Step 5 · First trade
A first trade on Exness, step by step
This page explains the buttons and the arithmetic of an order — not what to trade or when. The main thing to get right first is the volume: it decides how much money each price move adds or takes away.
- 1Registered
- 2Verify
- 3First deposit
- 4Practise on demo
- 5First trade
In short
- Three ways to trade the same account: Exness Terminal in a browser, the Exness Trade app, or MetaTrader 5.
- Volume is set in lots; on a Standard account 0.01 lot of EURUSD is 1,000 euros, so one pip is worth about 0.10 USD.
- Set a stop loss when opening, check the Real label, and look at the margin level after the order opens.
Where to trade
| Platform | How to open it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Exness Terminal | Personal Area → the account → Trade → Exness Terminal | Runs in a browser; the order form can be switched between regular, one-click and a risk calculator form. |
| Exness Trade app | Mobile app, signed in with the Personal Area login | Trading and Personal Area functions in one app. |
| MetaTrader 5 | Log in with the trading account number, its trading password and the server shown in the Personal Area | The trading password is set for the trading account and is not the Personal Area password. A trading account is created for one platform: an MT5 account does not open in MetaTrader 4. In some regions MT5 accounts work only in MetaTrader 5. |
Volume: how lots turn into money
On a Standard account, 1 lot of a currency pair is 100,000 units of the first currency. So for EURUSD:
| Volume | Position size | One pip (0.0001) ≈ |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 lot | 1,000 EUR | 0.10 USD |
| 0.10 lot | 10,000 EUR | 1 USD |
| 1.00 lot | 100,000 EUR | 10 USD |
A move of 50 pips against a 1.00 lot position is about 500 USD. On Standard Cent accounts balances are shown in cents and lots are 100 times smaller, so the same numbers mean much less money — check which account type is open. Other instruments, such as gold or indices, have their own contract sizes, shown in the instrument specification on the platform.
Opening the order
- Check the label: Real or Demo, and the account number.
- Choose the instrument and look at the two prices: Sell (bid) and Buy (ask). The gap between them is the spread — a cost paid on every trade.
- Enter the volume, starting from the minimum.
- Set a stop loss (where the trade closes if the price goes against it) and, if wanted, a take profit.
- Press Buy or Sell once and wait for the confirmation.
- Open the positions list and check the margin level.
Spreads may fluctuate and widen due to factors including market volatility, news events, market open/close, and others.
Why an order does not open
| Message or symptom | Usual reason and fix |
|---|---|
| “Not enough money” or the button is inactive | Free margin is too small for this volume. Lower the volume or check the margin the order needs; some instruments need much more margin than a currency pair. |
| “Market closed” | The instrument is outside its trading hours (weekends, holidays, daily breaks). The instrument specification shows its hours. |
| “Invalid stops” | Stop loss or take profit is too close to the current price or on the wrong side. Move it further away. |
| “Invalid volume” | The volume is below the minimum or not a valid step for this instrument. |
| The instrument is not in the list, or has a different name | Symbol names can carry a short suffix that depends on the account type. Use the symbols the platform lists for the open account. |
| The trade went to the wrong account | Check the Real / Demo label and the account number before pressing Buy or Sell. |
Margin, swap and other numbers on the screen
- Margin — the part of the account set aside to keep a position open. It grows with volume and with lower leverage.
- Free margin and margin level — what is left for new positions and losses. When the margin level falls to the stop out level, positions are closed automatically.
- Higher margin periods — Exness can require more margin for some periods, such as around major news or before markets close; the conditions are shown on the platform and in the Personal Area. Positions held through those periods need extra free margin.
- Swap — a charge or credit for holding a position overnight. Some accounts have swap-free status; it is shown in the Personal Area under Exness benefits → Trading conditions.
- Commission — charged on some account types, shown in the account details.
Ten-second check before every order
- Real or Demo — the intended one?
- Volume — the loss at the stop loss is an amount that can be lost.
- Stop loss — set.
- News — no major release in the next minutes.
Questions people ask
Which lot size is right for a beginner?
There is no lot size that is right for everyone. A common habit is to start with the minimum volume and to size each trade so that the loss at the stop loss is a small part of the account.
Why can't I open 0.01 lot?
Usually because the free margin is too small for that instrument, the market is closed, or the stop loss is too close to the price. The table above lists the messages and fixes.
Why does MetaTrader 5 say “invalid account”?
Usually the login uses the Personal Area password or the wrong server. MT5 needs the trading account number, that account's trading password and the server shown for the account in the Personal Area.
Can Partner Support tell me what to buy?
No. Partner Support helps with how the platform works and does not give signals, forecasts or trading advice.