Gold is the most-traded non-forex market on MetaTrader 4, where it appears as XAUUSD — the gold price in US dollars. You trade it as a CFD, going long or short without owning physical metal. The platform is free; you just need a broker that offers gold. Here's how to trade it, and the details that matter.
What is XAUUSD?
XAUUSD is the price of one troy ounce of gold quoted in US dollars. On MT4 it's a contract for difference, so your profit or loss tracks the price move. Gold is driven by the US dollar, interest rates, and risk sentiment — it often rises when markets are nervous, which is why traders watch it closely.
How to trade gold on MT4
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Find XAUUSD in Market Watch
In MT4's Market Watch, look for
XAUUSD(gold). If it's hidden, right-click the panel, choose Symbols, open the Metals group, and show XAUUSD. -
Open a gold chart
Drag XAUUSD onto your workspace, or right-click it and choose Chart Window. Pick a timeframe that suits your style.
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Place your trade
Press
F9to open the order ticket. Set a small volume (gold moves fast), add a stop loss and take profit, then Buy or Sell. -
Manage the position
Gold can swing sharply around US data and risk sentiment. Watch your stop, size conservatively, and avoid over-leveraging.
Contract specs & what to check
Gold's contract size (often around 100 ounces per standard lot) and how a "pip" is defined both vary by broker. Don't assume — check the symbol specifications for XAUUSD with your broker, then size your trade with our lot size calculator. Gold is volatile, so smaller sizes and a firm stop loss matter.
Start trading gold on MT4
XM offers gold (XAUUSD) on MetaTrader 4 with a free demo to practise first. For the tightest gold spreads, active traders often prefer a raw-spread broker.
⚠ Trading forex and CFDs is high-risk and most retail traders lose money. This is not financial advice.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you open a broker account through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Related guides
New to the platform? Read how to use MT4 and size trades with the lot size calculator. Want other markets? See silver, oil, indices, and crypto on MT4.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trade gold on MT4?
Yes. Gold trades on MetaTrader 4 as XAUUSD, a CFD on the gold price. You can go long or short, and you don't own any physical gold. The platform is free; you need a broker account that offers gold.
What is XAUUSD?
XAUUSD is the price of one troy ounce of gold (XAU) quoted in US dollars (USD). On MT4 it's traded as a contract for difference, so you profit or lose from price moves without taking delivery of metal.
What is the contract size for gold on MT4?
It varies by broker. A standard gold lot is often 100 troy ounces, but some brokers use different sizes — always confirm the contract size in your broker's symbol specifications before trading.
How much is a pip in gold?
Gold's tick and 'pip' conventions differ between brokers, and the cash value per move depends on the contract size. Check how your broker quotes XAUUSD, then use our pip and lot-size calculators to work out your risk.
Is gold good for beginners?
Gold is popular but volatile — moves can be large and fast. Beginners can trade it sensibly with small position sizes, a stop loss, and plenty of demo practice. Nothing here is financial advice, and most retail traders lose money.
Trading foreign exchange and contracts for difference (CFDs) carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you as well as for you. You could lose some or all of your deposited funds; do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Nothing on MT4Download.com is financial, investment, or trading advice. Consider your circumstances and seek independent advice if needed.