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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To add a custom ped to FiveM, install it as a resource rather than copying files into your GTA V folder. Create a resource directory with a stream subfolder, put the supplied .yft, .ydd, .ytd and .ymt files there, add an fxmanifest.lua, register peds.meta only when the package includes it, and start the resource with ensure in server.cfg. Once the resource is running, select the ped by its declared model name in your trainer, ped menu or script.
The details that most often decide whether an installation works are the package type (add-on or replacement), the exact resource layout, the manifest entries, and the model name. The procedure below covers each one and gives recovery steps for invisible models, metadata errors and framework resets.
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If you need a hosted FiveM server for testing custom peds, Godlike.Host provides a FiveM game server with a Pterodactyl-based panel, backups and SFTP access. It is not on Cfx.re’s list of authorized FiveM hosts (fivem.net, 10 Oct 2026).
What you need before installing
Prepare these items before creating the resource:
- A FiveM-compatible ped package. Prefer a release whose author explicitly documents FiveM support.
- Access to your server’s data directory and permission to edit
server.cfg. - The package readme, including its model name, required files and installation notes.
- A way to select or spawn a model, such as an existing ped menu, trainer or script.
- A backup of the current resource folder if you are modifying an existing installation.
Do not assume that a GTA V model download is automatically a FiveM resource. A package made for single-player modding may have a different structure, omit required files or use a replacement model name. Confirm compatibility before you build the resource.
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Check whether it is an add-on or a replacement
| Package type | What it does | Typical use | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add-on ped | Adds a new model alongside the standard GTA V models. | A unique NPC, role, pet or special character. | The model still needs to be spawned with its exact declared name. |
| Replacement ped | Reuses and overwrites an existing model name. | Changing the appearance of a model already used by the game. | Every location or script that uses that original model can change. |
| Freemode clothing or EUP | Adds clothing or uniforms to mp_m_freemode_01 and mp_f_freemode_01. |
Custom outfits for player characters. | It is a clothing workflow, not a standalone-ped installation. |
If you want one additional character without changing existing NPCs, an add-on is normally the safer choice. A replacement is global by design, so test it with every script and location that may use the replaced model.
Identify the supplied files
Common ped assets use these extensions:
| File extension | Role in the resource | Where it normally goes |
|---|---|---|
.yft |
Model file, including the drawable’s physical structure. | stream |
.ydd |
Drawable data for the model or its components. | stream |
.ytd |
Texture dictionary. | stream |
.ymt |
Ped-related metadata used by the game. | stream |
peds.meta |
Optional ped metadata file that must be registered in the manifest when supplied. | Resource root, unless the package documentation specifies another path |
Keep the filenames exactly as supplied. Renaming a file, dropping a companion texture or mixing files from different versions can make the ped invisible or unstable.
Create the resource directory
FiveM discovers custom content through resources. A resource is a collection of files that can be started, stopped and restarted independently; it is not a loose collection of files copied into the base GTA V installation.
- Open the server data directory that contains your existing resources.
- Create a category folder if you do not already have one. For example, create
resources/[peds]. Square brackets in a category name are commonly used to group resources; they are not part of the resource’s start name. - Inside that category, create a resource folder such as
my-ped. - Inside
my-ped, create a folder named exactlystream. - Place every model asset supplied by the creator in
stream. This normally includes the.yft,.ydd,.ytdand.ymtfiles.
Your initial layout should look like this:
server-data/ resources/ [peds]/ my-ped/ stream/ character.yft character.ydd character.ytd character.ymtThe names in the example are illustrative. Use the actual names from the package; do not rename them to match the example.
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Write the FiveM resource manifest
Every current FiveM resource needs a manifest named fxmanifest.lua in the resource root. In the example above, that means the file belongs at resources/[peds]/my-ped/fxmanifest.lua, alongside the stream folder, not inside it. Older resources may use the deprecated __resource.lua filename, but a new resource should use fxmanifest.lua.
Minimal manifest when there is no peds.meta
If the package contains only streamed assets and does not provide peds.meta, use a minimal manifest:
fx_version 'cerulean'
game 'gta5'Do not add a made-up metadata file or a PED_METADATA_FILE entry. FiveM can stream the model files without that declaration when the package does not include a separate ped metadata file.
Manifest when the package includes peds.meta
When the creator supplies peds.meta, put that file in the resource root and register it with both a files entry and a matching data_file entry:
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fx_version 'cerulean'
game 'gta5'
files {
'peds.meta'
}
data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' 'peds.meta'The two paths must match the real filename and location. If the file is named custom_peds.meta, change both references to custom_peds.meta; do not leave one line pointing to peds.meta. A metadata error commonly means the file was omitted from files, the filename is different, or the declaration points to the wrong path.
Complete example layout with metadata
server-data/ resources/ [peds]/ my-ped/ fxmanifest.lua peds.meta stream/ character.yft character.ydd character.ytd character.ymtThe manifest tells FiveM how to parse the resource, while stream carries the model assets. Both parts are required for a clean installation.
Start the resource from server.cfg
A resource is not active merely because its folder exists. Add an ensure line to the server configuration, using the resource folder’s name:
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ensure my-pedDo not include the category path in the command. For resources/[peds]/my-ped, the resource name is my-ped. Place the line with your other resource start commands, save server.cfg, and restart the server. If your setup supports restarting individual resources, you can restart the resource after the server is running, but a full restart is useful for the first installation.
