Most problems with a FiveM server come down to a few causes. Start with the one that matches what you see.
The server stops straight after Start and the console tells you to set a license key
Why: No Cfx.re license key has been entered. A FiveM server does not start without one.
Fix: Sign in at portal.cfx.re, create a free key for your server, paste it into Cfx.re License Key under Settings, then Game Settings, and press Start again.
The panel refuses to save the Cfx.re License Key
Why: The field only accepts letters, numbers, dashes and underscores, up to 33 characters, so spaces, quotes or extra text copied with the key are rejected.
Fix: Copy only the key itself from the Cfx.re portal and paste it with no spaces before or after.
The server runs but does not appear in the server list, or players cannot join after some time
Why: Cfx.re stops accepting server builds outside their support window, and the server then drops off the list. This happens when Auto-update server is off or the server is pinned to an old build number.
Fix: Turn Auto-update server on and set fivem version to recommended, then restart so the server updates itself. Your resources and server.cfg are left alone.
You uploaded a resource but nothing changed in the game
Why: A resource only runs when the server is told to start it. Uploading the folder is not enough.
Fix: Add the folder name to Resources to start under Settings, then Game Settings, and restart. The console names any resource that is installed but not started.
The Resources to start list is ignored, or edits to server.cfg have no effect
Why: With Enable txadmin on, txAdmin runs its own server configuration and server.cfg is not executed at start.
Fix: Add resources and change server settings in txAdmin, or switch Enable txadmin off and restart to go back to server.cfg.
The panel rejects the Resources to start list
Why: Names must be folder names made of letters, numbers, underscores, dots and dashes, separated by commas, on a single line, up to 1024 characters in total. A category folder name in square brackets is not a resource name.
Fix: Use the name of each resource folder inside the category folder, for example esx_core, separated by commas.
A name or player limit you typed into server.cfg goes back to its old value
Why: The hostname, license key, Steam key and player limit lines are rewritten from the panel settings on every start.
Fix: Change them under Settings, then Game Settings. Max Players is set by your plan.
Players show no Steam identifier on the server
Why: The server only returns Steam identifiers when it has a Steam Web API key, and the default is none.
Fix: Create a key at steamcommunity.com/dev/apikey and enter it in Steam Web Api Key, then restart.
Still stuck?
Open a ticket in the category that fits and include the last 50 to 100 lines of the console. See How to open a support ticket and How to fix a server that will not start.
