Place MetaTrader 5 orders from Go — no MetaTrader installed
A complete Go program using net/http that connects an MT5 account, places a market order with an idempotency key, retries safely, never resends an unresolved order, reads positions and closes the trade — a single static binary, no terminal, no cgo.
This guide builds one Go program that trades a MetaTrader 5 account end to end:
connect the account, bring it online, place a market order, read the position,
close it, take the account offline. It uses only the standard library —
net/http and encoding/json — and there is no MetaTrader terminal on your
side; it runs in our cloud. The result is a single static binary you can ship
in a scratch container.
Use a demo account
fx_test_ keys are a label, not a sandbox — every key reaches a real broker. Run this with a
broker demo account until you are sure your code does what you expect.
What you need
- Go 1.22 or newer.
- An fxapis API key with the
accounts:write,trading:executeandtrading:readscopes (create one in the console). - An MT5 demo account: its login number, its trading password (not the investor password), and the server name exactly as MetaTrader shows it. See Connect MT5 accounts if you are unsure which is which.
Set up
mkdir mt5-trade && cd mt5-trade
go mod init example.com/mt5-trade
export FXAPIS_KEY="fx_test_…" # your API key
export MT5_LOGIN="26177561"
export MT5_SERVER="VantageMarkets-Demo"
export MT5_PASSWORD="…" # the trading password
export MT5_SYMBOL="EURUSD" # as your broker names itThere are no modules to fetch. Keep the key and password in the environment or a secret manager — never in source, never in a log.
The complete program
Save this as main.go and run go run ..
// Connect an MT5 account through fxapis, open a small trade, and close it.
// Run it against a broker DEMO account. Every fxapis key reaches a real broker.
package main
import (
"bytes"
"crypto/rand"
"encoding/json"
"errors"
"fmt"
"io"
"net/http"
"os"
"strconv"
"time"
)
var needsAttention = map[string]bool{
"invalid_credentials": true, "trading_disabled": true, "needs_2fa": true, "needs_certificate": true,
}
// Codes that mean "nothing was placed yet — ask again with the SAME key".
var retrySameKey = map[string]bool{
"SEND_FAILED": true, "IDEMPOTENCY_IN_FLIGHT": true, "ACCOUNT_NOT_READY": true, "NO_RUNTIME": true, "RATE_LIMITED": true,
}
type Account struct {
ID string `json:"id"`
Login string `json:"login"`
Server string `json:"server"`
State string `json:"state"`
}
type Status struct {
State string `json:"state"`
Detail *string `json:"detail"`
}
type Order struct {
ID string `json:"id"`
State string `json:"state"`
FilledPrice *string `json:"filledPrice"`
BrokerPositionID *string `json:"brokerPositionId"`
}
type Position struct {
BrokerPositionID string `json:"brokerPositionId"`
Symbol string `json:"symbol"`
Side string `json:"side"`
Volume *string `json:"volume"`
OpenPrice *string `json:"openPrice"`
Profit *string `json:"profit"`
ObservedAt string `json:"observedAt"`
}
// APIError is every failure the API reports. Match on Code; Message is for people.
type APIError struct {
Status int `json:"-"`
Code string `json:"code"`
Message string `json:"message"`
Details []map[string]any `json:"details"`
}
func (e *APIError) Error() string { return fmt.Sprintf("%d %s: %s", e.Status, e.Code, e.Message) }
type Client struct {
base string
key string
http *http.Client
}
// send makes one request and returns the status, headers and raw body.
func (c *Client) send(method, path string, body any, headers map[string]string) (*http.Response, []byte, error) {
var reader io.Reader
if body != nil {
encoded, err := json.Marshal(body)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
reader = bytes.NewReader(encoded)
}
req, err := http.NewRequest(method, c.base+path, reader)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+c.key)
if body != nil {
req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json") // only with a body
}
for k, v := range headers {
req.Header.Set(k, v)
}
resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
if err != nil {
return nil, nil, err
}
defer resp.Body.Close()
raw, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
return resp, raw, err
}
// errorOf returns the API's error, or nil if the body is not ours (a proxy page).
