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To connect to a FiveM server, install the updated PC version of Grand Theft Auto V and the FiveM client, then either choose a server in FiveM’s browser or open the client console with F8 and run connect IP:Port. A local server can offer a Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN button, while a private or LAN-only server may require an endpoint supplied by its owner.
The route you use depends on how the server is published, whether you are on the same network, and whether the owner has enabled public access or allowlisting. The steps below cover each connection method, what to do when a server is missing, and how to diagnose a failed direct connection.
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What you need before connecting
FiveM is a PC client for playing on custom Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV) multiplayer servers. Before trying to join, have these prerequisites ready:
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- The FiveM client downloaded from FiveM.net.
- Access to the GTAV executable, usually named
GTA5.exe, so the installer can locate the game. - A Cfx account for the initial FiveM setup.
- For a direct connection, the server’s reachable IP address and port, a server URL, or a
cfx.re/join/...link.
Owning or launching GTAV on a console does not satisfy the PC client requirement. FiveM’s installer is looking for the Windows game executable, not a console installation or a shortcut to another edition.
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Choose the right connection route
There are four practical ways to join. The browser is simplest for public servers; LAN discovery is intended for a server on your local network; the F8 console works when you have a known endpoint; and a join link is useful when an owner or community has supplied one.
| Route | How you discover the server | Network scope | Admission and setup considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| FiveM server browser | Search or browse inside the FiveM client | Usually public internet | One-click connection when the owner allows it; allowlisted or private servers may disable the button |
| LAN button | FiveM detects a server on the same network | Local network only | Click Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN; restart FiveM if the button is missing |
| F8 console with IP and port | The owner gives you an endpoint such as 203.0.113.10:30120 |
LAN or public, depending on the address and routing | Press F8, enter connect IP:Port, and press Enter |
| URL or cfx.re join link | The owner gives you a URL or cfx.re/join/... link |
Normally public internet | Paste or enter it through the FiveM connection flow or console |
A server can be running correctly and still be absent from the browser. Server visibility is controlled by its configuration and network reachability, not just by whether the process is running.
Install and prepare FiveM
- Install or update GTAV. Complete any pending updates before installing FiveM. An outdated game installation can prevent the client from starting or connecting correctly.
- Download FiveM. Get the client installer from FiveM.net and run
FiveM.exe. - Point the installer to GTAV. When prompted, browse to the folder containing
GTA5.exe. Select the executable itself if the picker asks for a file rather than a folder. - Sign in. Complete the initial setup with a Cfx account as requested by the client.
- Allow the first launch to finish. FiveM may download client components and verify the game location. Do not close it while that setup is in progress.
If FiveM repeatedly asks for the game path, locate the actual installation used to launch GTAV and select its current GTA5.exe. Selecting an old backup, a shortcut, or a different game edition can leave the client pointed at the wrong files.
Connect through the FiveM server browser
Use the browser when the server is publicly listed and you do not already have a direct endpoint.
- Launch FiveM after the installation has completed.
- Open the server list and browse for the server name or description supplied by its owner.
- Select the server entry and review any admission information shown by the server.
- Use the server’s connect control.
- Wait for FiveM to load the server resources and place you in the session. The first connection can take longer when a server has content your client has not previously downloaded.
Some communities use allowlisting, applications, or other admission rules. In those cases, finding the listing is not the same as being authorized to play. Follow the owner’s instructions for access; repeatedly retrying the connect button will not bypass an allowlist.
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When the browser connect button is disabled
A disabled button commonly indicates that the server is private or has configured an admission requirement. The owner may expect you to be approved first or to use a supplied direct endpoint. Ask for the exact connection method rather than guessing an address.
When the server is not listed
First determine whether it is intended to be public. A server configured as LAN-only or private is not expected to appear in the public browser. If the owner says it should be public, use the troubleshooting checks later in this guide: confirm that the server is running, test its information endpoint, and verify forwarding and firewall rules.
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LAN discovery is for a FiveM server running on the same home, office, or other local network as your PC. It is not a substitute for a public address when you are away from that network.
