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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe simplest current way to host a FiveM server on a Windows PC is to run the official FXServer artifact and complete the bundled txAdmin wizard. Download the recommended build, extract it, register a server key in Cfx Portal, deploy the CFX Default FiveM recipe, and use TCP and UDP port 30120 for the game. txAdmin uses TCP port 40120 for its web panel. Friends on your home network can connect with little additional work; internet players also require Windows Firewall permission, router/NAT forwarding, and an ISP connection that accepts inbound traffic.
What you are setting up
A FiveM server is the Cfx platform server commonly called FXServer. It runs the game-server process on your computer while the FiveM client connects to it. txAdmin is the management panel bundled with FXServer: it handles the first-run registration, recipe-based installation, monitoring, restarts, player controls and basic configuration through a browser.
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Your PC must remain powered on and connected whenever people want to play. Hosting at home avoids a recurring game-server rental, but you become responsible for updates, backups, network configuration, Windows security and troubleshooting. A separate hosting provider is the practical alternative if the machine cannot stay online; Cfx documents provider deployments, but does not publish a universal price or performance comparison.
Before you begin
- A Windows PC on which you can run the FiveM server process.
- A FiveM client for testing and a Grand Theft Auto V installation compatible with the server setup you choose.
- A stable network connection. Ethernet between the PC and router is generally preferable to Wi-Fi for consistency, but no particular cable, router or UPS model is required.
- Enough free disk space for the server artifact, server-data files, logs and any resources you later add.
- A Cfx account. The normal setup also requires a server registration key created in Cfx Portal.
- 7-Zip, WinRAR or another utility that can extract a
.7zarchive.
For Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced server setups, Cfx says the Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable must be installed before the server runs. Enhanced builds use different artifact and executable names from legacy Windows builds, so follow the filename shown on the current Cfx download and setup pages rather than assuming that every release uses FXServer.exe or server.7z.
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Recommended method: install FXServer with txAdmin
This is the supported, lowest-friction Windows route. Do the first launch without an +exec argument so FXServer starts txAdmin in monitor mode.
1. Create a dedicated server folder
- In File Explorer, create a clearly named directory such as
C:FXServerserver. - Keep the location short and easy to recognize. A dedicated path makes later updates, backups and troubleshooting less confusing than mixing binaries with unrelated files.
2. Download the recommended artifact
Open Cfx’s official Server Download page and choose the latest recommended Windows artifact. Cfx uses the word “artifact” for the package containing the files needed to run or update a FiveM server. Recommended builds change over time, so use the current recommended download instead of copying an old build number from a guide.
3. Extract the archive
- Open the downloaded
.7zfile with 7-Zip, WinRAR or an equivalent extractor. - Extract its contents into
C:FXServerserver(or the folder you created). - Check that the executable and the supplied server files are directly inside the extracted location, not one directory deeper because the archive was unpacked into an automatically generated subfolder.
4. Start the first txAdmin session
- Run
FXServer.exefrom the extracted folder with no+execarguments. - FXServer should open a browser window for txAdmin. If it does not, browse manually to
http://localhost:40120. - Leave the server console open while completing the browser wizard. Closing it stops the server process.
Port 40120 is txAdmin’s default HTTP management port. It is separate from the game endpoint on port 30120, so changing one does not automatically change the other.
5. Pair txAdmin with your Cfx account
- Read the one-time PIN printed in the FXServer console and enter it in the txAdmin browser page.
- Sign in and link your Cfx account when prompted.
- Set the txAdmin backup password. Store it somewhere safe; it is used to recover or protect the panel’s saved data.
- Review and accept the Creator Platform and txAdmin license terms, then register the panel.
6. Choose the basic server recipe
- Give the server a name that your friends will recognize.
- Select Popular Recipes.
- Choose CFX Default FiveM, also displayed as FiveM Basic Server (CFX Default) in the wizard.
- Confirm the location where txAdmin should save the server-data files.
A recipe creates a known-good baseline of configuration and default resources. You can customize that baseline after the first successful run instead of assembling every file manually.
7. Create and enter the server key
- In Recipe Deployer, open the Cfx Portal link.
- Create a server key for this installation in Cfx Portal.
- Copy the key exactly as issued.
- Return to txAdmin, paste it into the server-key field and run the recipe.
The key is required for normal operation. Do not publish it in screenshots, chat messages or a public repository. If you later move the server, keep the key with the installation’s private configuration rather than placing it in a resource that other players can download.