func errorOf(status int, raw []byte) *APIError {
var envelope struct {
Error *APIError `json:"error"`
}
if json.Unmarshal(raw, &envelope) != nil || envelope.Error == nil || envelope.Error.Code == "" {
return nil
}
envelope.Error.Status = status
return envelope.Error
}
// call sends a request and decodes `data` into out, or returns an *APIError.
func (c *Client) call(method, path string, body, out any) error {
resp, raw, err := c.send(method, path, body, nil)
if err != nil {
return err
}
if resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
if apiErr := errorOf(resp.StatusCode, raw); apiErr != nil {
return apiErr
}
return &APIError{Status: resp.StatusCode, Code: "HTTP_ERROR", Message: resp.Status}
}
if out == nil {
return nil
}
return json.Unmarshal(raw, &struct {
Data any `json:"data"`
}{Data: out})
}
// ConnectAccount stores the account at fxapis. It does not log in yet.
func (c *Client) ConnectAccount(login, server, password string) (*Account, error) {
var account Account
err := c.call("POST", "/v1/accounts", map[string]string{
"login": login, "server": server, "password": password,
"mode": "warm_on_demand", "label": "go-guide",
}, &account)
var apiErr *APIError
if errors.As(err, &apiErr) && apiErr.Code == "ACCOUNT_EXISTS" {
// Connected on an earlier run: find it instead of connecting it twice.
var accounts []Account
if err := c.call("GET", "/v1/accounts", nil, &accounts); err != nil {
return nil, err
}
for _, a := range accounts {
if a.Login == login && a.Server == server {
return &a, nil
}
}
}
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return &account, nil
}
// BringOnline starts the broker login, then polls until the account is ready to trade.
func (c *Client) BringOnline(accountID string, timeout time.Duration) error {
if err := c.call("POST", "/v1/accounts/"+accountID+"/warm", nil, nil); err != nil {
return err // 409 NEEDS_OPERATOR or NO_SECRET: a person has to act
}
deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
var status Status
if err := c.call("GET", "/v1/accounts/"+accountID+"/status", nil, &status); err != nil {
return err
}
if status.State == "ready" {
return nil
}
if needsAttention[status.State] {
// Not retryable. Repeated failed logins are how brokers lock accounts.
return fmt.Errorf("account needs attention: %s", status.State)
}
time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
}
return fmt.Errorf("account not ready after %s", timeout)
}
// WaitForOutcome is for ORDER_UNRESOLVED: never resend, poll until the broker's record settles it.
func (c *Client) WaitForOutcome(orderID string, timeout time.Duration) (*Order, error) {
deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
var order Order
if err := c.call("GET", "/v1/orders/"+orderID, nil, &order); err != nil {
return nil, err
}
if order.State != "unknown" {
return &order, nil
}
time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
}
return nil, fmt.Errorf("order %s is still unknown; do not resend it, check it again later", orderID)
}
// SendOrder places an order (or a close) exactly once, however many times the request is retried.
func (c *Client) SendOrder(path string, body map[string]string) (*Order, error) {
key := newUUID() // one key per order, reused on every retry
for attempt := 0; attempt < 6; attempt++ {
backoff := time.Duration(min(1<<attempt, 10)) * time.Second
resp, raw, err := c.send("POST", path, body, map[string]string{"Idempotency-Key": key})
if err != nil {
time.Sleep(backoff) // we never saw the answer; the same key makes asking again safe
continue
}
if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusCreated {
var envelope struct {
Data Order `json:"data"`
}
if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &envelope); err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return &envelope.Data, nil
}
apiErr := errorOf(resp.StatusCode, raw)
if apiErr == nil && resp.StatusCode >= 500 {
time.Sleep(backoff) // not our error body: a gateway hiccup
continue
}
if apiErr == nil {
return nil, &APIError{Status: resp.StatusCode, Code: "HTTP_ERROR", Message: resp.Status}
}
if apiErr.Code == "ORDER_UNRESOLVED" {
orderID, _ := apiErr.Details[0]["orderId"].(string)
return c.WaitForOutcome(orderID, 5*time.Minute)
}
if retrySameKey[apiErr.Code] {
if seconds, err := strconv.Atoi(resp.Header.Get("Retry-After")); err == nil && seconds > 0 {
backoff = time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
}
time.Sleep(backoff)
continue
}
return nil, apiErr // ORDER_REJECTED, INVALID_REQUEST, QUOTA_EXCEEDED, …
}
return nil, fmt.Errorf("gave up after 6 attempts; retrying later with key %s is still safe", key)
}
func newUUID() string {
b := make([]byte, 16)
if _, err := rand.Read(b); err != nil {
panic(err)
}
b[6] = b[6]&0x0f | 0x40 // version 4
b[8] = b[8]&0x3f | 0x80 // RFC 4122 variant
return fmt.Sprintf("%x-%x-%x-%x-%x", b[0:4], b[4:6], b[6:8], b[8:10], b[10:])
}
func env(name, fallback string) string {
if value := os.Getenv(name); value != "" {
return value
}
if fallback == "" {
fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "set %s\n", name)
os.Exit(2)
}
return fallback
}
func str(p *string) string {
if p == nil {
return "-"
}
return *p
}
func run() error {
c := &Client{
base: env("FXAPIS_API", "https://api.fxapis.com"),
key: env("FXAPIS_KEY", ""),
// 90 s, because an order waits for the broker — and for the login, if the account was offline.
