MT5 Experts tab vs Journal tab: what each log shows

Two similar-looking logs in the Toolbox record different things. Which one to open, where the files live and how both relate to your trade history.

The Toolbox in MetaTrader 5 has two tabs that look alike and are easy to confuse: Experts and Journal. Both are logs, both scroll with timestamped lines, and both are the first place to look when something goes wrong. They record different things, though, and knowing which to open can save a long search. This page explains each tab, how to find the log files on disk, and how both relate to your trade history and a trading journal.

The short answer

Experts tabJournal tab
RecordsMessages from programs running in the terminal: Expert Advisors, scripts and indicatorsMessages from the terminal itself: start-up, connection, login, trade requests
Typical linesOutput from a program, its errors, and its own textConnected, authorized, order sent, order executed, connection lost
Useful forDebugging an EA or scriptChecking whether the terminal was connected and what it sent to the server
Saved inA log folder inside the MQL5 data folderA separate Logs folder in the data folder

If you do not see the Toolbox, the page on the missing Toolbox shows how to bring it back. The longer story of the Journal tab is on the Journal tab explained; this page concentrates on the difference.

What the Experts tab shows

Programs written in MQL5 can print text to the Experts tab. An Expert Advisor may report that it opened or closed a trade, that a condition was met, or that something failed. Indicators and scripts write there too, and so do error messages that the terminal produces for a program. If an EA does not trade, this tab is the first place to read, because the EA usually prints the reason, such as an invalid volume or a rejected order.

The content depends entirely on the program. A well-written EA writes clear lines; a poorly written one writes nothing. Do not read silence as proof that nothing happened.

What the Journal tab shows

The terminal itself writes the Journal. You will see lines about starting up, connecting to the broker’s server, logging in to an account, and the trade requests that the terminal sent. When an order is rejected, the server’s response often appears here, including text about the volume, the price or the filling type. The page on execution modes and filling policies explains one frequent cause of such rejections.

Connection problems are the other main use. If the terminal lost its connection at a certain time, the Journal records it, which helps explain why a trade did not open or a stop did not move.

Finding the files

Both tabs have files behind them. In MT5 choose File and then Open Data Folder. Inside, the terminal log files live in a folder named Logs, and the logs written by programs live in the Logs folder under MQL5. Files are normally named by date, so you can open one day’s log in a text editor. Folder layout can differ by build, so check your own terminal. Right-clicking inside either tab usually offers an option to open the log folder or to save the contents.

This matters because the tabs only show a limited recent amount, while the files can keep earlier days. If you want to know what happened last Tuesday afternoon, the file is the place to look.

How the logs relate to the trade history

Logs and history are different records. The History tab in the Toolbox lists orders and deals as the server recorded them. The logs show the terminal’s side of the conversation: what was sent, what came back, and when the connection was available. If a trade is missing from the history, the logs can help you find out whether the request was ever accepted, and the page on trade history not showing covers the history side.

A trading journal built from closed positions, such as AI Trading Journal, does not read these logs. It reads closed positions through the platform and creates one entry per position, combining profit, commission and swap and dating it by the last exit on the broker’s server clock. Logs and journal answer different questions: the logs ask what the software did, the journal asks what you did and why.

A simple debugging routine

A worked example (hypothetical)

A trader runs an EA that should have opened a trade at 10:05 server time, but nothing appears in the history. The Experts tab shows a line from the EA saying the order failed because of the volume. The Journal tab shows the request was never sent to the server. The cause is a lot size below the symbol’s minimum, which the specification window would have shown. The trader pastes both lines into a journal note and adjusts the EA setting. The example is invented, but it shows why the two tabs are complementary.

Limits of this page

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Experts and Journal tabs?
Experts shows messages from programs such as EAs, scripts and indicators. Journal shows messages from the terminal itself, such as connections and trade requests.
Where are the log files?
Open File, then Open Data Folder. Terminal logs are in the Logs folder and program logs are in the MQL5 Logs folder, normally one file per day.
Which tab explains a rejected order?
The Journal tab usually shows the server’s response; the Experts tab shows the EA’s own message, if it writes one.
Does the trading journal app read these logs?
No. It reads closed positions from MetaTrader 5 and does not store the logs.
Can I paste log lines into my journal?
Yes. Copy the key lines into the notes of the entry so the explanation stays with the trade.

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