trading accounts on MT4, how to verify which account is currently active, and a few practical points to keep in mind when managing multiple TIOmarkets accounts from one terminal. It assumes you have already added the accounts you want to switch between; if you are adding a new account for the first time, the process starts from the same Login dialog but follows a slightly different flow.

Why Traders Switch Between Accounts on MT4

There are several common reasons to keep more than one trading account active in the same MT4 terminal. Many traders run a demo account alongside their live account to test new ideas, refine Expert Advisor settings, or rehearse a strategy before risking real funds. Others use multiple live accounts to keep different strategies separate, for example a Standard account for longer-term positions and a Raw account for shorter, more cost-sensitive trades.

TIOmarkets offers four account types: Standard, Raw, VIP Black, and Nano. The Standard account is created automatically when you register, and the Raw and VIP Black accounts can be opened separately through the client area. The Nano account is MT5 only, so it does not apply to MT4 switching. Within MT4, you can move between any of your eligible accounts (Standard, Raw, VIP Black) and between live and demo versions of each, all from the same installation.

Method 1: The Login to Trade Account Dialog

The most direct way to switch accounts is through the Login dialog. Open the File menu at the top-left of the MT4 window and select "Login to Trade Account." A small dialog box opens with three fields: Login, Password, and Server.

In the Login field, enter the account number for the account you want to switch to. This is the numeric login that TIOmarkets sends by email when the account is opened, and it is also visible in your client area. In the Password field, enter the trader password for that account (not the investor password, unless you only want read-only access). The Server field is a dropdown showing the TIOmarkets servers you have connected to before. For live accounts the server is TIOMarkets-Live1, and for demo accounts it is TIOMarkets-Demo1.

If you tick the "Save account information" checkbox before clicking Login, MT4 stores the credentials so that the account appears in the Navigator window for future quick-switching. When you click Login, the terminal disconnects from the current account and connects to the new one. Existing chart windows, indicators, and templates stay in place; only the account-specific data changes.

Method 2: The Navigator Window

Once you have logged in to more than one account from the same MT4 installation, the Navigator window offers a quicker route for switching between them than going through the File menu each time. Open it with Ctrl+N or through View > Navigator, then expand the "Accounts" branch. All saved accounts appear here, grouped under their server name.

To switch, right-click the account you want to use and select "Login" from the context menu. MT4 disconnects from the active account and logs in to the selected one without needing you to retype credentials. This is significantly faster than going through the File menu each time, especially if you switch back and forth several times in a session.

You can also double-click an account in the Navigator to trigger the same login flow. If the password was saved when the account was first added, the switch is immediate. If not, MT4 prompts you for the password each time.

Verifying Which Account Is Active

After switching, it is good practice to confirm which account you are currently logged in to before placing any trade. MT4 displays this information in two places.

The first is the status bar at the bottom-right of the main window. It shows the account login number, the server name, and a connection indicator. Green bars indicate a healthy connection to the trading server; a red X means the terminal is disconnected and trades cannot be placed or modified. If the status bar shows the wrong account, you have not yet switched, or the switch failed (in which case re-check your credentials and try again).

The second place is the Terminal window, opened with Ctrl+T. Under the Trade tab you will see the open positions, pending orders, and account summary (Balance, Equity, Margin, Free Margin, Margin Level) for the account that is currently logged in. This is the most reliable confirmation that you are looking at the correct account before acting on it.

Switching Between Demo and Live Accounts

The mechanics of switching between a demo and a live account are identical to switching between two live accounts. The key difference is the server: TIOMarkets-Demo1 for demo accounts, TIOMarkets-Live1 for live accounts. A common mistake is entering live credentials with the demo server selected (or vice versa); the platform will return an "invalid account" error because the credentials do not exist on the wrong server.

When you are testing an Expert Advisor or a new strategy, it is sensible to switch to demo first, run the changes, and only switch back to live once you are satisfied with the behaviour. Demo accounts often execute instantly and may not fully replicate live slippage conditions, so results on demo are a guide rather than a guarantee, but the workflow of switching between the two is straightforward.

Practical Considerations

A few details are worth remembering when working with multiple accounts in MT4.

Chart layouts, templates, custom indicators, and Expert Advisors are tied to the MT4 installation on your computer, not to any single account. When you switch accounts, the visual setup stays the same. What changes is the trade history, open positions, pending orders, and balance, since these are stored per account on the server side.

A single MT4 terminal can only be logged in to one account at any one time. If you want to monitor or trade two accounts simultaneously, install a second copy of MT4 in a separate folder on your computer and log each installation into a different account. Each instance runs independently and can hold its own charts, indicators, and EAs.

Saved passwords make switching quick, but they also mean anyone with access to your computer can log in to your accounts. On a shared machine, leave "Save account information" unticked and re-enter the password each time, or use a separate user profile on the operating system.

Finally, switching accounts does not move or close open positions. Positions stay in the account they were opened in. If you switch away, the positions are still active and still subject to stop loss, take profit, and stop-out levels. When you switch back, they reappear in the Trade tab.

Trading at TIOmarkets

TIOmarkets offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on desktop, web, and mobile, across four account types. The Standard account is created automatically on registration with a minimum deposit of $20 or currency equivalent. The Raw and VIP Black accounts are opened separately through the client area. The Nano account is MT5 only with a $20 minimum deposit, USD only. Hedging is supported on all accounts. A swap-free Islamic account is available; contact TIOmarkets for eligibility and instrument requirements. Copy trading is available on both MT4 and MT5.

Orders are executed at the best available market price, which may result in positive or negative slippage. Demo accounts often execute instantly and may not fully replicate live slippage conditions. Spreads are variable and are typically higher than minimum figures shown. Leverage on each instrument is subject to change depending on market conditions and applicable regulatory requirements. You can review the full list of account types on the TIOmarkets accounts page.