Create a FiveM server on Windows VPS

Quick Summary: Operational FiveM Server in 5 Steps

1. Connect to your Windows Server 2019/2025 VPS via RDP

2. Install Visual C++ Redistributable 2019+ and 7-Zip

3. Download the latest FXServer artifacts from runtime.fivem.net and extract them to C:\FXServer\server

4. Generate your license key at keymaster.fivem.net, launch FXServer.exe, configure txAdmin via http://localhost:40120

5. Open ports 30120 TCP/UDP and 40120 TCP in the Windows firewall

Expect 30 to 45 minutes for a complete installation. A VPS with 4 GB of RAM minimum and Windows Server 2012 or 2025 is required.

Why Host FiveM on a Windows VPS?

FiveM runs well on both Linux and Windows, but Windows offers tangible advantages for many admins.

Advantages of Windows for a FiveM server:

• Native graphical interface: txAdmin, file explorer, task manager: everything is accessible without command line

• Maximum compatibility: some Lua scripts and resources are developed and tested primarily on Windows

• Integrated Task Scheduler: scheduling automatic starts and backups requires no third-party tools

• Facilitated debugging: logs are readable directly in the interface, without SSH or tail -f

Recommended Specs by Server Type

OuiHeberg offers Windows VPS on NVMe with Anti-DDoS included and deployment in under 2 minutes: ideal for launching a FiveM server without delay.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A VPS running Windows Server 2019 or 2022 (Windows Server 2016 works but is no longer recommended)

• A free CFX.re account: created at portal.cfx.re

• The following ports available:

  • 30120 TCP/UDP: player connections

  • 40120 TCP: txAdmin web interface

Step 1: Connect to the VPS via Remote Desktop (RDP)

Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) on your PC, enter the IP of your VPS, then connect using the credentials provided by your host.

Once connected, quickly check the available resources:

# In PowerShell: check available RAM
Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem | Select-Object TotalVisibleMemorySize, FreePhysicalMemory

# Check disk space
Get-PSDrive C | Select-Object Used, Free

If you have never configured RDP on a Windows VPS, the official Microsoft documentation details the complete procedure.

Step 2: Install System Prerequisites

FXServer requires two dependencies: Visual C++ Redistributable 2019+ and 7-Zip to extract .7z archives.

Manual Installation

• Visual C++ 2015-2022 x64: Download from Microsoft

• 7-Zip: Download from 7-zip.org

Automated Installation in PowerShell (recommended)

Run PowerShell as administrator and execute this script:

# Create the download folder
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\FXServer\downloads"

# Download Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 x64
$vcUrl = "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe"
$vcPath = "C:\FXServer\downloads\vc_redist.x64.exe"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $vcUrl -OutFile $vcPath
Start-Process -FilePath $vcPath -ArgumentList "/quiet /norestart" -Wait
Write-Host "Visual C++ installed." -ForegroundColor Green

# Download and install 7-Zip
$7zUrl = "https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2408-x64.exe"
$7zPath = "C:\FXServer\downloads\7zip.exe"
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $7zUrl -OutFile $7zPath
Start-Process -FilePath $7zPath -ArgumentList "/S" -Wait
Write-Host "7-Zip installed." -ForegroundColor Green

Note: Check the version of 7-Zip at 7-zip.org before executing: the version number in the URL changes with each release.

