The easiest current way to host a FiveM server on a Windows PC is to run the official FXServer artifact and let its bundled txAdmin wizard create the server. You need a Cfx Portal account and server key, the recommended server artifact, an available game port (TCP and UDP 30120), and a PC whose firewall, router and internet connection allow the players you want to reach it. For people on the same network, the server can usually be tested through the LAN list before you configure public access.
What hosting a FiveM server on your PC actually involves
A FiveM server is a separate FXServer process that runs the game session, resources and player connections. Your FiveM client is only the player application; it does not create the server by itself. When you host at home, your Windows computer performs the server work and must remain powered on and connected whenever friends want to play.
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The current Windows workflow combines the FXServer runtime with txAdmin. txAdmin is the web-based management panel bundled with the server runtime. It guides first-time installation, deploys a starter recipe, shows console output, and provides routine monitoring and administration from a browser.
What you need
- A Windows PC with enough free disk space for the server artifact, server data and any resources you later add.
- FiveM installed for each player, with a legitimate, supported Grand Theft Auto V installation.
- A Cfx account for linking txAdmin and creating a server registration key in the Cfx Portal.
- A stable local network. Ethernet is preferable for the host, although a reliable Wi-Fi connection can work for testing.
- Permission to create Windows Firewall rules and, for internet play, to change your router’s port-forwarding settings.
- For a GTAV Enhanced server setup, the Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable required by the official guide.
Home hosting versus a rented server
Running the server on your own PC avoids a recurring hosting bill, but the machine, home internet connection and power supply become part of the server’s reliability. A rented game-server provider can keep a machine online for you, while home hosting gives you direct control over files and network settings. Cfx documents both approaches but does not publish a universal cost or performance comparison; the practical decision is whether you can leave your PC and network available when players need them.
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Prepare Windows before installing
Choose the correct server build
Open Cfx’s official server-download page and select the latest recommended Windows artifact. An artifact is the package containing the files needed to run or update a FiveM server. Traditional FiveM Windows installations use the server.7z archive. GTAV Enhanced builds use the alternate archive and executable names shown in Cfx’s current documentation, so do not assume that a legacy filename applies to Enhanced.
Artifact names and build numbers change. Use the recommended build rather than an old link copied from a forum, and keep the download page bookmarked for future updates.
Create a simple folder layout
Create a clearly named directory such as C:FXServerserver. A short path without spaces makes command-line troubleshooting easier. If you later use the manual, or vanilla, method, keep the downloaded server binaries separate from the cfx-server-data folder that contains server.cfg and resources.
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Start with a LAN test whenever possible. It isolates installation problems from router and ISP problems. Public access requires three additional conditions: Windows Firewall must allow the server, your router must forward the game ports to the host’s private IP address, and your ISP must permit inbound traffic. Some connections use carrier-grade NAT, which prevents normal inbound forwarding; the router can appear correctly configured while outside players still cannot connect.
Install a server with the txAdmin wizard
The following procedure is the supported, least complicated Windows path. Start the first launch without an +exec argument so FXServer enters txAdmin monitor mode.
- Create the server directory. Make
C:FXServerserveror another clearly named folder and confirm that your Windows account can write to it. - Download the recommended artifact. From the official Cfx server-download page, download the current recommended Windows package. Select the Enhanced package only if your game and server setup are intended for GTAV Enhanced.
- Extract the archive. Open the
.7zfile with 7-Zip or WinRAR and extract its contents into the server folder. Do not leaveFXServer.exeburied inside an extra, unexpected subfolder; the executable and its supporting files should be together. - Start FXServer for the first time. Run
FXServer.exedirectly, with no+execarguments. A browser should open txAdmin automatically. If it does not, browse on the host PC tohttp://localhost:40120. - Complete txAdmin registration. Enter the PIN printed in the FXServer console, link your Cfx account, create the requested backup password, review the Creator Platform and txAdmin licence terms, and register the panel.
- Name the server and choose a recipe. Enter a server name, choose Popular Recipes, then select CFX Default FiveM (also displayed in some screens as FiveM Basic Server (CFX Default)). Save the data location when txAdmin asks where to place the server data.
- Create the server key. In Recipe Deployer, open the Cfx Portal link. Create a server key for this server, copy it, return to txAdmin, paste it into the key field and run the recipe. The key is required for normal operation; keep it private.
- Deploy the recipe. Let txAdmin download and configure the starter resources. Wait for deployment to finish rather than closing the browser or console midway.
- Save and run. Choose Save & Run Server. txAdmin should show the server process starting and the console should begin logging resource and endpoint activity.
- Test from FiveM. Launch FiveM and look for the LAN entry representing the host computer. If it does not appear immediately, restart the FiveM client after the server is running.
What success looks like
At the end of the wizard, txAdmin remains available at the local management address, the console is running without a missing-license error, and a FiveM client on the same network can see the LAN server. This local result confirms the files and recipe are functional; it does not by itself prove that an outside player can reach your router.
