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To connect to a FiveM server, install and update the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V, install FiveM, then either choose a server in FiveM’s browser or use the client console to enter a supplied IP address, port, URL, or cfx.re/join/... link. Servers on your local network use a separate LAN button. If a direct connection fails, verify that the server is running, its public /info.json endpoint responds, and its port-forwarding and firewall rules allow traffic.
The right method depends on how the server is published. Public servers are discovered in the browser, LAN servers are reached through your local network, and private or allowlisted servers require an endpoint or permission from the owner.
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What you need before connecting
FiveM is a multiplayer client for the PC installation of Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV). It does not replace the game files: FiveM’s installer asks you to identify the existing GTA5.exe file and uses that installation when launching a server. Keep GTAV updated before starting FiveM; an outdated game installation can prevent the client from completing setup or joining a server.
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- An updated PC copy of GTAV with a working installation.
- The FiveM client downloaded from FiveM.net and installed on the same PC as GTAV.
- A free Cfx account for the initial FiveM sign-in and setup.
FiveM’s first-run process includes selecting the GTAV executable, signing in to a Cfx account, and completing client initialization. You normally do this only once, although a repair, reinstall, or moved GTAV folder can cause FiveM to ask for the executable again.
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Information supplied by the server owner
For a public server, its name is usually enough because you can find it in the browser. For a private, allowlisted, or LAN server, obtain the exact connection details first:
- A public IP address and port, such as
203.0.113.10:30120, when connecting from outside the owner’s network. - A private LAN address and port when you are on the same home or office network.
- A server URL or a
cfx.re/join/...invite link. - Any allowlist, password, role, or other admission requirement set by the owner.
An address without its port may be insufficient. The port identifies the service on the target computer; if the owner gives you a complete endpoint, use it exactly as supplied.
Choose the connection route
| Route | How you discover it | Network scope | Admission control | Setup burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FiveM server browser | Search or browse the public list in FiveM | Usually internet-accessible | May be open, allowlisted, or private | Lowest for a player |
| LAN button | FiveM detects a server on the same network | Local network only | Controlled by the server configuration and local network | Low, provided discovery works |
| Direct IP and port | Owner supplies an endpoint | Public internet or LAN, depending on the address | Owner’s allowlist or other rules still apply | Low for a player; higher for the owner exposing the port |
| URL or cfx.re join link | Owner supplies a URL or invite | Public or otherwise reachable endpoint | Owner’s admission rules still apply | Low once FiveM is installed |
Use the browser when the server is public, the LAN button when the server is on your network, and a direct endpoint when the owner has given you one or the server does not appear in discovery.
Install and initialize FiveM
- Install or update GTAV. Finish any pending game update and confirm that GTAV starts normally before installing FiveM.
- Download FiveM. Use the official FiveM download from FiveM.net and run
FiveM.exe. - Select the game executable. When prompted, browse to the installed GTAV folder and select
GTA5.exe. Select the actual executable, not a shortcut or a parent folder. - Sign in. Log in with a Cfx account when FiveM requests it. Account creation is free according to Cfx’s setup documentation.
- Complete first-run setup. Allow FiveM to finish its initial files and configuration. Do not close the client while that process is running.
- Restart after a failed first run. If FiveM cannot find GTAV, run it again and point it to the correct
GTA5.exe. A moved, renamed, or incomplete GTAV installation is the usual reason the executable is not accepted.
After setup, FiveM opens its main interface. You can now join through the server list or use the F8 console for a known endpoint.
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Join a server from the FiveM browser
- Launch FiveM and wait for the main interface to load.
- Open the server browser and browse or search for the server name provided by its owner.
- Select the matching server entry and choose its connect control.
- Wait for the server resources to load. The first connection can take longer while client files are prepared.
A browser entry does not guarantee admission. Owners can require allowlisting or other rules, and a private server can show a disabled connect control. If the owner says you have been approved but FiveM still refuses entry, ask whether the allowlist uses your account identifier, platform identifier, or another value and provide exactly what the owner requests.
When a public server is not listed
First confirm that you are searching the exact name and that FiveM has finished loading its list. A server configured as LAN-only or private is deliberately excluded from the public browser. In that case, the owner must provide a reachable LAN address, public endpoint, URL, or join link; changing browser filters cannot make an intentionally hidden server public.
Join a server on your local network
A local server is one running on the same home, office, or other private network as your PC. Cfx’s local-server instructions use a dedicated button labeled Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN.
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- Start the local FiveM server and make sure it has finished loading.
- Connect your gaming PC to the same LAN as the server. Being on a different guest Wi-Fi network can prevent discovery even when both devices are in the same building.
- Open FiveM and look for the Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN option.
- Select that button and wait for the connection to complete.
If the LAN button does not appear, restart the FiveM client as directed by the local-server guide, then check discovery again. If it remains absent, ask the server owner for the machine’s LAN IP address and port and use the F8 direct-connection method instead.
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Do not use a private LAN address when you are outside that network. Addresses such as 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x are normally reachable only from inside the owner’s network; an internet player needs the owner’s public endpoint and a forwarded port.
Connect by IP address, port, URL, or join link
FiveM’s client console accepts an IP address with a port, a URL, or a cfx.re/join/... link. This is the most reliable route when a server owner gives you a known endpoint.
- Launch FiveM and remain at the client interface.
- Press F8 to open the FiveM client console.
- Type
connect IP:Port, replacing the placeholders with the supplied endpoint. For example:connect 127.0.0.1:30120. - Press Enter and wait for FiveM to attempt the connection.
