To close a trade in MetaTrader 5, open the Toolbox Trade tab, right-click the position and choose Close Position, then confirm. To close only part of it, change the volume in that window before closing. To change the stop-loss or take-profit, right-click and choose Modify or Delete. In hedging accounts you can also close two opposite positions against each other with Close By.
Key takeaways
- Close: Trade tab › right-click › Close Position › confirm.
- Partial close: reduce the Volume field in the close window to the amount you want to close.
- The remaining volume must respect the symbol’s minimum volume and volume step.
- Modify: right-click › Modify or Delete to change stop-loss and take-profit.
- Close By is available only in hedging accounts.
| Close | Trade tab › right-click › Close Position |
|---|---|
| Partial close | Set a smaller volume, then close |
| Modify | Right-click › Modify or Delete |
| Close By | Hedging accounts: close opposite positions together |
| One-click close | The close button in the position row, if one-click trading is enabled |
| Mobile | Trade screen › press and hold the position |
How to close a trade on MT5 desktop
- Open the Trade tab. Press Ctrl+T and select Trade.
- Right-click the position. Choose Close Position. Double-clicking the position opens the same window.
- Check the volume. It shows the full position size by default.
- Click the close button. The position closes at the current market price: bid for buys, ask for sells.
How to partially close a trade
Open the close window as above and type a smaller figure in the Volume field before clicking close. Closing 0.40 of a 1.00-lot position leaves 0.60 open, with the same opening price, stop-loss and take-profit. The closed part is booked as a realised profit or loss in History.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| The closed amount must be a multiple of the volume step | Step 0.01: 0.37 is allowed, 0.375 is not |
| The remaining amount must be at least the minimum volume | Minimum 0.01: closing 0.995 of 1.00 is not allowed |
| Stops stay on the remaining position | Adjust them if the plan has changed |
Volume limits are in the contract specification. On a netting account, a partial close can also be done by placing an opposite order for part of the volume.
Hedging vs netting accounts
| Feature | Hedging account | Netting account |
|---|---|---|
| Positions per symbol | Several, including opposite ones | One net position |
| An opposite order | Opens a new position | Reduces or reverses the existing one |
| Close By | Available | Not available |
| Partial close | Reduce volume in the close window | Close window, or an opposite order |
Close By closes a buy and a sell on the same symbol against each other, so the spread is paid once instead of twice.
How to modify a trade
Right-click the position and choose Modify or Delete to change its stop-loss or take-profit; the rules for where they can sit are in how to set a stop-loss and take-profit on MT5. You cannot change the opening price or the volume of an existing position; to add size, open a new trade. Pending orders are modified in the same menu; see how to place a pending order on MT5.
On MT5 mobile
Open the Trade screen, press and hold the position (or swipe it, depending on the device) and choose Close or Modify. For a partial close, change the volume on the close screen before confirming. Menu names can differ slightly between MetaTrader 5 desktop, mobile and Web Trader, and between versions.
Common mistakes to avoid
Closing the wrong position. Check the ticket number and symbol before confirming.
Leaving stops unchanged after a partial close. The remaining position keeps the old levels.
Closing in thin markets. Spreads can be wide at the rollover and around news; see why spreads widen at night and around news.
Market closed. Outside a symbol’s trading hours, positions cannot be closed.
Risk warning. Trading CFDs carries a high level of risk since leverage can work both to your advantage and disadvantage. As a result, the products offered on this website may not be suitable for all investors because of the risk of losing all of your invested capital. You should never invest money that you cannot afford to lose, and never trade with borrowed money.
Frequently asked questions
How do I close a trade on MT5?
Open the Toolbox with Ctrl+T, choose the Trade tab, right-click the position and select Close Position, then click the close button. The position is closed at the current market price.
How do I partially close a position on MT5?
Open the close window for the position and type a smaller volume before clicking close. The rest of the position stays open with the same opening price, stop-loss and take-profit.
Why can’t I close my trade on MT5?
Common reasons are that the market for that symbol is closed, the volume entered breaks the minimum volume or volume step, or the connection to the server is lost. Check the symbol’s trading hours and the Journal tab for the error message.
Can I change the volume of an open trade on MT5?
You cannot increase the volume of an existing position; open a new trade instead. You can reduce it with a partial close.
Related reading
Read a scaled-out trade as one
Each exit of a scaled-out trade gets its own row in the Deals view, while the Positions view groups the whole trade. Switching between them, and adding swap and commission for the net figure, is the subject of how to read your MT5 trade history.
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