One of the most common mistakes new VPS traders make is logging off their Remote Desktop session instead of disconnecting. The difference sounds minor, but it is the difference between your Expert Advisors continuing to trade around the clock and your entire trading operation shutting down the moment you close the window. This guide explains exactly how to disconnect properly on every platform, what happens behind the scenes, and how to avoid the pitfalls that catch traders off guard.
Disconnect vs. Sign Out vs. Shut Down — What is the Difference?
There are three ways to leave your VPS session, and only one of them keeps your trading running:
Disconnect (Correct)
When you disconnect, you close the Remote Desktop window on your local computer, but your Windows session on the VPS continues running in the background. All of your programs — MetaTrader terminals, Expert Advisors, indicators, and any other software — keep running exactly as they were. The VPS does not know or care that you are no longer watching the screen.
This is what you want 99% of the time.
Sign Out / Log Off (Dangerous)
When you sign out (also called “log off”), Windows terminates your user session on the VPS. This closes every program running under your account, including all MT4/MT5 terminals and their EAs. Your open positions remain at your broker, but there is nothing managing them — no stop-loss adjustments, no trailing stops, no EA logic running at all.
⚠️ Warning: Signing out of your VPS is functionally the same as closing all your trading software. If you have EAs managing open positions, signing out could leave trades completely unmanaged until you reconnect and restart everything.
Shut Down / Restart
This powers off or restarts the entire VPS. Obviously, nothing runs after a shutdown. Only do this during scheduled maintenance windows when markets are closed.
How to Disconnect Properly
From Windows (Full-Screen RDP)
If you are running your RDP session in full-screen mode, you will see a blue connection bar at the top of the screen showing the VPS IP address or hostname.
- Click the X button on the right side of the blue bar.
- A dialog box will appear asking if you want to disconnect. Click OK.
That is it. Your session is now disconnected, and all programs continue running on the VPS.
💡 Tip: If you do not see the blue bar at the top, move your mouse to the very top edge of the screen and it should slide down. If it still does not appear, your RDP settings may have “Display the connection bar” unchecked — you can re-enable this in the RDP connection options under the Display tab.
From Windows (Windowed Mode)
If your RDP session is running in a window (not full-screen), simply click the standard X close button on the window’s title bar, just like closing any other application. When prompted, click OK to confirm disconnection.
From Mac (Microsoft Remote Desktop)
If you are using the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on Mac, disconnecting works the same way:
- If in full-screen mode, move your cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the connection toolbar, then click the X button.
- If in windowed mode, click the red close button in the top-left corner of the window.
- Confirm the disconnection when prompted.
Your VPS session and all trading software continues running.
From Android or iOS
On mobile RDP apps, you typically disconnect by:
- Tapping the back button or the app’s disconnect icon (usually in the toolbar).
- On the Android Microsoft Remote Desktop app, you can also swipe the session away from the connection list.
✅ Best Practice: Always Disconnect (not Sign Out) when leaving your VPS. Disconnecting keeps EAs running while freeing graphical resources. Signing out closes everything.
How to Verify Your Programs Are Still Running
After disconnecting, it is good practice — especially the first few times — to reconnect briefly and confirm everything is still running:
- Wait 30 seconds after disconnecting.
- Reconnect to your VPS via RDP.
- Check that all MT4/MT5 terminals are open, EAs are attached to charts, and the AutoTrading button is green (enabled).
- Check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to verify terminal.exe processes are running.
Once you are confident that disconnecting works correctly (it will), you do not need to verify every time.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Clicking “Sign Out” from the Start Menu
The Windows Start menu has both “Disconnect” and “Sign out” options. They are right next to each other. If you accidentally click Sign out, all your programs will close.
Fix: Do not use the Start menu to leave your session. Always use the X button on the RDP window or connection bar.
Mistake 2: Using the Start Menu Shutdown/Restart Buttons
Some traders accidentally click “Shut down” or “Restart” from the Start menu power options. On a VPS, this powers off the entire server (or virtual machine). Your trading stops completely until the VPS is restarted.
Fix: If you need to restart your VPS for updates, do it deliberately during weekend maintenance windows, never from a quick Start menu click.
Mistake 3: Idle Session Timeout
Some VPS configurations have an idle session timeout that automatically disconnects or logs off sessions after a period of inactivity. If your provider has configured a log-off timeout (rather than a disconnect timeout), your programs will be terminated.
Fix: This is not typically an issue with FXVPS, as our servers are configured to disconnect idle sessions rather than log them off. If you experience unexpected logoffs, contact support.
Mistake 4: RDP Session Limit Reached
Windows Server allows a limited number of concurrent RDP sessions (typically 2). If you connect from a new device without disconnecting from the old one, you might see an error or be prompted to kick the other session. Forcing a disconnect on the existing session is fine — it behaves like a normal disconnect, and your programs keep running.
Fix: If you see a message saying another session is active, choose the option to disconnect the other session. This is safe and your EAs will continue running.
Saving Your RDP Connection for Quick Access
To make reconnecting easy, save your VPS connection details as an .rdp file:
- Open Remote Desktop Connection on your local computer (Win+R, type
mstsc). - Enter your VPS IP address and port (e.g.,
123.45.67.89:41011). - Click Show Options and fill in your username.
- Click Save As and save the .rdp file to your desktop.
- Next time, just double-click the file to connect instantly.
💡 Tip: Save your VPS connection as an .rdp file on your desktop for one-click access. Include the port number so you never have to type it manually.
What Happens to Your Trading When Disconnected?
When you disconnect from RDP, your VPS session transitions to a “disconnected” state. Here is what happens:
- CPU and RAM continue to be allocated to your session. Your EAs run at full speed.
- GPU/Graphics resources are partially freed since no screen needs to be rendered. This is actually a slight performance benefit.
- Network connections (to your broker’s servers) remain fully active.
- Your session stays alive indefinitely until you reconnect or the VPS is restarted.
In other words, disconnecting is the normal, intended state for a trading VPS. You should only be connected via RDP when you are actively configuring something — not 24/7.
Summary
The rule is simple: always disconnect, never sign out. Use the X button on your RDP window or connection bar, confirm the disconnection prompt, and your trading continues uninterrupted. Make it a habit, and you will never accidentally shut down your EAs again.
For more VPS management tips, see our guides on optimizing MetaTrader performance and running EAs 24/7, or check the full knowledge base.