What trade history is
Trade history is the record of everything that has already happened on your trading account. It covers closed positions, executed deals, cancelled or filled orders, and balance operations such as deposits and withdrawals. Open positions are not in history. They sit in the Trade tab until you close them.
The history is stored on the broker's server, not only on your device. If you log in to the same account from another computer or phone, the same history loads. It is useful for three things:
- checking what a trade actually cost you
- keeping a trading journal
- matching your account balance with your own records
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Opening the History tab in MT5 (desktop)
- Open the Toolbox window with Ctrl+T, or go to View → Toolbox.
- Click the History tab at the bottom.
- Right-click anywhere inside the tab to choose how the records are grouped and which period is shown.
The right-click menu offers three views:
| View | What it shows | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Positions | One line per closed position, with open and close price | Reviewing results trade by trade |
| Deals | Every single execution, entries and exits listed separately | Partial closes, netting accounts, reconciliation |
| Orders | Every order sent, including cancelled and expired pending orders | Checking why a pending order did not fill |
There is also a combined Orders and Deals view that pairs each order with the deal it produced.
If you are not sure how MT5 handles positions on your account, read Hedging vs netting. On a netting account, several deals in the same symbol merge into one position. This is why the Deals view is often clearer there.
Filtering by period and symbol
Right-click inside the History tab and choose a period. The menu has several preset ranges counted back from today. For any other range, choose Custom period and set the start and end dates.
Recent builds also show a filter bar above or below the list. There you can pick a symbol and a period without opening the menu. The exact layout changes between builds, so use the right-click menu if you cannot see the bar. If you have many trades on one instrument, filter by symbol first and then narrow the dates.
Click a column header to sort by that column. For example, click Profit to find your largest losses quickly.
How to download an MT5 report or statement
You can create an MT5 statement directly from the History tab:
- Set the view and period you want to export.
- Right-click inside the tab and choose Report.
- Pick HTML to view it in a browser, or Open XML to open it in a spreadsheet program.
- Choose a folder and save.
The saved file includes the trades shown for the selected period plus a summary of results. Recent desktop builds also have a separate Reports window, opened from the View menu. It shows charts of balance, profit and risk figures, and can export the summary as well.
If you need an official statement for a bank or tax purpose, ask your broker which document they accept. A file you export yourself is your own copy of the data.
MT4 account history
In MetaTrader 4 the steps are similar, but the names differ:
- Press Ctrl+T to open the Terminal window.
- Open the Account History tab.
- Right-click to choose All History, a preset period, or Custom Period.
- Right-click again and choose Save as Report or Save as Detailed Report. Both create an HTML file.
MT4 lists one line per closed order. It has no separate deals view. The differences between the two platforms are covered in MT4 vs MT5.
History on the mobile app
In the MT5 app for Android or iOS, open the History section. You can switch between positions, orders and deals, and filter by period and symbol. The app is good for a quick check, but report export is mainly a desktop feature. See Mobile apps for the general layout.
What each column means
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Time | When the position or deal was opened (and closed, in the Positions view) |
| Ticket / Deal / Order | The server's unique ID for that record; quote it when you contact support |
| Symbol | The instrument, for example XAUUSD or US100 |
| Type | Buy or sell; for orders, also the order type, such as buy limit |
| Direction | In the Deals view, "in" opens or adds to a position and "out" closes or reduces it |
| Volume | Size in lots |
| Price | Execution price; the Positions view shows both entry and exit |
| S/L, T/P | Stop loss and take profit levels attached when the position closed |
| Commission | A fee charged per trade on some account types, shown as a negative amount |
| Fee | Other charges the broker applies to the deal, if any |
| Swap | Overnight financing credited or charged for holding a position past the daily rollover |
| Profit | The price result of the trade in your account currency, before commission and swap |
| Comment | Server notes, for example "sl" or "tp" when a stop or target closed the trade, or "so" for a stop-out |
The Profit column does not include swap and commission. To get your net result for a trade, add all three together. Swap is explained on Swap fees, and order levels on Stop loss and take profit.
At the bottom of the tab, a summary line shows total profit, deposits, withdrawals and the resulting balance for the selected period.
Reconciling history with your broker's records
Balance operations (deposits, withdrawals, transfers between accounts) appear in the Deals view with the type balance. To check your records:
- Set the history to cover the whole period you are checking.
- In the Deals view, compare each balance line with the matching record in your broker's account area.
- Add up profit, swap and commission for the trades. The total plus deposits minus withdrawals should equal the balance shown in the summary.
- If a payment was made in a different currency, the platform shows it after conversion. Small differences usually come from the conversion rate, not from missing money.
If you trade with Exness, check the current transaction records and conditions in the Exness personal area or on the official site. Payment topics are covered on Deposits and withdrawals.
A history that keeps showing large swap charges or frequent "so" comments is a warning sign. Leveraged CFD and forex trading can lose money fast. Reviewing your own history is one of the most direct ways to see that. See Risk management.
Before trading through an offshore platform from Pakistan, read Law and regulators. On offshore platforms, per the SECP, offshore platforms have no Pakistani licence or oversight and offer no legal protection or recourse.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my MT5 trade history empty?
The selected period may be too short, or a symbol filter may be active. Right-click inside the tab and choose a longer period or a custom range.
Where are my open trades?
Open positions are in the Trade tab of the Toolbox. They move to History only after they close.
How do I download an MT5 report?
Right-click inside the History tab, choose Report, and save it as HTML or Open XML.
Does the Profit column include swap and commission?
No. Swap and commission have their own columns. Add all three to get the net result.
Can I see the history of a deleted pending order?
Yes. Switch the History tab to the Orders view, where cancelled and expired orders are listed.
Is the exported report an official statement?
It is your own export of server data. For official paperwork, ask your broker which statement they issue.