http: &http.Client{Timeout: 90 * time.Second},
}
login, server := env("MT5_LOGIN", ""), env("MT5_SERVER", "")
symbol := env("MT5_SYMBOL", "EURUSD")
account, err := c.ConnectAccount(login, server, env("MT5_PASSWORD", ""))
if err != nil {
return err
}
fmt.Printf("account %s (%s)\n", account.ID, account.State)
if err := c.BringOnline(account.ID, 2*time.Minute); err != nil {
return err
}
fmt.Println("online")
order, err := c.SendOrder("/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/orders/market",
map[string]string{"symbol": symbol, "side": "buy", "volume": "0.01"})
var apiErr *APIError
if errors.As(err, &apiErr) && apiErr.Code == "ORDER_REJECTED" {
return fmt.Errorf("rejected by the broker: %w", err)
}
if err != nil {
return err
}
fmt.Printf("order %s: %s at %s\n", order.ID, order.State, str(order.FilledPrice))
if order.State != "filled" && order.State != "partially_filled" {
return fmt.Errorf("order ended %s", order.State)
}
// Positions refresh on their own about every 15 s; reconcile (optional) refreshes them now.
if err := c.call("POST", "/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/reconcile", nil, nil); err != nil {
return err
}
var positions []Position
if err := c.call("GET", "/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/positions", nil, &positions); err != nil {
return err
}
for _, p := range positions {
fmt.Printf(" #%s %s %s %s @ %s profit %s (seen %s)\n",
p.BrokerPositionID, p.Side, str(p.Volume), p.Symbol, str(p.OpenPrice), str(p.Profit), p.ObservedAt)
}
closeOrder, err := c.SendOrder("/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/positions/"+str(order.BrokerPositionID)+"/close",
map[string]string{})
if err != nil {
return err
}
fmt.Printf("closed: %s at %s\n", closeOrder.State, str(closeOrder.FilledPrice))
// Offline now rather than after the idle window. The stored password is kept.
if err := c.call("POST", "/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/cool", nil, nil); err != nil {
return err
}
if os.Getenv("FXAPIS_DISCONNECT") == "1" {
// Erases the stored password for good. Only when you are done with this account.
var result struct {
CredentialsRemoved bool `json:"credentialsRemoved"`
}
if err := c.call("POST", "/v1/accounts/"+account.ID+"/disconnect", nil, &result); err != nil {
return err
}
fmt.Printf("disconnected, credentials removed: %t\n", result.CredentialsRemoved)
}
return nil
}
func main() {
if err := run(); err != nil {
fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
os.Exit(1)
}
}A run against a demo account prints something like:
account 0d7c1f5e-4b6a-4c1e-9f0a-2d9e8c7b6a51 (created)
online
order b1c7…9e2a: filled at 1.13426
#2109584418 buy 0.01 EURUSD @ 1.13426 profit -0.07 (seen 2026-09-30T10:14:03.512Z)
closed: filled at 1.13419Authentication and the client
Client.send sets Authorization: Bearer <key> on every request and a JSON
content type only when there is a body. call decodes the { "data": … } envelope and
returns an *APIError with the stable Code on failure; use errors.As to
inspect it. One http.Client is shared for the life of the process, which
keeps connections alive between calls. See Authentication
and Errors.
