FiveM servers are coming soon
Cfx.re only lets hosts it has authorized sell FiveM servers, and servers on other hosts get blocked. FiveM opens on Wilderack the day Cfx.re approves us as a hosting partner. These guides are ready for the day we open.
FiveM mods are called resources: folders of scripts, cars, maps, clothes or menus that live in your server’s resources folder and start with an ensure line in server.cfg. Players don’t install anything: FiveM downloads each server’s resources for them when they join.
How resources work
- Each resource is a folder with an
fxmanifest.luafile at its top level. That file tells FiveM what the resource contains. - Folders with brackets around their name, like
[cars]or[qb], are categories. They group resources and aren’t resources themselves. - A resource only runs if
server.cfgstarts it withensure name. You can also start a whole category withensure [cars]. - Many resources need others to work, called dependencies. A script made for QBCore needs QBCore. Read each resource’s page before you install it.
Frameworks
Roleplay servers are built on a framework: a base that handles characters, jobs, money and inventories, which other scripts build on. Most scripts are made for one framework, so pick yours first.
| Framework | Good to know |
|---|---|
| QBCore | Very popular, with a huge library of scripts |
| ESX Legacy | One of the oldest and most widely used |
| Qbox | Newer and runs most QBCore scripts |
Each one needs a database (MariaDB) for player data. Cfx.re lists frameworks on its docs, but doesn’t make or support them. Help comes from each framework’s own docs and community.
Install a framework or starter from Mods
The Mods tab offers txAdmin recipes, which build a whole server in one go:
- Open Mods and choose a recipe: a plain server, QBCore, ESX Legacy or Qbox.
- Read the summary and confirm.
- A backup is made first. The recipe then downloads its resources, writes
server.cfgand sets up the database. - Restart when it asks.
A recipe replaces your current setup. To try one without losing your server, duplicate the save in Games first.
Install a resource by hand
Most scripts are installed by hand. You can upload through Files or with SFTP (works with FileZilla).
-
Download the resource from its maker, and unzip it on your computer.
-
Check the folder. The
fxmanifest.luafile must be at the top of the folder, not one folder deeper. GitHub downloads often add-mainto the folder name, so rename it to the resource’s real name, likemy-garage. -
Upload the folder into
resources. A category such asresources/[local]keeps your own additions tidy. -
If the resource came with a
.sqlfile, it needs tables in your database. Follow its install guide. -
Open
server.cfgand add a line under your framework’s lines:ensure my-garage -
Start it without a full restart: type
refreshin the Console, thenensure my-garage. Or restart the server.
Check the Console for red errors right after it starts. Most problems are a missing dependency or the wrong framework.
Cars, maps and clothes
Custom cars, maps (often called MLOs) and clothes are resources too, with their files in a stream folder. Some notes:
- Big streamed files make players’ first join slower, because each player downloads them. Keep an eye on the total size.
- Newer game content may need a higher
sv_enforceGameBuildinserver.cfg. See game builds. - FiveM for GTA V Enhanced loads assets from a
stream_enhancedfolder when a resource has one. Older resources may need converting for Enhanced.
Paid and escrowed resources
Some paid scripts are escrowed: locked so their code can’t be read or changed. They come with a .fxap file and only run on servers whose license key belongs to the Cfx.re account that bought them.
- Buy paid resources only through the Cfx.re Marketplace or Tebex. Rockstar’s rules don’t allow other stores to resell other people’s scripts.
- Upload the whole folder, hidden files included. In FileZilla, turn on Force showing hidden files in the Server menu before you upload. If the
.fxapfile is missing, the server says it failed to verify a protected resource. - If you bought it on another account, transfer it to the account that owns the key on the Cfx.re Portal.
Never install “leaked” paid scripts. They break the rules and often contain hidden code that harms your server. Cfx.re calls this “prohibited logic”.
Updates and versions
- Resources never update on their own, because updates can break a working server. A backup is made before every change you make in Mods.
- Update your framework and its scripts together. A new framework version can break older scripts made for it.
- Keep your server files (artifacts) recent too. Old artifacts can fail to load new scripts, and artifacts more than three months out of date can’t be joined from the server list.
What friends need
Nothing extra. When a friend joins, FiveM downloads every resource your server streams, including cars, maps and clothes. The first join takes longest. If a friend’s download keeps failing, see Couldn’t load resource.
Questions
Do players need to download mods to join my FiveM server?
No. FiveM downloads the server's scripts, cars, maps and clothes for each player when they join. Players only need GTA V and the FiveM client.
Where do I put FiveM scripts on my server?
Put each script's folder inside the resources folder, then add a line like ensure myscript to server.cfg and restart. The folder needs an fxmanifest.lua file at its top level.
Can I use QBCore scripts on Qbox?
Mostly, yes. Qbox is built to run most QBCore resources. ESX scripts need ESX, though, and won't work on QBCore or Qbox without changes.
Why does my paid FiveM script say it can't verify a protected resource?
Escrowed scripts come with a hidden .fxap file. Some upload tools skip hidden files, so upload the whole folder again with hidden files shown, and make sure your license key belongs to the account that bought the script.