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8. Save and run
When Recipe Deployer reports that deployment is complete, choose Save & Run Server. Watch the console for resource-start messages and for the server to finish initializing before launching the client.
9. Join from the same network
- Open FiveM on the host PC or another computer connected to the same home network.
- Look for the LAN entry corresponding to the computer running FXServer.
- If the entry does not appear, restart the FiveM client and check again.
LAN testing is the fastest way to validate the installation because it does not depend on router port forwarding or your ISP’s inbound-traffic policy.
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The standard game endpoint uses both protocols on port 30120. txAdmin’s browser panel uses TCP port 40120 by default.
| Function | Protocol | Default port | Where it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| FiveM game endpoint | TCP | 30120 | Game connections to the server |
| FiveM game endpoint | UDP | 30120 | Game traffic and discovery that use UDP |
| txAdmin web panel | TCP | 40120 | Management access from the host browser; expose it publicly only with a deliberate security plan |
Windows Firewall
When Windows asks whether FXServer may communicate on a network, allow the profile that matches your trusted home network. If you dismissed the prompt or the server is still unreachable, create inbound rules for the game endpoint’s TCP 30120 and UDP 30120 in Windows Defender Firewall. The exact dialog names can vary by Windows version; the important distinction is that TCP and UDP are separate rules.
You normally do not need to expose txAdmin’s TCP 40120 to the public internet. Use http://localhost:40120 on the host, or the host’s private LAN address from a trusted computer, and protect the panel with its password.
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Router or NAT forwarding
Players outside your home need the router to forward TCP 30120 and UDP 30120 to the private IP address of the PC running FXServer. Give that PC a stable LAN address through your router’s DHCP reservation or an equivalent method, otherwise a reboot can make the forwarding target obsolete.
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Cfx’s setup documentation does not validate every router model. Menu labels differ, and some routers combine TCP/UDP into an “ both” option while others require two entries. Forward only the game port unless you have a specific, secured reason to publish another service.
ISP limitations and testing
Even correct firewall and forwarding rules cannot overcome an ISP connection that blocks inbound traffic or places your home behind carrier-grade NAT. Test from a different network, such as a friend’s connection or a mobile hotspot, rather than relying only on a device inside your LAN. If outside players cannot connect while LAN play works, investigate the public address, forwarding target, firewall rules and ISP policy in that order.
Manual (“vanilla”) setup for more control
txAdmin is easiest for a first server, but a manual launch gives you direct control over files and startup arguments. Keep the server binaries and the cfx-server-data repository in separate folders. This separation makes it easier to replace an artifact without overwriting configuration or resources.
Folder layout
One workable arrangement is a binaries folder such as C:FXServerserver and a data folder such as C:FXServerserver-data. Put server.cfg in the data folder. The server must be launched with the data folder as its working directory or with a command that points to the correct configuration.
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Create server.cfg
Your configuration needs the license key issued in Cfx Portal, both game endpoints, OneSync and the default resources. A minimal pattern is:
endpoint_add_tcp "0.0.0.0:30120"
endpoint_add_udp "0.0.0.0:30120"
sv_licenseKey "replace-with-key-issued-in-Cfx-Portal"
set onesync on
ensure mapmanager
ensure chat
ensure spawnmanager
ensure sessionmanager
ensure basic-gamemode
ensure hardcapThe key value in the example must be replaced with the private key generated for your server. Resource names can change as you customize the installation; the listed entries represent the default-resource pattern used by the basic setup.
Launch from the data directory
Open a command prompt in the data directory and start the binary with the configuration file:
FXServer.exe +exec server.cfgIf the executable is stored in a separate folder, call it by its full path or use a shortcut whose working directory is the data folder. Starting from the wrong directory, omitting +exec, or pointing to a missing configuration commonly produces “No resources found,” resource-start failures or connection refusals.
