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How to Add Custom Peds to a FiveM Server

A complete, practical guide to adding custom peds as FiveM resources, including folder layouts, manifests, peds.meta rules, server.cfg startup, model names, package choices, and troubleshooting.
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To add a custom ped, install it as a FiveM resource: create a resource folder with a stream directory, copy in the creator’s model files, add an fxmanifest.lua, register peds.meta only when it is supplied, and start the resource with ensure in server.cfg. The ped can then be selected by its declared model name in a menu, trainer, or script.

For a FiveM server that will run these resources, Godlike.Host provides game-server hosting with a Pterodactyl-based panel, SFTP/FTP access, and free DDoS protection. It is not on Cfx.re’s list of authorized FiveM hosts (fivem.net, 10 Oct 2026).

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What FiveM custom-ped installation actually involves

FiveM does not discover a custom ped because its files were copied into the base Grand Theft Auto V installation. It discovers the ped through a server resource. A resource is a self-contained collection of files that FiveM can start, stop, and restart independently. The resource manifest tells FiveM how to parse that collection, while the stream directory carries the model assets.

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A normal installation therefore has three separate jobs:

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  • Put every supplied model asset in the resource’s stream folder.
  • Describe the resource in fxmanifest.lua, including metadata only if the package contains it.
  • Start the resource from server.cfg before trying to use the model.

The exact files vary by package. Common ped assets use .yft, .ydd, .ytd, and .ymt. A package may also include peds.meta, a readme, or other supporting files. Do not rename files or add metadata that the creator did not provide.

Check the download before installing it

Confirm that it is made for FiveM

Some downloads are prepared only for single-player Grand Theft Auto V or for a different multiplayer framework. Look for an explicit FiveM release or instructions that describe a FiveM resource. A package that merely contains game assets without FiveM guidance may need conversion, and this procedure does not guarantee that it will work.

Identify an add-on, replacement, or freemode clothing package

Package type What it does Typical use Main risk
Add-on ped Adds a new model alongside the standard game models. A unique NPC, role character, pet, or special character. It still needs a correct model name and compatible files before a script can spawn it.
Replacement ped Uses an existing model name and overwrites that model wherever it is used. Changing the appearance of an existing game character. Every location or script using that original model can change, not just one intended NPC.
Freemode clothing or EUP Adds clothing or uniforms to mp_m_freemode_01 or mp_f_freemode_01. Player outfits and uniforms. It is a different workflow from installing a standalone ped and should not be treated as one.

If the creator calls the download a replacement, follow the creator’s naming and installation notes carefully. Installing a replacement as though it were an add-on does not turn it into a separate model.

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Inventory the supplied files

Before creating the resource, list the files in the archive and read its documentation. Record whether it includes peds.meta, the stated model name, and any required supporting files. The included file set is also useful later when diagnosing an invisible model or a crash: every file the creator supplied may be required.

Create the FiveM resource

1. Find the server data directory

Work in the directory that contains your server’s resources and configuration files, not in the client’s Grand Theft Auto V installation. Under the server data directory, create a category folder if you do not already have one. A common layout is:

resources/
└── [peds]/
    └── my-ped/

The bracketed folder is only an organizational category. The actual resource is my-ped in this example. Choose a resource name without spaces and use that same name in server.cfg.

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2. Add the stream directory

Inside the resource folder, create a directory named exactly stream:

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resources/[peds]/my-ped/stream/

Place the supplied .yft, .ydd, .ytd, and .ymt files directly in this directory unless the package’s instructions specify another supported arrangement. Keep the original filenames, capitalization, and extensions. Do not put the files one level too deep, such as stream/my-ped/filename.ydd, unless the creator explicitly designed the package that way.

3. Put metadata in the resource root when supplied

If the archive contains peds.meta, place that file in the resource root beside the manifest:

resources/[peds]/my-ped/peds.meta

Do not place it in stream for the manifest shown below, and do not create a blank or guessed peds.meta for a package that does not include one.

Create the resource manifest

FiveM requires a resource manifest named fxmanifest.lua in the resource root. Older resources may use the deprecated __resource.lua name, but a current installation should use fxmanifest.lua.

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Manifest for a package that includes peds.meta

Save this file as resources/[peds]/my-ped/fxmanifest.lua:

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fx_version 'cerulean'
game 'gta5'

files {
    'peds.meta'
}

data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' 'peds.meta'

The files entry makes the metadata available to the resource, and the data_file entry tells FiveM to parse it as a ped metadata file. The two paths must match the actual filename and location exactly.

Manifest for a package without peds.meta

When the creator did not supply peds.meta, omit both metadata entries:

fx_version 'cerulean'
game 'gta5'

Adding a metadata directive for a nonexistent file creates an avoidable loading error. Conversely, omitting a supplied metadata file can prevent the model from loading correctly or produce metadata errors.

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Check the resource root

The manifest must not be hidden inside stream or another nested folder. The finished layouts should resemble one of these:

resources/[peds]/my-ped/
├── fxmanifest.lua
└── stream/
    ├── character.ydd
    ├── character.yft
    ├── character.ytd
    └── character.ymt
resources/[peds]/my-ped/
├── fxmanifest.lua
├── peds.meta
└── stream/
    ├── character.ydd
    ├── character.yft
    ├── character.ytd
    └── character.ymt

The first layout represents a package without metadata; the second represents one that supplies it.

Start the resource from server.cfg

FiveM will not make the model available merely because the folder exists. Add the resource name, not its full path, to the server configuration:

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ensure my-ped

Place the line with the other resource-start entries in server.cfg. Save the configuration, then restart the server or restart the resource using the controls you normally use for your server. Check the server console during startup for a missing-manifest, missing-file, or metadata message. Resolve those messages before testing the ped.

