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EX4 MQ4
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Convert EX4 to MQ4

Can you convert EX4 to MQ4?
Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 5, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert EX4 to MQ4?
No - not a direct conversion.

Compilation from .mq4 to .ex4 is a one-way process - the source text is not embedded in the output. Since MetaTrader 4 build 600 (February 2014), the compiled format changed significantly and decompiler tools no longer produce functional results on modern .ex4 files.

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert EX4 to MQ4?

When a developer compiles an MQL4 source file in MetaEditor, the result is an .ex4 bytecode file that runs in the MetaTrader 4 terminal; the source stays on the developer's machine or is discarded intentionally. Post-build-600 .ex4 files use a changed format with stronger obfuscation that no available decompiler can reliably reverse, making recovery of the original .mq4 effectively impossible.

How to convert EX4 to MQ4

MetaEditor FREE

If you want to recreate the strategy, open MetaEditor from MT4 (Tools > MetaQuotes Language Editor), write the logic in MQL4, and compile to a new .ex4 - the original source cannot be recovered from the compiled file.

About these formats

.EX4 MetaTrader 4 Compiled Program (Expert Advisor / Indicator / Script)

An EX4 file is a compiled MQL4 program for the MetaTrader 4 trading platform -- an Expert Advisor (trading robot), a custom indicator, or a script. You install it by copying it into the…

Open .EX4 details →
.MQ4 MetaTrader custom indicator file

A .MQ4 file is associated with MetaTrader custom indicator, a data file.

Open .MQ4 details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Since MetaTrader 4 build 600 (February 2014), 'EX4 decompiler' sites and tools produce unusable output on modern files at best and may distribute malware at worst.
  • You do not need the .mq4 source to use an .ex4 - copy it to the correct MT4 folder (MQL4/Experts, /Indicators, or /Scripts), restart the terminal, and attach it to a chart.
  • If you own the original program, contact the developer or seller to request the .mq4 source file, as many commercial EAs include source access as a purchase option.

Frequently asked questions

I found a free EX4 decompiler online - will it work?
Not on files compiled after February 2014 (MT4 build 600+); those tools target the older format and produce unusable output on modern .ex4 files.
Can I see the input parameters of an EX4 without the source?
Yes - attach the .ex4 to a chart in MT4; the Inputs tab shows all configurable parameters the developer exposed, though not the underlying logic.
What if I compiled the EX4 myself and lost the MQ4?
Check your MetaEditor project folder - MetaEditor keeps the .mq4 alongside the .ex4 in the MQL4 folder by default; if deleted, recovery is not possible through any converter.