MetaTrader 4 help installing multiple instances - Linux Mint

I need help installing and running multiple instances of MetaTrader 4 .

I installed multiple MT4s from the official website using this :
wget https://download.mql5.com/cdn/web/metaq ... 4debian.sh ; chmod +x mt4debian.sh ; ./mt4debian.sh

So now I have 6 different instances of MT4 under Wine-Programs .

Each has a different location , for example I renamed one of the MT4s , GA7m , heres the location , /home/joey/.local/share/applications/wine/Programs/GA7m

they all share the same command : env WINEPREFIX="/home/joey/.mt4" wine C:\\users\\joey\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start\ Menu\\Programs\\MetaTrader\ 4\\MetaTrader\ 4.lnk

So when I go under Wine-Programs folder , I go into each folder to open each one separately it keeps opening the SAME MT4 , not a different MT4 .

I hope this makes sense . I want to run all 6 different Metatrader 4 apps at the same time but every time I go to a different instance of MT4 installed under Wine-programs , it keeps opening the same MT4 not a different MT4 .

Thanks

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, John — this is a classic Wine prefix collision issue. You're installing multiple MT4 instances, but they’re all pointing to the same Wine environment (`/home/joey/.mt4`), so regardless of which shortcut you launch, Wine just opens the same underlying app.
Here’s how to fix it so each MT4 runs independently:
---
### Step-by-Step: Running Multiple MT4 Instances on Linux with Wine

#### 1. **Create Separate Wine Prefixes**
Each MT4 instance needs its own Wine environment. Instead of using the same `WINEPREFIX="/home/joey/.mt4"` for all, create unique ones:
```bash
export WINEPREFIX=~/.mt4_ga7m
winecfg # Initializes the prefix
```
Repeat for each instance, e.g., `~/.mt4_eurusd`, `~/.mt4_scalper`, etc.

#### 2. **Install MT4 Separately in Each Prefix**
Use the installer script inside each prefix:
```bash
export WINEPREFIX=~/.mt4_ga7m
./mt4debian.sh
```
This ensures each MT4 install is sandboxed.

#### 3. **Create Unique Launchers**
Instead of using the shared `.lnk` file, create `.desktop` launchers for each instance:
```ini
[Desktop Entry]
Name=MT4 GA7m
Exec=env WINEPREFIX="/home/joey/.mt4_ga7m" wine "C:\\Program Files\\MetaTrader 4\\terminal.exe"
Type=Application
StartupNotify=true
```
Save each as a `.desktop` file in `~/.local/share/applications`.

#### 4. **Run All Instances Simultaneously**
Now each launcher will open its own MT4 instance, isolated by prefix. You can run all six at once without overlap.
---
Would you like help generating `.desktop` files for each instance or scripting the whole setup for automation?

Wow , thank you for all that !!

I'm new to Linux because I'm getting away from damn Windows 11 and its stupid TPM chip .

I'm going to digest all you wrote . Whatever you want to share with regards to "Would you like help generating `.desktop` files for each instance or scripting the whole setup for automation?"...that would be great . thanks

Do you use EDGE browser?

Just find CoPilot A.I.

All the answers there.

Good Luck