How to Set Up a FiveM Server in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

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Setting up a FiveM server from scratch — installing the artifacts, framework (ESX or QBCore), database and resources — takes time. This step-by-step guide covers the whole process, and shows how a premade FiveM server can get you live in minutes instead.

Setting up a FiveM server sounds intimidating the first time, but the modern toolchain makes it straightforward. This guide takes you from an empty machine to a running server you can connect to.

What you need before you start

• A Windows or Linux machine (a VPS with at least 4 GB RAM and 2 vCPUs is a comfortable starting point)
• A free server license key from the Cfx.re Keymaster portal
• The latest recommended FiveM server artifacts
• About 30 minutes

Step 1 — Download the server artifacts

Artifacts are the FXServer binaries that actually run your server. Grab the latest "recommended" build rather than the bleeding-edge "latest" one — recommended builds are stable and well-tested. Extract them into a clean folder such as C:\FXServer or /home/fivem/server.

Step 2 — Set up txAdmin

txAdmin ships with the artifacts and is the easiest way to manage your server. Launch the server executable once and it opens txAdmin in your browser. The setup wizard walks you through linking your Cfx.re account, naming your server, and choosing a base template (the cfx-default recipe is perfect for learning).

Step 3 — Add your license key

Paste the license key you generated in Keymaster into txAdmin. Without it your server will not start. Keep this key private — treat it like a password.

Step 4 — Configure server.cfg

Your server.cfg controls hostname, max clients, tags, and which resources load. Start small: keep the default resources, set a clear hostname, and only add resources you understand. A bloated server.cfg is the number one cause of startup errors for new owners.

Step 5 — Add your first resources

Drop new scripts and maps into the resources folder, then ensure them in server.cfg with a line like ensure my-resource. Restart from txAdmin and watch the console for errors. Add one resource at a time so you can immediately see what breaks.

Step 6 — Open your ports and go live

FiveM uses port 30120 by default (both TCP and UDP). Forward it on your router or open it in your VPS firewall. Once it is reachable, your server appears in the server browser and friends can connect via direct connect using your IP.

Common first-day mistakes

• Using the "latest" artifacts instead of "recommended"
• Forgetting to forward UDP as well as TCP on 30120
• Adding 40 resources at once, then having no idea which one crashes
• Leaving the default txAdmin password

Where to go next

Once your base server runs cleanly, build out a roleplay framework and add scripts gradually. Optimized, well-documented resources save you days of debugging — browse curated FiveM scripts and MLOs to fill out your server with quality assets that install in minutes.

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Get started: If you'd rather skip the manual setup, a complete premade FiveM server gives you a ready-to-launch ESX server with scripts, MLOs and jobs already configured.