- Connect your PC to the same local network as the server computer.
- Launch FiveM and allow the server list or local discovery view to populate.
- Look for the control labeled Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN, where
[ComputerName]is the host computer’s name. - Click that control to start the connection.
If the LAN control does not appear, restart the FiveM client as directed by the local-server setup guidance. A restart refreshes discovery; it does not change a server that is configured to be private or inaccessible.
LAN address versus public address
A private address used inside a home network is suitable only while you are on that network. Someone connecting from another location needs the server’s public IP address and forwarded port, or another public connection route supplied by the owner. Giving a remote player a private LAN address will normally result in a timeout or an unreachable-server error.
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Connect by IP address and port
Use the F8 console when you know the server endpoint. The command accepts an IP address and port, a URL, or a cfx.re/join/... link.
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- Press F8 to open the FiveM client console.
- Type
connect IP:Port, replacing the placeholders with the endpoint supplied by the server owner. - Press Enter and wait for FiveM to attempt the connection.
For a local test server using the common example port, the command would be connect 127.0.0.1:30120. The address 127.0.0.1 means “this computer,” so it works only when the server is running on the same PC. It is not a public address you can give to another player.
Use a URL or a cfx.re join link
If the owner supplies a URL, enter it with the same console connection command instead of an IP-and-port pair. A join link in the form cfx.re/join/... can also be used as the connection target. Copy the complete link, including every character after join/; a truncated code points to a different or invalid destination.
Check the syntax
- Include the colon between the host and port:
connect 198.51.100.25:30120. - Do not add brackets around an ordinary IPv4 address.
- Use the port supplied by the owner;
30120is an operational example, not a universal requirement. - Remove spaces from the endpoint itself. The only space in the basic command is between
connectand its target.
Why a server may be invisible or unreachable
The server is private or allowlisted
A private configuration can intentionally keep a server out of the public list or prevent unauthorised users from joining. The owner must approve your account or provide the appropriate route. If the browser entry exists but its connect button is disabled, treat that as an admission decision rather than a client failure.
The server is LAN-only
When the server uses a LAN-only configuration such as sv_lan true, it is designed for local-network access and will not be presented as a normal public server. Ask the owner for the correct LAN endpoint and ensure you are physically connected to the same network.
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The server is running but not reachable from the internet
A process can be active on the host while its port is blocked at the router or computer firewall. Players outside the network then cannot establish a session, and the server may fail to appear as expected.
You have the wrong endpoint
Public IP addresses can change, and a server may use a non-default port. Confirm the address and port directly with the owner. Do not substitute your own LAN address, a previous address, or the example 30120 unless the owner has specified it.
Test the server’s information endpoint
The most useful first diagnostic for a direct-connection failure is the server’s /info.json endpoint.
- Combine the server’s public IP address and port with
/info.json. For example, if the endpoint is198.51.100.25:30120, openhttp://198.51.100.25:30120/info.jsonin a web browser. - Check whether the page returns server information.
- If it returns information, the endpoint is responding over the network; recheck the FiveM command, admission requirements, and any server-side rules.
- If it does not load, report the result to the server owner and continue with port-forwarding and firewall checks.
This test is intended for the public endpoint. Testing a private LAN address from outside that network does not prove that the public route works.
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Port forwarding and firewall troubleshooting
When a direct connection fails, incorrect port forwarding or a firewall blocking connections is a likely cause. These checks normally require access to the server computer and router, so a player on someone else’s server may need to send the results to the owner.
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On the router
- Confirm that the forwarding rule targets the current local IP address of the server computer.
- Confirm that the forwarded port matches the port configured by the FiveM server.
- Check whether the rule applies to the required network protocol and is enabled.
- Make sure the router is forwarding to the server host, not to the player’s PC or another device.
On the server computer
- Verify that the operating system firewall allows the FiveM server process or its listening port.
- Check security software that may have created a block after an update.
- Confirm that the server is still running and listening on the expected port.
- After changing a rule, restart the server if its setup requires a restart, then test
/info.jsonagain.
