AA Global How to Open a Deriv Account & Link MT5 (2026) — Full Setup Guide
Key takeaways
- A Deriv demo account is free and comes with $10,000 virtual money — no deposit needed
- MT5 is a separate app: Deriv creates the login, MT5 is where you trade
- You need three details to log in: server, login number, and password
- Verify your identity early — it makes future withdrawals smooth
- Total setup time: about 10 minutes on a phone
Step 1 — Create your Deriv account
Go to the Deriv signup page, enter your email, and confirm the verification email they send you. Choose your country of residence and set a password. No deposit is required at this stage — don't let anything rush you into one.
Step 2 — Open Trader's Hub
After logging in you land on Trader's Hub — the dashboard listing every account type. You'll see two toggles at the top: Demo and Real. Start on Demo.
Step 3 — Add an MT5 account
Under CFDs, find MT5 Standard and click Get. Deriv instantly creates your MT5 login and shows you three details:
- Server (e.g. DerivSVG-Server or similar)
- Login (a number)
- Password (you choose it)
Screenshot these or write them down — MT5 will ask for all three.
Step 4 — Download MetaTrader 5
Phone: install "MetaTrader 5" from the Play Store / App Store. PC: download the MT5 installer from your Deriv dashboard (this version comes with Deriv's servers pre-listed, which saves hassle).
Step 5 — Log in inside MT5
In MT5: Settings → New Account → Log in to an existing account. Search for "Deriv", pick the exact server name from Step 3, and enter your login and password. Your balance ($10,000 virtual on demo) appears at the top when it works.
Step 6 — Find the synthetic indices
Open Market Watch (the symbols list), tap the search/plus icon, and type Volatility 75 Index. Add it, along with Volatility 100, Boom 500 and Crash 500. Open a chart and you're live.
Step 7 — (When ready) verify your identity
Before trading real money, Deriv asks for proof of identity (national ID or passport) and sometimes proof of address. Do it early — verification takes minutes to submit and means your first withdrawal isn't delayed.
Common problems
- "Invalid account" in MT5 — wrong server selected. It must match Deriv's exactly.
- Can't find Volatility 75 — you logged into the wrong MT5 account type, or the symbol list needs the "+" search. Synthetics only exist on Deriv's MT5 servers.
- No demo balance — you created the account but not the MT5 demo account (Step 3 again).
Keep learning
New to trading entirely? Start with the free beginner course — 20 short lessons from zero to your first demo trade.