Tick Data Suite for MT5 — Quick Start
A checklist to get high-quality tick data into your MetaTrader 5 backtests. Each step links to a detailed article.
Built-in interactive tour
In the Tick Data Manager, click the ☰ menu (top right) and choose MT5 feature tour. It walks you through every MT5-related control with interactive highlights.
One thing that's different from MT4
In order to ensure that any possible interference with live charts and trading is eliminated, the Tick Data Suite for MT5 will only work with custom symbols — you'll need to create one for each instrument you want to backtest (Step 2 below).
The 5 steps
Steps 1–3 can be done in any order. Step 4 (linking symbols) requires all three to be complete first.
| # | What to do | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Download tick data in the Tick Data Manager | How → |
| 2 | Create a custom symbol in MT5 for each instrument (e.g. EURUSD_TDS) | How → |
| 3 | Connect your MT5 terminal to TDS | How → |
| 4 | Link your custom symbols with tick data and click Update MT5 data | How → |
| 5 | Run a backtest in the MT5 Strategy Tester, using the _TDS symbol | How → |
Step 3 (connecting terminals) is a one-time setup. Steps 1, 2, and 4 are repeated for each new instrument you want to backtest with tick data. After that, just start MT5 the normal way and it uses your high-quality tick data automatically.
Stuck?
- Most common problem: the symbol association window is empty → you haven't created custom symbols yet. See Creating MT5 custom symbols.
- Everything else: MT5 troubleshooting
- Still stuck: run the Tick Data Suite support assistant (Tick Data Manager → ☰ menu → Support) and submit a ticket with the log files attached.