IC Trading and MT5 Expert Advisors: What to Check Before Reusing a SET File

Moving an Expert Advisor to another broker can look straightforward: install the EA, load your saved SET file and enable automated trading.

However, a preset stores input values. It does not guarantee that those values produce the same practical behaviour in a different trading environment.

Before using an existing MT5 preset with IC Trading—or another broker you are evaluating—check the instrument specifications and your EA’s assumptions.

Start with the exact symbol

Brokers may use different symbol names or suffixes. This matters particularly for multi-symbol EAs and tools that use hardcoded instrument names.

An EA attached to the correct chart may still request another symbol internally. Review its documentation and logs to confirm which instruments it actually uses.

Check contract size and volume rules

In MT5’s Market Watch, open the symbol’s Specification window. Review:

• Contract size.
• Minimum and maximum volume.
• Volume step.
• Tick size and tick value.

A fixed lot input does not necessarily represent equivalent exposure across different contract specifications.

If your EA calculates volume from a risk percentage, verify the resulting position size in a test environment. Selecting “1% risk” does not establish that the calculation works correctly for every instrument.

Evaluating IC Trading for your EA? Explore the offering, then use this checklist to review the exact instruments you intend to trade. Check it out here.

Understand points versus pips

Some EAs express stop distances, trailing stops and spread filters in points. Others use pips or price units.

Check the definition of each input, especially when moving between forex, gold and indices. A number copied from a preset can represent an unintended distance if the EA makes assumptions about price precision.

Review server time and trading sessions

A preset opening trades at a particular server hour may target a different market session after a broker change.

If your strategy depends on the London open, a daily range or a Friday exit, verify the time mapping. Account for daylight-saving changes where applicable. Inspect the instrument’s trading sessions and daily breaks too.

Check costs and order restrictions

Review commissions and swaps alongside the spread. For EAs placing pending orders or modifying stops, inspect minimum-distance and freeze-level restrictions.

Look for rejected requests in the logs. An EA displaying correctly on a chart does not prove that every trading request succeeds.

Run a controlled compatibility test

Load the preset in Strategy Tester using the intended symbol and timeframe. Inspect position sizes, entry times, stop distances and error logs. Follow with a demo check in the broker environment.

This helps establish compatibility. Future performance still depends on the strategy and actual trading conditions.

Ready to explore IC Trading for your MT5 setup? Check it out here, then verify the symbol specifications before using your preset.