# FiveM Server Setup Guide 2026 — Complete Beginner Tutorial

Setting up a FiveM server for the first time feels overwhelming. There are dozens of moving parts — hosting, server artifacts, framework installation, database setup, scripts, and more. But broken down step by step, it is completely manageable even for someone with no prior server experience.

## Step 1 — Choose Your Hosting

You need a server to host FiveM on. Your options:

**Dedicated/VPS hosting (recommended):**
Rent a VPS from providers like Zap-Hosting, FiveM.gg hosting, or general VPS providers like Contabo or OVH.

Minimum specs for a small server (20-40 players):
- 4 CPU cores
- 8GB RAM
- 50GB SSD storage
- 100Mbps network connection

Recommended specs for a mid-size server (60-128 players):
- 8 CPU cores
- 16-32GB RAM
- 100GB+ SSD storage
- 1Gbps network connection

**Home hosting (not recommended for public servers):**
Technically possible but your home internet upload speed, ISP terms of service, and 24/7 uptime make this impractical for a public server. Fine for private testing only.

## Step 2 — Install FiveM Server Artifacts

On Windows:
1. Create a folder: C:\FXServer\server
2. Download the latest recommended server artifacts from runtime.fivem.net/artifacts
3. Extract to C:\FXServer\server
4. Create a server-data folder: C:\FXServer\server-data

On Linux:
mkdir -p /home/fxserver/server
cd /home/fxserver/server
wget https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_proot_linux/master/[latest]/fx.tar.xz
tar xf fx.tar.xz

## Step 3 — Get Your Server License Key

1. Go to keymaster.fivem.net
2. Log in with your CFX account (create one if needed)
3. Click New Server
4. Fill in server details and generate your license key
5. Save this key — you will need it in your server.cfg

## Step 4 — Create server.cfg

In your server-data folder, create server.cfg with this basic template:

endpoint_add_tcp "0.0.0.0:30120"
endpoint_add_udp "0.0.0.0:30120"

sv_maxclients 32
sv_licenseKey "your_license_key_here"
sv_hostname "My FiveM Server"
sets sv_projectName "My FiveM Server"
sets sv_projectDesc "A FiveM Roleplay Server"
sv_enforceGameBuild 2944

add_ace group.admin command allow
add_ace group.admin command.quit allow

ensure mapmanager
ensure chat
ensure spawnmanager
ensure sessionmanager
ensure basic-gamemode

Replace your_license_key_here with your actual license key.

## Step 5 — Install a Database

Most frameworks require a MySQL/MariaDB database. The easiest option is XAMPP on Windows:

1. Download XAMPP from apachefriends.org
2. Install and start Apache and MySQL services
3. Open phpMyAdmin at localhost/phpmyadmin
4. Create a new database named fivem
5. Note your database credentials for framework installation

For Linux servers, install MariaDB:
sudo apt install mariadb-server
sudo mysql_secure_installation

## Step 6 — Install QBCore Framework

1. Download QBCore from github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-core
2. Extract to server-data/resources/[core]/
3. Download oxmysql from github.com/overextended/oxmysql
4. Add to server.cfg:

ensure oxmysql
ensure qb-core

5. Set your database connection string in server.cfg:

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://root:password@localhost/fivem"

## Step 7 — Install txAdmin

txAdmin is the best FiveM server management panel. It provides web-based server management, auto-restart on crash, player management and banning, resource management, and performance monitoring.

txAdmin comes bundled with FiveM server artifacts. Start your server once and txAdmin will be accessible at localhost:40120 or your server IP.

## Step 8 — Add Essential Resources

After framework installation, add these essential resources for QBCore servers:
- ox_lib — utility library
- ox_inventory — inventory system
- ox_target — interaction system
- qb-multicharacter — character creation
- qb-spawn — spawn selection
- qb-garages — vehicle garages
- qb-phone — in-game phone

Install each by downloading from GitHub, placing in resources, and adding ensure lines to server.cfg.

## Step 9 — Add Custom Maps

Once your base server is working, add your custom MLO interiors. Start with one or two maps, verify they work, then add more. Follow the MLO installation guide for each resource.

## Step 10 — Configure and Test

Before opening to players:
- Set spawn locations appropriate to your server
- Configure starting money and items for new players
- Set up admin permissions
- Test all core functionality — jobs, inventory, vehicles, banking
- Test all custom MLO locations
- Set up a whitelist or open access depending on your server model

## Common First-Time Mistakes

**Not updating server artifacts regularly** — Run the latest recommended build. Old artifacts have bugs and security issues.

**Loading too many resources at once** — Start minimal. Add resources one at a time and test. A bloated server with 200 resources all added at once is impossible to troubleshoot.

**No database backups** — Set up automatic daily database backups before you have players. Losing player data destroys communities.

**Skipping txAdmin** — Many beginners skip txAdmin and manage the server manually. This is a mistake. txAdmin saves enormous time and provides critical monitoring.

## Final Thoughts

Your first FiveM server setup will take longer than expected. That is normal. Focus on getting a clean, minimal, working server before adding dozens of scripts and MLOs. A stable foundation with a few quality custom locations beats an unstable server drowning in half-working scripts every time.