Nullable fields are *string, so a missing filledPrice is nil rather than
an empty string you might mistake for a price.
Connecting the account
POST /v1/accounts stores the account and encrypts its password. It does not
log in, so it answers at once with the account in created. Keep the returned
ID against your user; never keep the password.
A login and server can be connected once per workspace; a second run receives
409 ACCOUNT_EXISTS and finds the account with GET /v1/accounts.
Reference: Connect an MT5 account.
Bringing it online
POST /v1/accounts/{id}/warm answers 202 straight away while the broker
login runs; BringOnline polls GET /v1/accounts/{id}/status every two
seconds until ready, usually about ten seconds in our tests. It returns at once on a
needs-attention state — invalid_credentials, trading_disabled,
needs_2fa, needs_certificate — because those need a person, not a retry.
See Accounts.
Placing the order safely
SendOrder creates one Idempotency-Key per order and sends the same key
on every retry, so the order is placed at most once. Keys are remembered for
24 hours.
Volumes and prices are strings — "0.01". Never format a float64 into a
volume; keep sizes as integer multiples of the lot step or use a decimal
package, and send the string.
| Response | What it means | What SendOrder does |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | The broker answered; state is filled (or partially_filled). | Returns the order. |
422 ORDER_REJECTED | The broker refused it. Nothing executed. | Returns the error. If Details[0]["retryable"] is true (the price moved), a new decision with a new key is fine. |
409 ACCOUNT_NOT_READY, NO_RUNTIME | The account was not online in time. Nothing was sent. | Retries with the same key. |
409 IDEMPOTENCY_IN_FLIGHT | The first attempt with this key is still running. | Retries with the same key. |
502 SEND_FAILED | Proven never to have reached the broker. | Retries with the same key. |
502 ORDER_UNRESOLVED | We do not know yet whether it executed. | Never resends. Polls GET /v1/orders/{id} until it leaves unknown. |
429 RATE_LIMITED | Too many requests of this kind. | Waits Retry-After, same key. |
| Transport error or timeout | You did not see the answer. | Retries with the same key; the server replays the first answer. |
ORDER_UNRESOLVED means the order may be live at the broker; resending it is
how accounts end up with two positions. We confirm it against the broker's
records automatically. More in Idempotent MT5 orders.
In a service, pass a context.Context with http.NewRequestWithContext so a
shutdown can stop polling — but let an order request that is already in flight
finish, or you will not see its answer.
Reading positions
GET /v1/accounts/{id}/positions lists open positions with
brokerPositionId, side, volume, openPrice, currentPrice, stopLoss,
takeProfit, profit and observedAt. They refresh about every 15 seconds
while the account is online; POST /v1/accounts/{id}/reconcile refreshes them
now. Reference: Positions on an account.
Closing the position
POST /v1/accounts/{id}/positions/{ticket}/close with {} closes it all;
{"volume": "0.005"} closes part. The ticket is the order's
brokerPositionId. The close goes through SendOrder with its own key,
because a repeated close on a hedging account would open an opposite position.
A close of a position opened moments ago refreshes positions first;
POSITION_NOT_FOUND means it is already closed. The program's reconcile
call after the fill is optional — it only makes the positions listing current
at once.
Offline and disconnect
POST /cool takes the account offline and keeps its stored password; left
alone, a warm_on_demand account goes offline after 15 idle minutes. Stops and
take profits keep working at the broker. POST /disconnect erases the stored
password for good — use it when a customer leaves. The program calls it only
with FXAPIS_DISCONNECT=1, so you can run it repeatedly. Connecting a disconnected login again brings the same account back, with its history.
Next steps
- One order across many accounts — one call, up to 500 accounts on Enterprise (Starter 10, Scale 100).
- Build an MT5 trade copier — detect a master's trades and mirror them.
- Errors and the API reference.
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