Install pinned artifacts and choose a recipe
An artifact is the FXServer build you download. txAdmin is the browser dashboard that ships inside that build and opens by itself the first time you run it. A recipe is a one-click starter that downloads a framework and writes your first server.cfg. You do all of this with the files Cfx.re gives you. Nothing extra to install.
Watch the full install
The full install-and-configure walkthrough. Follow along here as you work through the steps below.
Build it
Download an official artifact and record the build
Open the official Cfx.re Windows artifacts page and pick a build from the Recommended (green) channel near the top. Recommended is the stable line; do not grab the bleeding-edge "Latest" or "Optional" rows for a first server.
https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_server_windows/master/Download the server.7z for that build. Then create a tiny note so you can roll back later if an update ever breaks the server. Make the file C:\FXServer\artifact-pin.txt and fill in what you used:
Artifact OS: Windows
Channel: Recommended
Artifact build: <the number you clicked>
Downloaded: <today's date>
Source URL: https://runtime.fivem.net/artifacts/fivem/build_server_windows/master/
Known-good after test: pending
Rollback build: none yetOnly download from this Cfx.re page. Do not use Discord mirrors, YouTube links, or random upload sites.
Extract and run FXServer
Make a clean folder, extract the archive into it, and run the server binary.
C:\FXServer\server\ <- extract server.7z here
C:\FXServer\server-data\ <- create this empty (your config + resources live here)Double-click C:\FXServer\server\FXServer.exe. A black console window opens and starts txAdmin. Allow the Windows Firewall prompt if it appears, then wait for your browser to open the dashboard.
If something went wrong
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
The browser never opens / localhost:40120 refused | FXServer.exe is not running or the console was closed. Reopen FXServer.exe, keep the black window open, then visit http://localhost:40120 manually. |
Server license key authentication failed | Get a fresh free key from portal.cfx.re, paste the exact value into sv_licenseKey, and restart. Keys are tied to one server name. |
Could not connect to database / oxmysql failed | Start MariaDB, confirm the database name matches the recipe, and check the mysql_connection_string convar host, user, and password. |
Client kicked: game build mismatch | Set sv_enforceGameBuild to the current build from the live artifacts list, then restart. Do not pin an old 2024 build. |
The txAdmin setup screen does not match these steps | Labels move between builds. Follow the stable task order: enter PIN, claim with Cfx.re, choose recipe, paste key, set database, Save & Run. If lost, open the txAdmin setup docs in References. |
What you can do now
- Download a Recommended-channel FXServer artifact and record its build for rollback.
- Run FXServer.exe and let the bundled txAdmin open itself at http://localhost:40120.
- Claim txAdmin with your Cfx.re account and set a separate local dashboard password.
- Run an ESX Legacy or Qbox recipe with your free license key to write the first server.cfg.
- Set a current sv_enforceGameBuild and join your own server with connect 127.0.0.1:30120.
- Find txAdmin logs under txData/<server>/logs and search for the folder if the path moved.