Step 3: Download and Configure FXServer

Recommended Folder Structure

C:\FXServer\
├── server\          ← FXServer binaries (FXServer.exe, etc.)
└── server-data\     ← data, resources, server.cfg
    └── resources\
        └── [categories]\

Complete PowerShell Script: Automatic Download and Extraction

# Create the folder structure
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\FXServer\server"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\FXServer\server-data\resources"

# Download the latest FXServer artifacts (recommended build)
# Check the exact URL of the latest build at:
# https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_server_windows/master/
$artifactUrl = "https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_server_windows/master/RECOMMENDED_NUMBER/server.7z"
# Replace RECOMMENDED_NUMBER with the number displayed on the artifacts page

$downloadPath = "C:\FXServer\downloads\server.7z"
Write-Host "Downloading FXServer artifacts..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $artifactUrl -OutFile $downloadPath

# Extract with 7-Zip
$7zExe = "C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe"
& $7zExe x $downloadPath -o"C:\FXServer\server" -y
Write-Host "FXServer extracted to C:\FXServer\server" -ForegroundColor Green

Important: First go to runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_server_windows/master/ to copy the URL of the latest recommended build (marked "RECOMMENDED"). The build number changes regularly.

Step 4: Generate the CFX.re License Key

Without a valid license key, FXServer refuses to start.

Steps:

1. Log in to keymaster.fivem.net with your CFX.re account

2. Click on "Generate Key"

3. Enter your server name and the IP of your VPS

4. Copy the generated key (format cfxk_xxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxx)

The key should be placed in server.cfg with this exact syntax:

sv_licenseKey "cfxk_xxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxx"

Never share your license key. It is linked to your CFX.re account and the IP of your server.

Step 5: Configure the Windows Firewall

Run PowerShell as administrator and execute these commands:

# Open port 30120 TCP (player connections)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "FiveM - TCP 30120" `
    -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 30120 `
    -Action Allow -Profile Any

# Open port 30120 UDP (player connections)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "FiveM - UDP 30120" `
    -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 30120 `
    -Action Allow -Profile Any

# Open port 40120 TCP (txAdmin)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "FiveM - txAdmin 40120" `
    -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 40120 `
    -Action Allow -Profile Any

Write-Host "FiveM ports successfully opened." -ForegroundColor Green

Check that the ports are listening

After starting FXServer, check with:

netstat -an | findstr "30120\|40120"

You should see LISTENING on both ports.

OuiHeberg's Anti-DDoS filters malicious traffic upstream: legitimate ports pass without additional configuration.

Step 6: First Start and txAdmin Configuration

Launch FXServer

Double-click on C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe: or launch it in PowerShell:

Start-Process -FilePath "C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe" -WorkingDirectory "C:\FXServer\server-data"

A console window opens and your browser automatically launches at http://localhost:40120.

Initial txAdmin Configuration

1. Link your CFX.re account: click "Link Account", log in to cfx.re, authorize access

2. Create an admin password for the txAdmin interface

3. Name your server

4. Choose a recipe (see table below)

5. Enter your CFX.re license key

6. Click "Run Recipe" then "Save & Run Server"

Which recipe to choose? QBCore vs ESX vs Vanilla

To get started, choose CFX Default: you can migrate to ESX or QBCore once the server is stable.

Step 7: Optimize server.cfg for Performance

This is where most guides stop. Here’s what really makes a difference.

Critical Settings by Number of Players

Optimized server.cfg: complete template

# ============================================
# FIVE M SERVER CONFIGURATION: OuiHeberg 2026
# ============================================

# Server identity
sv_licenseKey "cfxk_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
sets sv_projectName "My FiveM Server"
sets sv_projectDesc "FiveM server hosted on OuiHeberg"
sets sv_tags "roleplay, fivem, vps"

# Slots and access
sv_maxclients 64
sv_endpointPrivacy true

# OneSync: Infinity for 33+ players, Legacy for less than 32
set onesync on

# Security
sv_scriptHookAllowed 0
sv_entityLockdown strict
sv_duplicatePlayers true

# Target GTA V build (check the current value on docs.fivem.net)
sv_enforceGameBuild 3258

# Network
set sv_hostname "My FiveM Server | ouiheberg.com"
set sv_licenseKeyToken ""

# Essential resources only
ensure mapmanager
ensure chat
ensure spawnmanager
ensure sessionmanager
ensure hardcap
ensure baseevents

# Add your resources here with 'ensure'
# ensure es_extended
# ensure qb-core

OneSync: Legacy or Infinity?

