Google has removed
'less secure apps' access

Or did they?

To those of us who rely on specific levels to get reached before we start staring at the screen, having alerts sent from the platform to the email/phone was an important part of the process.

Being able to focus on other activities while we wait for high probability levels is a good trading practice and one that will prevent overtrading and boredom trades.

The removal of Google's access to 3rd party 'less secure' apps was a bit of a blow to this process. But turns out there IS a way to do it. READ ON:

Re-enabling secure access

For this to work, you'll need:
1. a specific google account dedicated to just this purpose
2. an email to text service such as clicksend.com

Once you have this, go to Metatrader and click on Tools>Options>Email

Tick 'Enable email notifications'
For SMTP enter: smtp.gmail.com
In the SMTP login, enter your full gmail address.

This is where we need to go BACK to Gmail.

Go to https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords

Login as usual

Enter the name of the app that you wish to provide secure access to. In this case it's Metatrader.

Click CREATE. Select and copy this password. Go back to Metatrader. Paste the password into the SMTP password.

This will allow FULL secure access to your Gmail account.

Setting up Email to SMS

For this final step you'll need a service such as clicksend.com

After signing up, go to Email SMS section and add your new gmail address into 'allowed addresses'. You will need some credit to be able to forward the email to the phone.

Now go back to Metatrader Tools>Options>Email and fill in the last two fields:
From: your full gmail address
To: [email protected]
Click on Test. You should get your text message in seconds.
Now you're ready to place an alert from the chart.

Placing an email alert

Right click on the chart window > Trading > Alert

Once the alert arrow is on the chart, right-click on it directly and click on Modify.

Make sure 'Enable' is ticked.

From the drop-down menu select 'Mail'

This section will automatically pick up the name of instrument and price where you initially placed the Alert. Adjust these if needed.
I also like to change the iterations from 5 to 1.

If you don't, the Alert will send 5 messages for the same alert in quick succession.

If you want the Alert to expire, set the date and/or time of expiry after which the alert won't be triggered.

In 'Source' field you can write a bit of info about the level and expected price behaviour. This message will be send to your phone as well.

And that's it, you can now once again send text alerts to your phone with this little workaround.