Configure and administer the server in txAdmin
Use txAdmin for routine operations instead of repeatedly launching random command lines. Its panel is intended to manage and monitor the FiveM server, while the console remains useful for reading startup messages and resource errors.
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Keep the panel private
The default txAdmin web port is TCP 40120. Use http://localhost:40120 on the host for administration. Do not forward this management port to the public internet just to make the game server reachable. Use the backup password you created during registration, and store it somewhere safe; losing access to the panel can turn a simple configuration change into a recovery exercise.
Where customisation belongs
The recipe creates server data separately from the downloaded runtime. Server names, endpoint declarations, resource start lines and gameplay settings live in the data configuration. Add one resource at a time, restart cleanly, and read the console after each change. A resource that fails to start can prevent the expected gameplay even though FXServer itself appears to be running.
OneSync and starter resources
The default recipe is designed to provide a working base. The vanilla example documented by Cfx enables OneSync and starts the default resources. Treat that base as a known-good starting point: back up the data directory before replacing resources or making broad configuration changes.
Ports, addresses and router configuration
FiveM’s documented game endpoint uses the same port number for both transport protocols. txAdmin uses a separate HTTP management port.
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| Use | Protocol | Port | What must be reachable |
|---|---|---|---|
| FiveM game endpoint | TCP | 30120 | Allow the server process through Windows Firewall; forward this port to the host for public play. |
| FiveM game endpoint | UDP | 30120 | Allow and forward UDP 30120 as well as TCP; forwarding only one protocol is incomplete. |
| txAdmin panel | TCP | 40120 | Use locally for administration. Do not expose it through the router unless you have a specific, secured reason. |
Bind the game endpoint
The standard configuration binds both game protocols to every local interface with 0.0.0.0:30120. That lets the server listen on the host’s LAN address rather than only on loopback. Windows Firewall still has to permit the executable or port.
Create Windows Firewall rules
When Windows asks whether to allow FXServer through the firewall, allow it on the private network you actually use. If you dismissed the prompt, create inbound rules for TCP 30120 and UDP 30120 in Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, or allow the FXServer executable. Avoid opening unrelated ports. Test locally before changing rules for public access.
Forward ports on the router
Give the host PC a stable private address, either with a DHCP reservation in the router or a correctly configured static address. Forward TCP 30120 and UDP 30120 from the router’s public interface to that private address. Router menus vary by manufacturer, so the exact labels and screens are environment-dependent. If the host’s private address changes, an otherwise correct forwarding rule can point to the wrong computer.
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Understand ISP limitations
Your public address may be shared through carrier-grade NAT, or inbound traffic may be blocked by the ISP. In those cases, local players can connect while outside players cannot, even after firewall and router changes. The official setup documentation does not guarantee compatibility with a particular ISP or router model; treat public reachability as a property of your connection, not of the FiveM installation alone.
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Players on the same LAN
Start FXServer, wait for txAdmin to show it running, and launch FiveM on the other computer. Use the LAN listing for the host. If the listing is missing, verify that both computers are on the same network, that Windows classified the network correctly, and restart the FiveM client. A local connection does not require router port forwarding.
Players outside your home
After the LAN test succeeds, keep TCP and UDP 30120 forwarded to the host and allow them through the firewall. Give friends the public address and game port shown by your connection setup, not the host’s private address such as 192.168.x.x. If they still cannot connect, test from a genuinely external network, confirm that the router’s WAN address matches the address you are sharing, and investigate CGNAT or ISP filtering before changing server files.
Keep the host available
Closing FXServer, putting the PC to sleep, losing the network connection or rebooting the router stops the session. A wired connection, an automatic startup plan and an uninterruptible power supply can improve reliability, but they cannot overcome an ISP that blocks inbound traffic.
Manual, or vanilla, installation
Use the vanilla route when you want direct control over launch arguments and configuration instead of the guided txAdmin recipe. It requires more attention to paths and file names.
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Separate runtime and data
Keep the extracted server binaries in one folder and the cfx-server-data repository or data directory in another. Create server.cfg in the data directory. This separation makes it possible to update the artifact without overwriting your configuration and resources.
Minimal endpoint and license configuration
A basic configuration contains both protocol bindings, a Cfx Portal key, OneSync and the default resource start lines. The key shown below is a template; replace it with the key generated for your server.
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endpoint_add_tcp "0.0.0.0:30120"
endpoint_add_udp "0.0.0.0:30120"
sv_licenseKey "YOUR_CFX_PORTAL_KEY"
onesync on
# start the default resources supplied with cfx-server-dataDo not publish the real key in a screenshot, repository or chat message. Keep the actual default-resource lines supplied by the matching cfx-server-data version rather than copying an outdated list from an unrelated tutorial.