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Confirm that FiveM started it
Watch the server console during startup. You should see the resource being ensured without a manifest or metadata error. If the console reports a missing manifest, stop there and correct the folder layout before testing the model. A resource nested one directory too deep is a common cause: the manifest must be directly inside the resource folder named by ensure.
Find and spawn the model
Use the model name specified in the package readme or metadata. In most installations, the name is the relevant asset name without its file extension. For example, an asset documented as character should be requested as character, not character.yft. Do not guess when the package includes a readme or a peds.meta declaration; those may define a different name.
- Start the server with the resource enabled.
- Join the server and open your ped menu, trainer or testing script.
- Enter the exact model name, respecting spelling and underscores.
- Spawn the ped and check its body, textures, animations and accessories.
- Test it in the situations where it will be used, such as a job script, NPC spawner or ambient population.
An add-on ped normally appears only when explicitly selected by its model name. Installing the files does not automatically add a button to every menu; menus and scripts determine how models are listed.
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Diagnose a ped that does not work
“Could not find resource” or missing-manifest warning
- Confirm the resource folder is inside the server’s active
resourcesdirectory. - Confirm the manifest is named exactly
fxmanifest.lua, including lowercase spelling and the.luaextension. - Confirm the manifest is in the resource root, at the same level as
stream. - Check that
ensure my-peduses the resource folder name, not[peds]/my-ped. - Remove accidental extra nesting, such as
my-ped/my-ped/fxmanifest.lua.
The model is invisible, has missing textures or crashes
- Compare the installed files with the creator’s package list and restore every supplied companion file.
- Move all streamed assets into
stream; files left in the download folder or resource root may not load as intended. - Restore original filenames and capitalization. Do not rename files to make them “consistent.”
- Check that the package was released for FiveM and that you did not combine a model from one release with textures or metadata from another.
- Try the package on a test server with other custom resources temporarily disabled. This helps separate a bad asset from a resource conflict.
Metadata errors appear in the console
Use the metadata manifest only when the package actually contains a metadata file. Check all three details: the file exists in the resource root, its name is listed under files, and the data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' path matches it exactly. If the package has no peds.meta, remove both metadata lines instead of creating an empty file.
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The ped cannot be selected
- Confirm the console shows the resource starting successfully.
- Check that the model name comes from the package documentation or metadata, rather than from a shortened filename.
- Try the name without an extension if your menu expects a model name.
- Verify that your menu or script accepts add-on models; some menus show only built-in or freemode entries.
The ped appears briefly and then changes back
Character and appearance systems can reapply the freemode model after spawn. This behavior is framework-specific, so the resource itself may be working correctly. Configure the framework’s own ped-selection or character-appearance mechanism, or adjust the spawn flow so it does not overwrite the selected model. There is no universal FiveM setting that prevents every framework from resetting a ped.
The server starts, but only some parts of the ped are wrong
A partially working model often indicates an incomplete file set rather than a manifest problem. Check for separate head, hair, clothing, accessory or texture files in the download. Some packages distribute several related assets that must all remain together. Also test whether the package is intended as a replacement; a replacement can alter an existing model while an add-on requires its own model name.
How to evaluate a ped package before adding it
Two packages that look similar in screenshots can behave very differently on a live server. Use this checklist before choosing one:
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- File set: Are all required
.yft,.ydd,.ytd,.ymtand any metadata files included? - Metadata: Does the creator supply
peds.meta, and are installation instructions provided for it? - Rig and animation compatibility: Does the ped use a compatible rig for the animations and scripts you plan to run?
- Performance: Are texture sizes and polygon complexity reasonable for the number of players or NPCs that may load it?
- Documentation: Is FiveM support stated clearly, with a model name and known limitations?
- License: Does the license permit server use, redistribution to clients and any edits you plan to make?
Performance is especially important when a ped is used repeatedly. A high-detail character may be acceptable for one role-play NPC but expensive when spawned for a crowd. Test loading time, texture quality and animation behavior with the intended number of instances rather than judging only from a single local spawn.
Updating, disabling and removing a custom ped
Update safely
- Stop or disable the resource before replacing files.
- Back up the working resource directory, including the manifest and metadata.
- Compare the new package’s filenames and installation notes with the old version.
- Replace the complete file set rather than mixing versions.
- Restart the resource or server and test the model name again.
If an update changes the declared model name, scripts and menus that reference the old name must be updated as well. Keep the old backup until the new release has passed your normal spawn and animation tests.
Disable or remove it
To disable the ped temporarily, remove or comment out ensure my-ped in server.cfg, then restart the resource or server. To remove it permanently, stop the resource, delete its folder and remove the corresponding ensure line. Also remove any script configuration that attempts to spawn the deleted model; otherwise those scripts will report a missing model or silently fall back to another ped.
Quick installation checklist
- The download explicitly supports FiveM.
- You identified add-on, replacement or freemode clothing correctly.
- The resource folder is under the server’s
resourcesdirectory. - The manifest is exactly
fxmanifest.luain the resource root. - All supplied model assets are inside
stream. peds.metais registered only when supplied, with matching filenames.ensure resource-nameis present inserver.cfg.- The server console shows the resource starting without errors.
- Your menu or script uses the documented model name.
- You tested the ped with the framework’s spawn and appearance systems.
Why the resource method matters
Installing through a resource keeps custom content separate from the base game and makes it controllable: you can start, stop, restart, update or remove one ped without altering the server’s GTA V installation. The stream folder supplies the assets, fxmanifest.lua describes how FiveM should parse them, and server.cfg determines whether the resource is active. Keeping those responsibilities separate makes most installation failures straightforward to locate.
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