MT5 trading journal for Mac: what works and what does not
Our app is Windows only. Here is how MetaTrader 5 runs on a Mac, how to get your history out, and which journaling options fit.
People often search for an MT5 report or journal tool for Mac, and it is worth being direct about our position: AI Trading Journal is a Windows desktop app, and it does not run on macOS. That rules it out for a Mac-only setup, but it does not leave Mac traders without options. This page covers what MetaTrader 5 on a Mac actually is, what you can do with your trade history there, how to get a useful journal out of it, and where our app does and does not fit.
What MetaTrader 5 on a Mac is
MetaQuotes offers a macOS installer on its site. According to MetaQuotes' own description, the installer sets up a compatibility layer (Wine) and then installs the MetaTrader platform inside it, so the platform runs as if it were a normal Mac program, even though it is the Windows software underneath. Brokers also distribute their own Mac builds and instructions. Requirements and behaviour change between versions, so follow the instructions on the MetaQuotes download page or your broker's page for your Mac and chip type.
The platform you see is the usual one: the same Toolbox, History tab and reports. Your account history therefore exists on a Mac exactly as it does on Windows. That is the important point for a journal, because the record of your trades is held by your broker, not by the operating system.
Your options for journaling from a Mac
| Option | How it works | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Export a report and keep a spreadsheet | Export the History tab as an Excel or HTML report and paste it into a sheet you maintain | Manual, so it only stays current if you repeat it |
| A browser-based journal | Upload the report to an online journal that accepts MT5 files | Check how it imports, what it costs and where your data is stored |
| Notion or a spreadsheet template | Build your own journal and fill it from exported reports | Setup time, and no automatic updates |
| A Windows PC or Windows virtual machine | Run MT5 and a Windows journal app on Windows | We have not tested our app inside a Mac virtual machine, so we do not promise it works |
| Our Windows app on a separate PC | Install it on a Windows computer that runs MT5 | Windows and MT5 only |
Exporting your history from MT5 on a Mac
In the desktop terminal, open the History tab in the Toolbox, set the period you want, right-click and look for the report options, which commonly offer an HTML report and an Excel (Open XML) one. Menu wording can differ by build and broker, so check your own terminal. Our guide to exporting MT5 trade history covers the steps and the difference between positions, orders and deals, and the MT5 report analyzer guide shows which questions to ask of the report once you have it.
If you want a spreadsheet method, MT5 trading report in Excel and the forex trading journal Excel template give you columns to start from. Both work on any computer that opens Excel or a compatible app.
Why we do not support Mac
The app reads the MetaTrader 5 terminal that is running on the same Windows computer and writes its journal to a file in the user's Documents folder, so it is built for Windows. Making a Mac version would be a different product. We prefer to say so plainly than to suggest a workaround we have not tested. If you already have a Windows machine, even an old one, running MT5 and our app there is a reasonable setup, since the app is read-only and never places, changes or closes a trade.
What you give up on a Mac
- Automatic syncing. Without a journal app reading the terminal, entry is manual or by file upload.
- A single local file with backups. A spreadsheet needs your own backup routine, see backing up a trading journal.
- Consistent trade data. Hand-copied rows contain typos, so check totals against the History tab.
What you keep
- Your whole trade record, held by your broker and visible in MT5 on any computer.
- The ability to export it and analyse it in any tool you like.
- Full control of what you record, because the journal fields (setup, emotion, plan followed, notes) are yours to design.
A worked example (hypothetical)
A Mac user trades gold on MT5 and exports an Excel report every Friday. They paste the closed trades into a sheet with extra columns for setup, emotion and a one-line lesson. The sheet adds up net results per week and per setup. After two months they see that one setup produces most of their losses. The method is manual and takes fifteen minutes a week, but it works on any computer. If they later get a Windows machine for trading, they could let our app do the entry and keep the sheet for reference.
Limits of this page
- MetaQuotes' installer, supported macOS versions and menus change. Check the current download page.
- We have not tested our app on a Mac, in a virtual machine or in a compatibility layer, and do not say it works.
- We make AI Trading Journal and benefit if you buy it, which is why this page lists non-Windows options first.
- This is not trading advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does AI Trading Journal work on Mac?
Can I run MetaTrader 5 on a Mac?
How do I get my MT5 trade history out on a Mac?
What is the best journal for a Mac MT5 trader?
Is my trade history stored on my Mac?
Related guides
- A local trading journal for MT5
- P&L calendar for MT5
- Trade notes, ratings and screenshots
- Trading progress and goals
- Back up your journal and move it to a new PC
- An offline trading journal for Windows
- How to set monthly trading goals
- Import your whole MT5 history
- How to tag trades
- Trade screenshots for your journal
- All trading journal comparisons
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