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If the resource is inside resources/[peds]/my-ped, the name in ensure remains my-ped; the category folder does not become part of the resource name.

Find and use the ped’s model name

A menu, trainer, or script needs the model’s declared name. The practical convention is to use the relevant model name without the file extension, but the filename alone is not always authoritative. Read the package documentation and, when available, inspect the name declared in its metadata.

For example, if the creator documents a model as custom_guard, enter custom_guard in the ped selector rather than custom_guard.yft. If the readme and filenames disagree, treat the documented or metadata-declared name as the one to test. Model names are not interchangeable with the resource name: my-ped starts the resource, while the declared ped name selects the character.

Test only after confirming that the resource is running. A correct model name cannot work while the resource is stopped.

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Compare packages before choosing one

When two downloads appear similar, evaluate the implementation details rather than choosing by screenshots alone.

Check Questions to ask Why it matters
Behavior Is it an add-on or a replacement? An add-on limits changes to the new model; a replacement can alter every use of an existing model name.
File set Are all expected .yft, .ydd, .ytd, and .ymt files included? Missing one supplied asset can cause an invisible ped, broken textures, or a crash.
Metadata Does the package include peds.meta and installation instructions for it? The manifest must register it when present and omit it when absent.
Rig and animation compatibility Does the package document the intended rig and animation behavior? A model can load yet animate incorrectly if its rig is unsuitable for the intended use.
Texture and polygon load Does the creator identify the asset’s texture and geometry demands? Heavier assets can affect client performance, especially when many are used together.
Licensing Does the license permit server use, modification, and redistribution? Technical compatibility does not grant permission to publish or edit the asset.
FiveM documentation Are the resource layout, model name, and required files clearly documented? Clear documentation reduces guesswork and makes troubleshooting possible.

Troubleshoot a custom ped that does not work

“Could not find resource” or a missing-manifest warning

  • Confirm the resource folder is inside the server’s active resources directory.
  • Confirm the file is named exactly fxmanifest.lua, including spelling and extension.
  • Confirm fxmanifest.lua is directly in the resource root, beside stream, not inside stream.
  • Confirm the ensure line uses the resource folder name exactly.

An old package may contain __resource.lua. That name was used by older resources, but replacing it with a correctly written fxmanifest.lua is the current approach.

The model is invisible, incomplete, or crashes

  • Compare the installed files with the creator’s archive and restore every supplied asset.
  • Check that filenames and capitalization were not changed.
  • Make sure model files are in the intended stream directory and were not left in the downloaded archive’s extra nesting folder.
  • Verify that the package explicitly supports FiveM.
  • Check whether the package requires peds.meta; if it does, use the matching metadata entries in the manifest.

A model that loads but has missing textures usually points to an incomplete or incorrectly placed texture asset. A client crash or severe instability can indicate an incompatible package, a missing dependency, or an asset that was not authored for FiveM.

Metadata errors appear in the console

Use the metadata only when the package includes it. The manifest must contain both lines below, with the same real filename in each location:

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files {
    'peds.meta'
}

data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' 'peds.meta'

Check for a filename mismatch such as ped.meta on disk but peds.meta in the manifest. Also check that the file is in the resource root rather than in stream. If no metadata file was supplied, remove both entries instead of trying to repair the package by inventing one.

The ped cannot be selected

  1. Look in the server console and confirm that the resource started without an error.
  2. Confirm the ensure my-ped line is present and uses the correct resource name.
  3. Use the exact model name from the package documentation or metadata, without an extension unless the package explicitly requires one.
  4. Check whether your menu, trainer, or script filters out nonstandard models.

The ped changes back after spawning

Character appearance systems can apply the freemode model again after a player spawns. This is framework-specific behavior, not proof that the streamed asset failed. Configure the framework’s own ped-selection or character-appearance mechanism when it provides one, and test whether that system reapplies a saved appearance after your selection.

An add-on behaves like a replacement

Recheck the package type and model name. A replacement intentionally uses an existing model name, so every script or location that requests that name can receive the replacement. An add-on must have its own declared model name and be selected by that name. Renaming files casually does not safely convert a replacement into an add-on.

Pre-launch checklist

  • The download explicitly supports FiveM and its license permits your intended use.
  • You know whether the package is an add-on, a replacement, or freemode clothing.
  • All creator-supplied model files are present with their original names.
  • The files are in resources/[category]/resource-name/stream.
  • fxmanifest.lua is in the resource root.
  • peds.meta is in the resource root and registered only when supplied.
  • server.cfg contains ensure resource-name.
  • The server console shows the resource starting without errors.
  • The model name used by your menu or script matches the package documentation or metadata.
  • You have tested the ped in the role, animation, and player-count conditions in which you intend to use it.

Keeping a custom-ped resource maintainable

Give each independent ped package its own resource unless the creator’s instructions say otherwise. Separate resources make it easier to start, stop, update, or remove one asset without disturbing unrelated peds. Use descriptive folder names, keep a copy of the original archive and license, and record the model name beside the resource name in your server notes.

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When updating a package, replace the complete supplied file set rather than mixing files from different releases. Recheck whether the newer release adds or removes peds.meta, changes the model name, or changes its FiveM instructions. Test on a development server before changing a live server, particularly for replacement peds that can affect many existing characters.

The reliable mental model is simple: stream contains the assets, fxmanifest.lua defines how FiveM reads the resource, peds.meta is conditional, and ensure makes the resource run. If those four pieces and the package’s declared model name agree, a compatible custom ped can be selected by your server’s menu or script.

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