txAdmin and vanilla setup compared
| Consideration | txAdmin wizard | Manual launch |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Lowest: browser-guided registration and a recipe deploy the baseline. | Higher: you maintain folders, server.cfg, startup arguments and resources yourself. |
| Configuration control | Full customization remains possible after the recipe, but the initial files are generated for you. | Maximum control from the first file and command. |
| Monitoring | Built-in web panel for management and monitoring. | Console and whatever separate tools you add. |
| Updates | You still replace the recommended artifact and review changes; txAdmin does not remove that responsibility. | You handle artifact replacement and configuration compatibility directly. |
| Public networking | Same firewall, forwarding and ISP requirements. | Same firewall, forwarding and ISP requirements. |
| Recurring cost | No Cfx hosting fee is stated for running the software on your own PC, but your electricity and internet service remain your costs. | Same home-hosting costs; Cfx does not publish a universal cost or performance comparison. |
Keeping the server reliable
Back up the right files
- Back up the txAdmin data location or, for a manual installation, the complete
server-datafolder. - Protect
server.cfgand any file containing the server key as private data. - Keep a copy of custom resources and note which artifact version they were tested with.
Update deliberately
Use the official recommended build page when updating. Artifact build numbers and filenames are volatile, and an old tutorial may refer to a package that has been superseded. Download the new artifact, stop FXServer, back up the existing installation, replace or update the binaries as directed by Cfx, and start the server again. Review the console for resource or configuration errors before inviting players.
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Plan for uptime
A home server stops when the PC sleeps, reboots for maintenance, loses power or loses its internet connection. Configure your normal Windows sleep and restart behavior with that consequence in mind. An Ethernet connection and a UPS can reduce interruptions, but they are supportive choices rather than compatibility requirements.
Limit administrative exposure
Use a strong txAdmin backup password, keep the panel off public port forwarding, and share the server key with nobody who does not administer the installation. Give friends the game address, not access to the management interface.
Troubleshooting by symptom
txAdmin does not open
- Confirm that FXServer is still running and that the first launch was started without
+execarguments. - Open
http://localhost:40120manually. - Check whether another application is already using TCP 40120. If so, stop the conflicting process or change txAdmin’s configured port and use the new address locally.
The LAN server is missing
- Wait until the server finishes starting and its default resources have loaded.
- Restart the FiveM client, as Cfx’s setup guidance recommends when the LAN entry does not appear.
- Verify that both devices are on the same home network and that Windows Firewall permits FXServer.
Friends outside the house cannot connect
- Confirm that LAN play works first.
- Check separate TCP and UDP forwarding entries for port 30120.
- Make sure the forwarding target is the host PC’s current private IP address.
- Recheck Windows Firewall on the host.
- Test from an external network and investigate whether the ISP blocks inbound connections or uses carrier-grade NAT.
“No resources found” or “failed to start resource”
These messages commonly indicate a wrong working directory, an incomplete extraction, a missing server-data folder or a manual launch that omitted +exec server.cfg. Confirm the folder layout, check resource paths in the configuration and start again from the data directory.
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The key is absent, invalid, or the server started with a different configuration than the one containing sv_licenseKey. In txAdmin, return to Recipe Deployer and verify the Cfx Portal key was pasted before deployment. In a manual setup, confirm the line is in the active server.cfg and that the launch command points to that file.
Enhanced build will not start
Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable required by Cfx’s Enhanced setup guidance, then verify that you downloaded the Enhanced artifact and are using its documented executable name. Do not mix legacy binaries, Enhanced binaries and data files without following the matching Cfx instructions.
When a hosted server is a better fit
Run the server on your own PC when you want hands-on control, occasional sessions with friends and no separate monthly game-server bill. Choose a provider path when the host PC cannot stay online, your ISP does not allow inbound traffic, or you do not want to maintain router rules, Windows Firewall, backups and artifact updates. Cfx documents provider-based deployment, but provider prices, hardware, locations and support quality vary and are not established by the official setup material.
If you would rather not keep a PC online, Godlike.Host offers FiveM server hosting with free DDoS protection, up to three free backups a day with restore, and 24/7 support by live chat or ticket. It is not on Cfx.re’s list of authorized FiveM hosts (fivem.net, 10 Oct 2026).
Quick Recap
Final checklist before inviting players
- The recommended Windows artifact is extracted cleanly and matches your legacy or Enhanced game setup.
- txAdmin opened at
http://localhost:40120, or the manual launch completed with+exec server.cfg. - Your Cfx account is linked and a valid Cfx Portal server key is configured.
- The CFX Default FiveM recipe completed, or your manual configuration starts the default resources.
- LAN play works from a FiveM client.
- Windows Firewall permits TCP and UDP 30120.
- For outside players, the router forwards both protocols on 30120 to the host PC and an external-network test succeeds.
- The txAdmin password, server key and backups are stored privately.
