What leverage actually is
Leverage lets you control a large position with a small amount of your own money. A leverage of 1:30 means €1 of your money can control €30 of position. It is marketed as a way to make bigger profits — but it magnifies losses exactly as much as gains, and it is a leading reason beginners lose money quickly.
The number you choose is a ceiling on how much you can borrow, not an amount you must use. The real risk comes from how big you size your trades, which leverage merely permits.
Where and how to set it
Step 1: Leverage is usually chosen at the account level, in the broker's client portal, not inside MetaTrader. Log in to the portal and find your account settings.
Step 2: Look for a "Leverage" or "Maximum leverage" option, often a dropdown of values like 1:10, 1:30, 1:100 (regulated caps for retail clients are commonly around 1:30 on major pairs).
Step 3: Choose the leverage you want and confirm. Some brokers apply it instantly; others require you to have no open trades first.
Step 4: Verify the change in MetaTrader by opening the account information (right-click the account in the Navigator, or check the Journal), where the current leverage is shown.
Why beginners should lean low
A lower leverage cap makes it physically harder to open a recklessly large position, which is a helpful guardrail while you are learning. With very high leverage, a small move against you can wipe out your deposit before you have time to react.
Whatever the cap, your actual risk is decided by your position size and your stop-loss, not by the leverage number itself. Sensible sizing on high leverage can be safe; huge sizing on low leverage can still be dangerous. Leverage sets the maximum rope you are given — how much you use is up to you.
An honest risk note
Regulators repeatedly report that a large majority of retail traders lose money, and heavy leverage is a big part of why. Treat a high leverage offer as a warning sign of how much damage is possible, not as a perk. As a beginner, keep leverage modest and let your position sizing, not the leverage dial, control your risk.