• OneSync Legacy: up to 32 players, classic synchronization, less CPU intensive

• OneSync Infinity: 33 players and more, extended synchronization, requires more RAM and CPU

Activate Infinity with set onesync on in server.cfg. For Legacy: set onesync legacy.

Disable Unused Resources

Each ensure loads a resource into memory. Comment out or remove anything your server does not use:

# ensure unused_resource   ← comment with #

A well-optimized ESX server with 50 active resources consumes about 3–4 GB of RAM. With 150 poorly sorted resources, you can easily exceed 12 GB.

Step 8: Manage Resources and Mods

Resource Structure

C:\FXServer\server-data\resources\
├── [core]\
│   ├── es_extended\
│   └── qb-core\
├── [scripts]\
│   ├── esx_jobs\
│   └── qb-policejob\
└── [maps]\
    └── custom_map\

The brackets in folder names ([core], [scripts]) are categories: FiveM ignores them but they help with organization.

Install ESX Legacy or QBCore via txAdmin

The simplest method: use the Recipe Deployer from txAdmin (Step 6). It automatically downloads and configures the framework, dependencies, and database.

Add a Resource Manually

Example with es_extended:

1. Download the resource from GitHub

2. Extract it to C:\FXServer\server-data\resources\[core]\es_extended\

3. Check that the folder contains a fxmanifest.lua file (or __resource.lua for older resources)

4. Add in server.cfg:

ensure es_extended

ensure vs start: what’s the difference?

Always use ensure for your production resources.

Update a Resource Without Restarting the Server

In txAdmin → Resources → find the resource → click Restart. Or via the console:

restart resource_name

Step 9: Automate Startup with Task Scheduler

Without this step, your FiveM server will not restart after a VPS reboot.

Create the Scheduled Task in PowerShell

# Parameters
$taskName    = "FiveM - FXServer AutoStart"
$fxExe       = "C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe"
$workingDir  = "C:\FXServer\server-data"
$logFile     = "C:\FXServer\logs\fxserver_startup.log"

# Create the logs folder
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\FXServer\logs"

# Define the action
$action = New-ScheduledTaskAction `
    -Execute $fxExe `
    -WorkingDirectory $workingDir

# Trigger: at system startup (with a delay of 30s)
$trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtStartup
$trigger.Delay = "PT30S"

# Settings: run with highest privileges, even if not logged in
$settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet `
    -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Hours 0) `
    -RestartCount 3 `
    -RestartInterval (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 1)

$principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal `
    -UserId "SYSTEM" `
    -LogonType ServiceAccount `
    -RunLevel Highest

# Register the task
Register-ScheduledTask `
    -TaskName $taskName `
    -Action $action `
    -Trigger $trigger `
    -Settings $settings `
    -Principal $principal `
    -Force

Write-Host "Scheduled task created: $taskName" -ForegroundColor Green

Check that the task works

# List FiveM tasks
Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object { $_.TaskName -like "*FiveM*" }

# Force execution to test
Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "FiveM - FXServer AutoStart"

Step 10: Automated Backups

Losing data from a FiveM server (characters, vehicles, houses) is catastrophic. This script backs everything up automatically.

What to back up

• C:\FXServer\server-data\: resources, configs, server.cfg

• Your MySQL database (if you are using ESX or QBCore)

PowerShell backup script with 7-day rotation

# ============================================
# FIVE M BACKUP SCRIPT: 7-day Rotation
# ============================================

$sourceDir   = "C:\FXServer\server-data"
$backupRoot  = "C:\FXServer\backups"
$retentionDays = 7
$date        = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm"
$backupPath  = "$backupRoot\backup_$date"

# Create the backup folder
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $backupPath

# Copy server data
Write-Host "Backing up server-data..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Copy-Item -Path $sourceDir -Destination "$backupPath\server-data" -Recurse -Force

