VPS Time Settings for the Apex EA (Broker Server Time Explained)
Published Apr 20, 2026, 06:46 PM · Updated Sep 28, 2026, 01:11 PM · 1 min read
New on the MCP Labs Forex channel — VPS Time Settings for the Apex EA (Broker Server Time Explained). The full video is embedded below, with notes and next steps after it.
What this video covers
Apex Drawdown Zero trades a session window set by two inputs, FirstEntryHour and LastEntryHour (8 and 20 by default). Those hours are read in your broker's server time, not your local time and not your VPS clock. The defaults assume a broker server on GMT+2 / GMT+3, the most common setup, which covers the London and New York sessions.
In this video I show how to check it:
- Find your broker's server time in MT5's Market Watch window and compare it with GMT.
- If your server is not GMT+2/+3, shift both hours by the difference. For example, on a GMT+0 server, move 8 → 6 and 20 → 18.
- Keep the VPS online around the clock. The EA needs to see each day's range form, so a VPS that sleeps or restarts at the wrong hour costs you trades.
A wrong server-time offset is the most common reason the EA trades at odd hours or seems never to trade. The full input-by-input walkthrough is in the Apex Drawdown Zero settings guide.
Run the EA from these videos
Everything shown here runs on Apex Drawdown Zero for MT5 — automated trading with hard drawdown protection. See more clips on our videos page or subscribe on YouTube.
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*Any results, returns or win rates mentioned in this video are examples from specific accounts and periods and are not typical or guaranteed. Trading carries substantial risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results — read our full risk disclosure.*
