Make sure you have these ready before following the steps below.
A legitimate copy of GTA V purchased on Steam, Epic Games, or the Rockstar Launcher. Required to obtain a Cfx.re license key.
Minimum 4GB RAM and 50GB SSD. Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) is recommended. A VPS from Hetzner, Contabo, or OVH works well for small to mid-sized servers.
Optional but helpful. Most FiveM scripts are written in Lua. Knowing the basics lets you configure scripts and fix small bugs without depending on others.
Follow these 8 steps from a blank VPS to a running FiveM server.
Pick a VPS or dedicated server with at least 4GB RAM and 50GB SSD. For small servers (up to 32 players) 4–8GB RAM is enough; for larger communities aim for 16GB+. Popular providers: Contabo, Hetzner, OVH, and Vultr. Avoid shared hosting — it does not allow the required ports.
SSH into your server and download the latest FiveM server artifact from runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_proot_linux/master/. Extract it, make the run.sh executable, and point it at your server-data folder. The artifact includes txAdmin out of the box.
Open port 40120 in your firewall and navigate to http://your-server-ip:40120 in your browser. Follow the txAdmin setup wizard: create an admin account, link your Cfx.re account, and choose a deployment type (QBCore, ESX, or blank). txAdmin will scaffold the initial server files for you.
Select QBCore for a modern, clean codebase recommended for new servers. Choose ESX if you want access to the largest existing script library. QBOX is the newest fork of QBCore with better performance. Your framework choice determines which scripts are compatible — pick one and stick with it.
Edit your server.cfg to set your server name, description, and license key. Add `ensure` statements for every resource you want to load. Set sv_maxclients, sv_endpointPrivacy, and onesync. Keep this file version-controlled so you can roll back changes easily.
Download scripts from VertexMods or the community. Extract each script into your resources/ folder, then add `ensure script-name` to server.cfg. Always check the script's README for dependencies — most QBCore scripts require qb-core and oxmysql to be running first.
Connect locally using F8 → `connect 127.0.0.1` to test before inviting others. Check the txAdmin console for resource errors. Run a stress test with a few players to catch performance issues. Fix all console errors before opening to the public.
Use the txAdmin resource monitor to spot scripts with high CPU or memory usage. Remove or replace anything above 5ms tick time. Keep scripts updated — outdated scripts are the most common source of crashes. Set up txAdmin's scheduled restarts for 24/7 stability.
Your framework is the backbone of your server. Compare the three main options before committing.
The established standard
ESX is the original FiveM framework with the largest library of existing scripts. Best choice if you are migrating an existing server or want maximum script availability.
Modern & beginner-friendly
QBCore is the most popular choice for new servers in 2026. Clean code architecture, excellent documentation, and a huge active community make it the easiest starting point.
Installing any script follows the same four-step process.
Purchase or download a free script from VertexMods. You will receive a .zip file containing the resource folder.
Extract the .zip so the script folder (e.g. qb-policejob/) sits directly inside your server's resources/ directory. The folder must contain a fxmanifest.lua file.
Open server.cfg and add `ensure script-name` (using the exact folder name). Place it after its dependencies — if the script requires qb-core, ensure qb-core must appear first.
Save server.cfg and restart your server (or use txAdmin's resource manager to start just the new script without a full restart). Check the console for errors.
Common questions from new FiveM server owners.
A VPS suitable for FiveM runs from $5–20/month for a small server (4GB RAM, 50GB SSD). Dedicated servers with better performance cost $50–200+/month. FiveM itself is completely free — you only pay for hosting.
Yes. You need a free Cfx.re license key from keymaster.fivem.net. Sign in with your Cfx.re account, register your server's IP, and copy the key into your server.cfg. Without it, your server will not start.
txAdmin is a web-based server management panel that ships bundled with every FiveM server artifact. It provides a dashboard for starting/stopping the server, managing players, setting up a framework, monitoring resources, and viewing live console output — all from your browser.
The default slot limit is 32 players. With a Patreon-linked Cfx.re account you can increase this to 64 or 128. How many players perform well depends on your hardware and the number of active scripts — start with 32 slots and scale up after testing.
Yes, for local testing this works fine. However, your PC needs to stay on 24/7 for others to connect, and your home internet upload speed is usually too slow for stable gameplay. A VPS is required for any server you want available around the clock.
QBCore is recommended for new servers — it has clean, well-documented code and an active community. If you are migrating an existing ESX server, stay with ESX since the script library is massive. QBOX is the newest option with the best performance but has fewer ready-made scripts.
A basic server with txAdmin running takes 2–4 hours following this guide. A fully configured RP server with a framework, jobs, housing, and economy usually takes 1–4 weeks of configuration and testing before it is ready for players.