# MySQL backup (if MariaDB/MySQL installed)
# Replace the values with your credentials
$mysqlUser   = "root"
$mysqlPass   = "YOUR_PASSWORD"
$mysqlDb     = "essentialmode"  # or qbcore, fivem, etc.
$mysqldump   = "C:\xampp\mysql\bin\mysqldump.exe"

if (Test-Path $mysqldump) {
    Write-Host "Backing up MySQL database..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
    & $mysqldump -u $mysqlUser -p$mysqlPass $mysqlDb | Out-File "$backupPath\database_$date.sql"
    Write-Host "Database backed up." -ForegroundColor Green
}

# Compress the backup
$7zExe = "C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe"
& $7zExe a "$backupRoot\backup_$date.7z" "$backupPath\*" -mx=5
Remove-Item -Path $backupPath -Recurse -Force

Write-Host "Compressed backup: backup_$date.7z" -ForegroundColor Green

# Rotation: delete backups older than 7 days
$cutoffDate = (Get-Date).AddDays(-$retentionDays)
Get-ChildItem -Path $backupRoot -Filter "backup_*.7z" | 
    Where-Object { $_.LastWriteTime -lt $cutoffDate } | 
    Remove-Item -Force

Write-Host "Rotation completed. Backups retained: $retentionDays days." -ForegroundColor Green

Schedule daily backup at 4 AM

$backupScript = "C:\FXServer\scripts\backup.ps1"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "C:\FXServer\scripts"

# Back up the above script in $backupScript, then:
$action  = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "powershell.exe" `
           -Argument "-NonInteractive -File `"$backupScript`""
$trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At "04:00"
$principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -UserId "SYSTEM" -LogonType ServiceAccount -RunLevel Highest

Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "FiveM - Daily Backup" `
    -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -Principal $principal -Force

Write-Host "Automatic backup scheduled at 4:00 AM." -ForegroundColor Green

Test the restoration

# Extract a backup to check its integrity
$7zExe = "C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe"
& $7zExe t "C:\FXServer\backups\backup_2026-01-15_04-00.7z"

Step 11: Monitoring and Automatic Restart

txAdmin already monitors FXServer, but an external watchdog adds a layer of protection: especially for crashes that block txAdmin itself.

PowerShell watchdog script with Discord alerts

# ============================================
# FXSERVER WATCHDOG: Auto Restart + Discord
# ============================================
# Save this script in C:\FXServer\scripts\watchdog.ps1

$fxExe       = "C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe"
$workingDir  = "C:\FXServer\server-data"
$webhookUrl  = "https://discord.com/api/webhooks/YOUR_WEBHOOK_HERE"
$logFile     = "C:\FXServer\logs\watchdog.log"
$restartDelay = 15  # seconds before restart

function Write-Log {
    param([string]$Message)
    $timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"
    "$timestamp - $Message" | Out-File -FilePath $logFile -Append
    Write-Host "$timestamp - $Message"
}

function Send-DiscordAlert {
    param([string]$Title, [string]$Message, [int]$Color = 15158332)
    try {
        $payload = @{
            embeds = @(@{
                title       = $Title
                description = $Message
                color       = $Color
                timestamp   = (Get-Date).ToString("o")
            })
        } | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 8
        Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $webhookUrl -Method Post `
            -ContentType "application/json" -Body $payload
    } catch {
        Write-Log "Discord webhook error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    }
}

Write-Log "Watchdog started."
Send-DiscordAlert -Title "🟢 FiveM Watchdog" -Message "Monitoring of FXServer activated." -Color 3066993

while ($true) {
    $process = Get-Process -Name "FXServer" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    if (-not $process) {
        Write-Log "FXServer not detected: restarting..."
        Send-DiscordAlert -Title "🔴 FXServer Crash detected" `
            -Message "FXServer is not responding. Restarting in $restartDelay seconds..." `
            -Color 15158332

