The short answer
To add gold to MT4 or MT5, open Market Watch (Ctrl+M), right-click inside it and choose Symbols (Ctrl+U), search for “XAU”, select your broker’s gold symbol and click Show. In MT4 you can also right-click Market Watch and choose Show All. On mobile, go to Quotes → + and search XAU.
If gold still doesn’t appear, your broker probably names it differently (GOLD, XAUUSD.m, XAUUSDm) or your account type doesn’t include metals. The steps below fix both.
MT5 desktop: step-by-step
- Press Ctrl+M to open Market Watch if it isn’t visible.
- Right-click anywhere inside Market Watch → Symbols (or press Ctrl+U).
- In the search box at the top, type XAU and press Enter.
- You’ll see every gold symbol your broker offers, often in a group such as Metals or Commodities.
- Select the one that matches your account and click Show Symbol, then OK.
- Drag the symbol from Market Watch onto a chart, or right-click it → Chart Window.
Quick shortcut: in Market Watch there is a “+ click to add” line at the bottom. Type XAU there and press Enter.
MT4 desktop: step-by-step
- Press Ctrl+M to open Market Watch.
- Right-click inside it → Show All. Every symbol your account can see is now listed.
- Scroll for XAUUSD or GOLD.
- If it’s not there, press Ctrl+U, open the folder your broker uses for metals or commodities, select the gold symbol and click Show, then Close.
- Drag it onto a chart.
MT4 and MT5 mobile
| Step | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Quotes tab | Open the Quotes tab |
| 2 | Tap + at the top | Tap the pencil icon, then + |
| 3 | Search XAU or gold | Search XAU or gold |
| 4 | Open the group and tap the symbol | Tap the symbol (green + appears) |
| 5 | Back to Quotes, tap it → Chart or Trade | Back to Quotes, tap it → Chart or Trade |
“Symbol not found”: causes and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Search for XAUUSD finds nothing | Different name at your broker | Search XAU or GOLD instead |
| Several gold symbols | Different account types or currencies | Use the suffix matching your account; see gold symbol names |
| Nothing found at all | Logged in to the wrong server or account | File → Login to Trade Account and check the server name |
| Only on the default demo server | That server may not list gold | Open a demo with a broker that offers gold |
| Gold visible but greyed out or “trade disabled” | Symbol belongs to another account type, or metals not enabled | Specification → Trade mode; ask your broker |
| Gold appears, but no prices | Market closed (weekend, daily break, holiday) | Check the gold market hours tool |
Open a gold chart and get it ready
Once XAUUSD is in Market Watch:
- Drag it onto an empty chart, or right-click → Chart Window.
- Pick a timeframe from the toolbar (M15, H1, H4 or D1 are common starting points).
- Turn on the ask line: right-click the chart → Properties (F8) → Common → Show Ask line. You now see both prices; the gold bid and ask price explained tells you why that matters.
- Turn on period separators (same tab) so each new day is marked.
- Add one indicator at most to begin with. Our indicator settings tests show which held up on real gold data.
- Save a template: right-click → Template → Save Template, so every new gold chart looks the same.
Prefer TradingView for analysis? The same symbol choice matters there; see how to set up a gold chart on TradingView.
Check what your account can do with gold
Once gold is in Market Watch, right-click it → Specification. The fields that matter:
- Contract size: usually 100 (ounces per lot). This decides what each $1 move is worth.
- Minimum volume / volume step: often 0.01 lot. Trying to trade less gives “invalid volume”.
- Stops level: the minimum distance for stop-loss and take-profit, in points.
- Trade mode: Full access, Long only, Short only, Close only or Disabled.
- Sessions: the trading hours for the symbol on your server.
- Margin / leverage: how much margin each lot needs.
Illustrative example: contract size 100 and volume step 0.01 means the smallest trade is 0.01 lot = 1 ounce, worth $1 per $1 move in gold. If the contract size were 10, the same 0.01 lot would be worth 10 cents per $1. Confirm with the gold pip calculator and the gold margin calculator.
Some account types, regions or regulators limit which instruments you can trade. If gold isn’t in the Symbols list at all on a live account, ask your broker whether metals are enabled for your account type. This site doesn’t recommend or rank brokers.
If gold is there but you can’t trade
The most common error messages are “invalid volume”, “not enough money”, “market closed”, “trade disabled” and “invalid stops”. Each has a specific cause; see MT5 gold errors explained. If the market is simply shut, read why can’t I trade gold right now.
Still missing after all of this?
Three less common causes are worth a minute before you contact support. First, MT4 and MT5 accounts are not interchangeable: an MT5 login won’t work in MT4 and the reverse, so a “missing” symbol can simply mean you’re in the wrong platform. Second, some brokers keep separate servers for different account types or regions, and only some of them list metals; the server name is shown in the login window. Third, an old platform build can show an incomplete symbol list; update the platform from the broker’s website and log in again. If gold still isn’t there, ask your broker in writing whether XAUUSD is available on your account type and server.
Prevent the problem on every new account
- Add gold to Market Watch first, before anything else.
- Save a chart template with your gold chart (right-click chart → Template → Save Template) so a new account takes one click.
- Write your exact symbol name, contract size and minimum lot in your trading plan.
- Place your first trades on demo; our XAUUSD demo account practice plan gives you a 30-day routine.
- Size every trade with the position size calculator.
More quick fixes are in gold trading problems solved.
Get help with your setup
Stuck on a platform screen? Post a screenshot in the XAUUSD Global community and traders who’ve been there will walk you through it. The first month is free, then $19.99 a month.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Trading gold with leverage carries a high risk of loss. Menu names can vary slightly between platform versions and brokers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add gold to MT5?
Open Market Watch (Ctrl+M), right-click inside it and choose Symbols (Ctrl+U). Type XAU in the search box, select your broker’s gold symbol and click Show Symbol. It now appears in Market Watch, and you can drag it onto a chart.
How do I add gold to MT4?
Open Market Watch (Ctrl+M), right-click and choose Show All, then look for XAUUSD or GOLD. If it still isn’t there, open Symbols (Ctrl+U), open the metals or commodities folder, select the gold symbol and click Show.
Why does MT4 or MT5 say 'symbol not found'?
Usually because the name is different at your broker (GOLD instead of XAUUSD, or a suffix like XAUUSD.m), or because you are logged in to a server or account type that doesn’t offer gold. Search for ‘XAU’ rather than the full name, and check that you’re logged in to the right account.
How do I add gold on the MT5 mobile app?
Go to the Quotes tab. On Android tap the + icon; on iPhone tap the edit (pencil) icon and then +. Search ‘XAU’ or ‘gold’, open the group shown, and tap the symbol to add it to your list.
Why can I see gold but not trade it?
The symbol may belong to a different account type (wrong suffix), your account may not allow metals, or the symbol may be in close-only or disabled mode. Right-click the symbol and open Specification to see the trade mode, and ask your broker if gold is enabled for your account.
Can I add gold to MT4 or MT5 without a broker account?
You need to be logged in to a server. A demo account from any broker that offers gold is enough to see XAUUSD and practise. The default demo server that comes with the platform may not list gold.
Sources and further reading
- MetaTrader 5 Help — Trading operations: basic principles — Order types, and which price (bid or ask) triggers each order and stop
- CME Group — Gold futures overview — Contract specifications and trading hours for COMEX gold
External sites are independent of XAUUSD Global. Check dates and data yourself.