Launch from the data directory
Open a command prompt in the data directory and run:
FXServer.exe +exec server.cfgThe +exec argument tells FXServer which configuration to load. Launching from the wrong directory or omitting that argument commonly produces missing-resource, connection-refusal or missing-license symptoms. If you prefer txAdmin after experimenting with vanilla, return to launching FXServer.exe without arguments for monitor mode.
txAdmin or vanilla: which path fits?
| Decision point | txAdmin wizard | Vanilla launch |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Lowest for a first Windows server; the recipe deploys a working base. | Higher; you arrange data folders, configuration and launch arguments yourself. |
| Configuration control | Convenient panel plus editable server data; ideal for routine administration. | Maximum direct control over files, command lines and update timing. |
| PC availability | FXServer still must keep running on your PC whenever players connect. | The same requirement applies; vanilla does not make the host persistent. |
| Public networking | Still requires firewall rules, router forwarding and an ISP that accepts inbound traffic. | Exactly the same network requirements; the launch method does not bypass NAT. |
| Updates | Update the recommended artifact and preserve the txAdmin-managed data. | Update binaries separately and verify that your data files match the runtime. |
| Recurring hosting cost | No provider charge when you run the server on your own PC, although electricity and internet service still cost money. | Also avoids a provider charge when self-hosted; hardware and connectivity remain your responsibility. |
Updating, backups and safe maintenance
Update the artifact deliberately
Build numbers and filenames are volatile. Download the current recommended artifact from Cfx, stop the running server, back up the data directory, then replace the runtime files according to the current documentation. Do not overwrite your only copy of server.cfg, custom resources or txAdmin data.
Back up what matters
- Copy
server.cfgand every custom resource. - Keep a backup of the txAdmin data and the backup password.
- Record the server key’s ownership and revoke or replace it through the Cfx Portal if it is exposed.
- Before a major resource or artifact change, make a dated backup that you can restore without relying on the live machine.
Change one variable at a time
When adding a resource or changing a setting, restart and inspect the console before making another change. This preserves a clear cause-and-effect trail and makes it easier to return to the last working backup.
Troubleshooting guide
txAdmin did not open
Confirm that you started FXServer.exe without +exec arguments for the first launch. On the host computer, open http://localhost:40120 manually. If the page still fails, check that FXServer is running, that another application is not using TCP 40120, and that Windows Firewall is not blocking the local process.
“No resources found” or “failed to start resource”
These messages usually point to a path or data problem. Check that the data directory contains the resources expected by the recipe, that you did not extract the artifact into an extra nested folder, and that a vanilla launch is being run from the data directory with +exec server.cfg. Compare the resource names in your configuration with the folders actually present.
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“No license key was specified”
Generate a server key in the Cfx Portal and place it in the active configuration as sv_licenseKey. Then verify that FXServer is loading the configuration you edited. A correct key in an unused file has the same effect as no key at all. In txAdmin, paste the key during Recipe Deployer setup and save the recipe before running it.
Friends cannot connect but LAN works
Check all of the public-access layers in order: Windows Firewall, TCP 30120 forwarding, UDP 30120 forwarding, the host’s unchanged private address, and the router’s current WAN address. Test from a phone hotspot or another external connection. If the router receives a private WAN address, your ISP may be using CGNAT; contact the ISP or choose a network arrangement that permits inbound traffic.
The LAN entry is missing
Make sure the server process is actually running, both computers are on the same LAN, and the host’s firewall allows the game endpoint. Restart FiveM after the server reaches its running state. If the server was launched with a malformed configuration, read the FXServer console for endpoint or resource errors before troubleshooting discovery.
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Check Windows sleep settings, automatic updates, reboots, router uptime and power interruptions. Home hosting is only available while the PC and connection remain available. A UPS and a scheduled restart policy can reduce interruptions, but they are optional reliability measures rather than FiveM requirements.
When a home PC is not the right host
If you cannot keep a computer online, cannot forward ports because of CGNAT, or do not want to maintain Windows updates and backups, a FiveM game-server provider is the alternative documented by Cfx. You trade direct hardware and network control for a service that keeps a machine online. Compare providers using uptime commitments, data access, update controls, region and support; do not assume that any provider removes every configuration or resource limitation.
If you prefer not to run the Windows host yourself, Godlike.Host offers FiveM game-server hosting with its own game panel and 24/7/365 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
Practical launch checklist
- Recommended Windows artifact downloaded and extracted cleanly.
- GTAV Enhanced users installed the required Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable.
- First FXServer launch completed without
+exec, and txAdmin opened on TCP 40120. - Cfx account linked, backup password stored and licences accepted.
- CFX Default FiveM recipe deployed and server key created in the Cfx Portal.
- LAN connection tested before public networking changes.
- TCP 30120 and UDP 30120 allowed through Windows Firewall and forwarded only when outside access is needed.
- Server data, configuration, resources and txAdmin data backed up before updates.
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