HOWTO: (Easily) install the latest Metatrader 4 (MT4) on Linux Mint 19

[jack]

Previous versions of Linux Mint HOWTOs:
HOWTO: (Easily) install the latest Metatrader 4 (MT4) on Linux Mint 18.2

----------------------

Written for Linux Mint 19.3

MetaTrader 4 is a Windows based application, however, it can be installed on Linux Mint 19 and other Linux distributions with the use of software called Wine.

Wine aims to reproduce the Windows libraries required to run Windows apps on non-windows platforms.

Getting MT4 to run on Linux with Wine is relatively easy, however, the instructions below are for Linux Mint 19.. your mileage may very on other Linux distros, but do check the Execution Platforms forum for more HOWTOs with other distros.

Unlike previous versions of Linux Mint, Linux Mint 19's default version of Wine can run MetaTrader 4. In the past we had to add our own source for Wine, but that's no longer needed.

Let's start by installing wine.

Launch a terminal instance by pressing your home key (or clicking the "LM" menu button on your task bar,) and typing in Terminal. (Or, use the Ctrl+Alt+T desktop shortcut.)

In the terminal, type the following command:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install winehq-stable

(There will be a lot of dependencies listed, just type 'Y' for yes, or press enter.)

Once wine is installed, it's time to download and install MT4: Grab your desired broker's MT4 installer package. (The broker I'll be using in this tutorial is Pepperstone Financial, but this process should work with any MT4 broker.) If you don't already have a live account, you can create a demo and download MT4 here. (Note: You will need to go this route through a broker, as MetaQuotes / MetaTrader will try and install MT5 instead if you download it directly from them.)

Linux Mint 19's Cinnamon does not seem to automatically associate '.exe' files with Wine once Wine is installed, so we will have to use the terminal to launch the MT4 installer. Open another terminal window if you don't still have the one we used to install Wine open, and type the following:

cd Downloads/
wine pepperstone4setup.exe

Note: If you're not using Pepperstone, you will need to change the name to the name of your MT4 installer file.

The first time Wine runs, it takes a moment to setup the Wine environment. Wine's setup progress is likely going to ask you to download and install additional components during this process:

This might happen two or three times, just click install each time it asks.

After that completes, you should be greeted with the MT4 install wizard (or, if after waiting a minute the wizard does not launch, then double click the MT4 setup file again.)

After going through the MT4 install wizard, the installer will launch MT4 upon completion and it sets an icon on your desktop. Wine knows to put the icon on your desktop and you can now launch MT4 from there moving forward.

NOTE: There might be some trouble creating a new demo account from within MT4 on Wine. If you run into this problem, just create a demo account through Pepperstone's website with this link and use the login credentials to login within MT4 once it has launched.

Your desktop will now have MT4 icons on it for quick access to the application and Linux Mint 19 should associate them with Wine and launch things without an issue by just double clicking as you would expect.

And that's it! Enjoy MetaTrader 4!

 

[rod178]

I've found running MT4 under Cinnamon Mint 19.3 to be a better experience than under Windows 7. As for Windows 10, I would rather eat broken glass. The only small issue was that the M$ True Type fonts (I use WingDings in my charts) were missing, which I later installed after recovering from an old Windows 7 install. Windows is now a distant memory and a bad one at that.

PS A positive on installing MT4 under Wine is that, due to not using Windows kludge user account control, is is very easy to copy and back up the entire MT4 directory, eg scripts history etc, which is found in -
/home/yourusername/.wine/dosdevices/c:/Program Files (x86)/MetaTrader - brokername

 

[jack]

I've found running MT4 under Cinnamon Mint 19.3 to be a better experience than under Windows 7. As for Windows 10, I would rather eat broken glass. The only small issue was that the M$ True Type fonts (I use WingDings in my charts) were missing, which I later installed after recovering from an old Windows 7 install. Windows is now a distant memory and a bad one at that.

PS A positive on installing MT4 under Wine is that, due to not using Windows kludge user account control, is is very easy to copy and back up the entire MT4 directory, eg scripts history etc, which is found in -
/home/yourusername/.wine/dosdevices/c:/Program Files (x86)/MetaTrader - brokername

Great idea.. I'll add how to include windings since quite a few indicators use it.

 

[rod178]

In LM there is a package available, for M$ True Type Fonts, Ttf-mscorefonts-installer.
It contains a limited number of TT fonts, including Arial, Impact and Webdings etc etc, although when I last looked about six months ago, not Wingdings.



The Windings fonts are contained within the Windows/FONTS folder, for me within an old Windows 7 install. Copy the FONTS folder to a LM folder, open and double click on the desired font, eg Wingdings. The LM font installer will then provide a prompt and then properly install the selected font.

 

[rod178]

Jack

Have you had a look at PlayOnLinux as an alternative to Wine?

I have a concern that Wine has the potential to introduce Windows exe virus vulnerabilities into Linux.
PoL seems to encapsulate MT4 ie it will not facilitate rouge exe without explicit "sudo" permissions

 

[Jencks40]

Thank you so much for your valuable information, it really helpful for me.
I support your thinking and suggestion.

 

[rod178]

I have noted that installing MT4 on Mint 20.2 (Wine 6.x) has some issues, although possible with some workarounds. Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[rod178]

To cut a long story short I'm still running Mint 19.3 and have decided to give 20.2 a miss. It seems to have issues. I am now testing MX Linux, which has not exhibited any issues running MT4 under Wine.

The more that I use it the more I prefer MX Linux to Mint. I will probably completely transition in the near future, certainly before support ends for Mint 19.3 in less than 18 months.

EOL Linux Mint | End of Life (EOL) | Clément Lefèbvre | Lifecycle

Clément Lefèbvre Linux Mint product lifecycle information. Get end of life (EOL) and release dates for all releases of operating system Linux Mint

endoflife.software

I have decided that I would rather run a Debian based Distro eg MX Linux, rather than a Distro based up Ubuntu. Mint 20 editions are based on Ubuntu 20.04

The MX Package Manager is a joy to use, as is Scanner and Printer setups. The Cinnamon Desktop can be easily setup to run MX although I'm beginning to prefer the standard Xfce. Yet to try KDE or Flushbox desktops

Additionally MX is somewhat faster and uses less resources. It just seems better, especially as it does not depend upon Ubuntu. Linux Mint Debian Edition, is maintained as a guarantee that Mint will continue if something were to happen to Ubuntu, there is a message here!!

 

[jack]

Nice.. glad MX is working for you.

Interesting about the Linux Mint Debian edition comment..

 

[rod178]

Nice.. glad MX is working for you.

Interesting about the Linux Mint Debian edition comment..

Jack,

This contains a brief explanation of the issues with Ubuntu and Mint, and to consequent rise of MX Linux

 

[Swiss_cheese]

Sometimes I wish I was nerdy enough to use Linux