If the information endpoint remains unavailable after forwarding and firewall rules are corrected, the owner should verify the public address, upstream modem or router configuration, and whether the internet service uses an address that cannot accept inbound connections. The available evidence establishes the need to check reachability; the exact fix depends on that network’s equipment and service.
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- You can see the server and the connect control is active: select it and connect through the browser.
- You are on the same network and see the LAN control: click Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN.
- You have an IP, port, URL, or join link: press F8 and use
connectwith that target. - You have no listing and no endpoint: ask the owner whether the server is private, LAN-only, or temporarily offline.
- The endpoint is known but fails: have the owner test
http://ip:port/info.json, then inspect forwarding and firewall rules.
How server owners should prepare a connection
If you operate the server, make the connection method explicit before inviting players. Cfx’s server setup documentation provides separate paths for Windows, Linux, txAdmin, and game-server hosting-provider environments. Before beginning server setup, register a free Cfx license key as required by that documentation.
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For a public server
- Run the server and confirm it is listening on the configured port.
- Set router forwarding to the server computer’s current local address.
- Permit the required traffic through the host firewall.
- Test the public
/info.jsonendpoint from a network outside the server’s LAN. - Give players the server name for browser discovery and a direct fallback endpoint or
cfx.re/join/...link.
For a private or allowlisted server
- Tell players that the browser may show no active connect button or may not list the server.
- Explain your approval or allowlist process before they attempt to join.
- Provide the exact endpoint or join link only to authorised players.
- State whether the endpoint is usable only on the LAN or from the public internet.
For a LAN-only server
Use a LAN-only configuration when access should remain within the local network. Tell players to connect to the same network and look for Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN. If discovery fails, have them restart FiveM and confirm that the server is actually running on the intended host.
Common mistakes and their fixes
| Symptom | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FiveM cannot find GTAV | The client is pointed at the wrong location or the game is not installed or updated | Run the installer again and select the current GTA5.exe |
| Server is listed but cannot be joined | Private or allowlisted admission rules | Ask the owner for approval or the required direct route |
| LAN button is missing | Client discovery has not refreshed | Restart FiveM and confirm both computers share the same network |
| F8 command does nothing useful | Incorrect syntax, address, or port | Use connect IP:Port exactly and verify the endpoint with the owner |
/info.json does not load |
Server offline, forwarding incorrect, or firewall blocking access | Check the server process, router rule, and host firewall |
| Local address works only for some players | Remote players are using a private LAN address | Provide the public IP and forwarded port, or keep all players on the same LAN |
What information to include when asking for help
A precise report lets the server owner distinguish a client problem from a network problem. Include:
- Whether you are connecting through the browser, LAN button, F8 command, URL, or join link.
- The exact endpoint format you used, without changing the port.
- Whether you are on the same LAN as the server.
- Whether the server appears in the browser and whether its connect control is enabled.
- Whether
/info.jsonreturns server information. - The exact error text or point at which the connection stops.
Do not post a private server’s credentials or an access code publicly. Send sensitive connection details only through the channel the owner has designated.
Joining versus running a server
Joining an existing server normally requires only GTAV, FiveM, and an approved connection route. Operating one adds host-side work: selecting a Windows, Linux, txAdmin, or hosting-provider setup path, registering a free Cfx license key, configuring the server, and making its network endpoint reachable if players will connect over the internet.
These are separate tasks. Installing FiveM on a player PC does not publish a server, and forwarding a port does not grant access to a private server. The owner controls the server’s configuration and admission rules; the player controls the client installation and the connection command.
Quick Recap
Fastest reliable procedure
- Update GTAV and install FiveM, selecting the correct
GTA5.exeand completing Cfx account sign-in. - Try the server browser first if the server is public.
- If the host is on your LAN, use Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN; restart FiveM if discovery is missing.
- For a supplied endpoint, press F8 and enter
connect IP:Port, a URL, or a completecfx.re/join/...link. - If connection fails, verify the server is running and test
http://ip:port/info.json. - Have the owner correct port forwarding or firewall rules, and confirm that you are using a public address for an off-LAN connection.
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