MQL5-Google-Onedrive/docs/Windows_Task_Scheduler_Setup.md

Windows Task Scheduler Setup

This guide shows how to set up automatic startup using Windows Task Scheduler for MQL5 trading automation.

Method 1: Automated Setup (Easiest)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

cd C:\path\to\MQL5-Google-Onedrive
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\startup.ps1 -CreateScheduledTask

This automatically creates a scheduled task named MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup.

Method 2: Manual Setup

Step 1: Open Task Scheduler

Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Create New Task

1. In the right panel, click "Create Task..." (not "Create Basic Task")

Step 3: General Settings

• Name: MQL5 Trading Automation
• Description: Automatically start MT5 terminal and trading scripts
• Check ☑ "Run with highest privileges"
• Configure for: Windows 10 (or your version)
• Security options:
  • Select "Run whether user is logged on or not"
  • Check "Do not store password"

Step 4: Triggers

1. Go to Triggers tab
2. Click New...
3. Settings:
   • Begin the task: At startup
   • Delay task for: 30 seconds (recommended to let system initialize)
   • Check ☑ Enabled
4. Click OK

Step 5: Actions

1. Go to Actions tab
2. Click New...
3. Settings:
   • Action: Start a program
   • Program/script: powershell.exe
   • Add arguments:

     -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File "C:\path\to\MQL5-Google-Onedrive\scripts\startup.ps1" -NoWait
     

   • Start in: C:\path\to\MQL5-Google-Onedrive
4. Click OK

Step 6: Conditions

1. Go to Conditions tab
2. Power:
   • Uncheck ☐ "Start the task only if the computer is on AC power"
   • Uncheck ☐ "Stop if the computer switches to battery power"
3. Network:
   • Check ☑ "Start only if the following network connection is available"
   • Select "Any connection"

Step 7: Settings

1. Go to Settings tab
2. Configure:
   • Check ☑ "Allow task to be run on demand"
   • Check ☑ "Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed"
   • Check ☑ "If the task fails, restart every:" 5 minutes
   • Set "Attempt to restart up to:" 3 times
   • Uncheck ☐ "Stop the task if it runs longer than"
3. Click OK

Step 8: Save and Test

1. Click OK to save the task
2. You may be prompted to enter your password
3. To test immediately:
   • Right-click the task in the list
   • Select Run
   • Check the Last Run Result column (should show "Success" or 0x0)

Verification

Check if Task is Running

Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MQL5*" | Get-ScheduledTaskInfo

View Task History

1. In Task Scheduler, select your task
2. Click the History tab at the bottom
3. Enable history if disabled: Actions → Enable All Tasks History

Test the Task

# Start the task manually
Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup"

# Check status
Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup" | Select-Object State, LastRunTime, LastTaskResult

Troubleshooting

Task Doesn't Run at Startup

1. Check if task is Enabled
2. Verify Trigger is set to "At startup"
3. Ensure "Run whether user is logged on or not" is selected
4. Check Task History for error details

Task Runs But Nothing Happens

1. Check logs in logs/ directory
2. Run PowerShell script manually to see errors:

   cd C:\path\to\MQL5-Google-Onedrive
   .\scripts\startup.ps1 -Verbose
   

3. Verify MT5 path in config/startup_config.json

Permission Errors

Run Task Scheduler as Administrator:

Start-Process taskschd.msc -Verb RunAs

Task Doesn't Start MT5

1. Test MT5 path in PowerShell:

   Test-Path "C:\Program Files\Exness Terminal\terminal64.exe"
   

2. Update path in config/startup_config.json if different

Alternative: Startup Folder

For simpler setup (runs after login only):

1. Create a shortcut to startup.ps1:

   • Right-click scripts\startup.ps1 → Create shortcut
   • Right-click shortcut → Properties
   • Target: powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File "C:\path\to\MQL5-Google-Onedrive\scripts\startup.ps1" -NoWait

2. Move shortcut to Startup folder:

   # Open Startup folder
   explorer shell:startup
   
   # Copy shortcut here
   

Removing the Task

Using PowerShell

Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup" -Confirm:$false

Using Task Scheduler GUI

1. Open Task Scheduler
2. Find your task in the list
3. Right-click → Delete

Security Notes

• The task runs with your user privileges
• Credentials are encrypted by Windows
• Scripts are executed with ExecutionPolicy Bypass for this task only
• Consider using a dedicated trading account on your PC
• Never share your scheduled task export with others (contains credentials)

Advanced: Export/Import Task

Export task to XML (for backup or transfer):

Export-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup" -TaskPath "\" | Out-File -FilePath "C:\path\to\backup\task.xml"

Import task on another machine:

Register-ScheduledTask -Xml (Get-Content "C:\path\to\backup\task.xml" | Out-String) -TaskName "MQL5_Trading_Automation_Startup"

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Docs - Task Scheduler
• PowerShell Task Scheduler Cmdlets