AccountGuard - lock your EA to licensed accounts (single include) - libreria per MetaTrader 5

AccountGuard is a small single-header account lock for MT5 Expert Advisors. Restrict your EA to specific account numbers, with an optional demo allowance, an expiry date and a Strategy Tester bypass so you can still backtest.

The licence is compiled into the .ex5 with #define lines, so the end user cannot unlock it from the Inputs tab.

How to use

#define AG_ALLOWED_LOGINS "12345678, Broker-Real8:5012345678"
#define AG_ALLOW_DEMO     true                  // any demo account can try it
#define AG_EXPIRY         D'2026.12.31 23:59'   // 0 = never
#include "AccountGuard.mqh"

int  OnInit() { AG_Init(); ... }
void OnTick()
  {
   ManageOpenPositions();        // exits keep working
   if(!AG_Allowed()) return;     // no NEW trades when locked
   ...
  }

Settings (#define, before the #include)

• AG_ALLOWED_LOGINS: licensed accounts. Each entry is a login (any server) or "server:login" (that server only). Commas, semicolons, spaces or new lines all work as separators.
• AG_ALLOW_DEMO: true = any demo account may use the EA (for trials).
• AG_EXPIRY: licence end date and time, or 0 = never. Example: a 30-day rental or a 7-day trial.
• AG_ALLOW_TESTER: true (default) = always allowed in the Strategy Tester, so buyers can backtest.

Functions

• AG_Init(): call once in OnInit.
• AG_Allowed(): call before every NEW order. Returns false when locked. Exits and trailing stops placed before the gate keep working.
• AG_Reason(): the reason text for your panel, e.g. "account 87654321 (Broker-Real2) is not licensed".

Inputs

• InpAGMessage: text shown in the alert when the EA is locked.
• InpAGSelfTest: run the built-in self-test (32 checks, including cases that must stay locked).

Safety

• Safe by default: an empty list, a typo in the list, an expired licence, or account details that are not loaded yet (VPS start / reconnect) all mean LOCKED. It re-checks automatically.
• Expiry uses the later of the server tick time and the trade-server time, so setting the PC clock back does not extend it.
• The lock reason is printed once, not on every tick.
• No DLL, no WebRequest, no files: works in the Strategy Tester and on any VPS.
• The library never sends orders.

Example EA

AccountGuard_Demo.mq5 shows "AccountGuard: allowed" or "AccountGuard: LOCKED" with the reason on the chart. On a live or demo chart it never trades. In the Strategy Tester only (InpTesterDemo), it opens one minimum-lot example trade per day through the AG_Allowed() gate.

Honest limits

• This raises the bar against casual copying of a compiled .ex5. It is not unbreakable DRM.
• To change the licence (new account, new expiry) you recompile and send a new .ex5.