        Start-Sleep -Seconds $restartDelay

        Start-Process -FilePath $fxExe -WorkingDirectory $workingDir
        Write-Log "FXServer restarted."
        Send-DiscordAlert -Title "🟡 FXServer Restarted" `
            -Message "FXServer has been automatically relaunched." -Color 15844367

        Start-Sleep -Seconds 60  # Wait for the server to start before re-checking
    }

    Start-Sleep -Seconds 30  # Check every 30 seconds
}

Schedule the watchdog at system startup

$watchdogScript = "C:\FXServer\scripts\watchdog.ps1"

$action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "powershell.exe" `
    -Argument "-NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -File `"$watchdogScript`""
$trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtStartup
$trigger.Delay = "PT60S"  # Starts 60s after boot (lets FXServer start first)
$principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -UserId "SYSTEM" -LogonType ServiceAccount -RunLevel Highest
$settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Hours 0)

Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "FiveM - Watchdog" `
    -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -Principal $principal -Settings $settings -Force

Write-Host "Watchdog scheduled at startup." -ForegroundColor Green

Note txAdmin: txAdmin integrates its own monitoring system. This external watchdog is complementary: it monitors the FXServer process itself, not just the game server status.

Monitor txAdmin logs

The txAdmin logs are located in:

C:\FXServer\server-data\txData\[server-name]\logs\

Check fxserver.log for crashes and txadmin.log for administration errors.

Troubleshooting: 7 common errors

Recommended video tutorials

💡 Do you prefer to learn by video? These YouTube tutorials complement this guide with a step-by-step visual demonstration.

• Create a FiveM server on Windows: Complete installation of FXServer on Windows, from A to Z

• Create a FiveM server on a VPS | Tutorial 2024: Specific VPS configuration, ports, txAdmin, and first startup

• FiveM VPS Windows Tutorial: Complete setup on a Windows VPS with live demonstration

FAQ

What is the difference between FiveM and RedM?

FiveM is a multiplayer client for GTA V (Los Santos). RedM is its equivalent for Red Dead Redemption 2 (Blackwater, Saint Denis). Both run on the CFX.re platform and use FXServer, but the resources, scripts, and frameworks are incompatible with each other.

How many players can we have on an 8 GB RAM VPS?

With 8 GB of RAM and a good CPU (4 vCPU), you can comfortably host 32 to 64 players with a well-optimized ESX or QBCore framework. Beyond 64 slots, crashes and latency increase if resources are not sorted. OneSync Infinity is required from 33 players.

Is it free to host FiveM?

FiveM itself is free: FXServer, txAdmin, and the CFX.re license key cost nothing. You only pay for VPS hosting. Some premium frameworks (Patreon ESX, paid scripts) have their own costs, but the core of FiveM is open source.

Can we migrate an existing FiveM server to a new VPS?

Yes. The migration is done in 3 steps: 1) back up server-data/ + the MySQL database, 2) install FXServer on the new VPS according to this guide, 3) restore the files and the database. Remember to update the IP in Keymaster after migration.

Do we need a Windows or Linux VPS for FiveM?

Both work. Windows is recommended if you are a beginner: the graphical interface, txAdmin, and Task Scheduler are more accessible. Linux is often preferred in advanced production for its lightweight and reduced RAM consumption (~500 MB less). For a first FiveM server, Windows is the simplest choice.

How to update FXServer without losing data?

1. Download the new build from runtime.fivem.net/artifacts

2. Stop FXServer via txAdmin

3. Replace the files in C:\FXServer\server\ with the new ones (without touching server-data\)

4. Restart FXServer

Your resources, configs, and data are in server-data\: they are never overwritten by a binary update.

Useful resources

• Official FiveM Documentation (Cfx.re Docs)

• CFX.re Keymaster: Generate a license key

• FiveM Artifacts Windows: Latest builds

• CFX.re Forum: Support and community resources

• OneSync Documentation