Port 30120 is used in Cfx examples and configuration defaults; it is not a universal requirement. If the owner specifies another port, use that port. Likewise, replace 127.0.0.1 with the real address: that loopback address works only when the server is running on your own computer.
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Using a URL or cfx.re link
When the owner supplies a URL, paste the complete URL after connect in the F8 console. A join link beginning with cfx.re/join/ can be entered the same way. Preserve every character, including the path after join/; a truncated link points to a different or invalid destination.
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Common direct-connection mistakes
- Missing port:
connect 203.0.113.10is incomplete when the server listens on a non-default port. Use the fullIP:Portsupplied by the owner. - Wrong address type: A LAN address will not work for an internet player, and a public address may be unnecessary or blocked when both players are on the same LAN.
- Typing the command outside FiveM: The
connectcommand belongs in the F8 client console, not Windows Command Prompt or a web browser. - Using an old endpoint: Dynamic public IP addresses can change. Ask the owner to confirm the endpoint before troubleshooting your installation.
Why FiveM cannot find a server
The server is private or allowlisted
Private servers can be configured so they do not appear in the public list, and owners may disable the browser’s connect control until a player is approved. Request an invitation, allowlist approval, or direct endpoint from the owner. There is no client-side search setting that bypasses those rules.
The server is LAN-only
A server configured with sv_lan true is intended for local-network use and will not appear in the public browser. Obtain the correct LAN address while connected to that network. If the owner wants players on the internet, the owner must change the server’s network setup and expose a reachable public route.
The server is stopped or still starting
A browser entry or old invitation does not prove that the process is currently running. Ask the owner to start the server and wait until it has finished loading before testing again.
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Work from the server outward. This order separates a stopped service from a network path problem and avoids changing FiveM settings unnecessarily.
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| Symptom or test | What it indicates | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The owner cannot confirm the server is running | The endpoint may have nothing listening on the advertised port | Have the owner start the server, finish startup, and confirm the endpoint before you retry. |
http://ip:port/info.json does not return server information |
The service is not reachable at that public address and port, or the endpoint is wrong | Replace ip and port with the owner’s actual public values and test the complete address in a browser. The owner should investigate the server process and network exposure if it still fails. |
The /info.json check works, but FiveM cannot connect |
The service is reachable, but admission rules, client state, or a protocol-specific issue may remain | Confirm allowlisting or other server rules, restart FiveM, and retry the exact endpoint or join link. |
| The test works inside the owner’s house but not from the internet | The server may be reachable only by LAN, or the router is not forwarding the service port | Use the public IP and port from outside the network. The owner must verify port forwarding to the server computer. |
| Connections time out or are refused from outside | A firewall may be blocking the connection, or forwarding may target the wrong machine or port | The owner should check both the computer firewall and router forwarding rules for the server port. |
| The LAN button is missing | FiveM has not discovered the local server | Restart FiveM. If discovery still fails, use the server’s LAN IP and port with the F8 console. |
| The owner gave you a private address for an internet connection | You are attempting to route a non-routable LAN address across the public internet | Request the public IP, forwarded port, URL, or cfx.re/join/... link instead. |
Cfx’s server-issues guidance identifies incorrect port forwarding and firewall blocking as likely causes when a direct connection fails. Those checks belong to the server owner or network administrator; reinstalling FiveM will not repair a router rule that points to the wrong computer.
How to use the info.json test correctly
- Obtain the server’s public IP address and listening port from the owner.
- In a browser, enter
http://ip:port/info.json, substituting the real values. - Check whether the page returns server information rather than a timeout or connection error.
- If it fails, have the owner confirm that the server is running, the port is forwarded to the correct host, and firewall rules permit the traffic.
- If it succeeds, copy the same public IP and port into the F8 command and check admission requirements.
If you want to run your own FiveM server
Operating a server is a different task from joining one. Cfx’s server setup documentation provides paths for Windows, Linux, txAdmin, and game-server hosting-provider environments. Before beginning setup, register a free Cfx license key as required by that documentation.
For a hosted FiveM setup, Godlike.Host provides FiveM game-server hosting through its own game panel. It is not on Cfx.re’s list of authorized FiveM hosts (fivem.net, 10 Oct 2026).
Owner-side preparation
- Choose a supported setup path: Windows, Linux, txAdmin, or a hosting-provider environment.
- Register the required free Cfx license key.
- Complete the server installation and start the server process.
- Decide whether the server is public, LAN-only, or private/allowlisted.
- Give players the correct public or LAN endpoint, URL, or join link.
Network exposure
A server intended for internet players needs a reachable public route. The owner must identify the listening port, forward that port from the router to the server computer when a router is involved, and allow it through the computer’s firewall. The owner can then test http://public-ip:port/info.json from a network outside the server’s LAN. A successful response confirms that the endpoint is answering the information request; players may still need to satisfy allowlist or other admission rules.
For a LAN-only session, keep the server on the private network and give players the LAN endpoint or rely on the Connect to [ComputerName] on LAN discovery button. Setting sv_lan true prevents the server from appearing in the public list, so internet players should not be directed to search for it there.
Quick Recap
Which method should you use?
- You are joining a large public community: use the FiveM browser and its connect control.
- You are playing with people in the same home or office: use the LAN button; restart FiveM if discovery is missing.
- You received an IP, port, URL, or join link: press F8 and use the
connectcommand. - The server does not appear anywhere: ask whether it is private, allowlisted, or LAN-only, then request the appropriate endpoint and admission instructions.
- You are hosting: obtain a Cfx license key, select a documented Windows, Linux, txAdmin, or hosting setup, and verify external reachability before inviting players.
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