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Common server errors and fixes

Common server errors and fixes

Fixes for the errors every FiveM server owner hits: license key, resources that won't load, server not in list, game build and pure mode, oversized assets, escrow and SQL.

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Start every diagnosis in the same place: the server console (txAdmin > Live Console) for server errors, and the F8 console in the game for client errors. Scroll up to the first red line. Later errors are often just a result of the first one.

The messages below are paraphrased where their exact wording changes between builds. Search the console for the key words.

License key problems

Symptoms: the server stops right after starting and mentions the license key, “invalid”, “failed to verify” or a missing sv_licenseKey.

  • Check the key is on its own line: sv_licenseKey "cfxk_..." with no extra spaces or quotes inside.
  • Make sure it is not commented out and that no later exec’d file overrides it with an old key.
  • Each server needs its own key. Two servers with one key fight each other.
  • If you pasted the key into a public place, it may have been abused. Regenerate it on portal.cfx.re and update your config.
  • On a VPS, a system clock that is far off can break verification. The txAdmin team has a short video on syncing the Windows VPS clock, linked in the video archive.

“Couldn’t find resource” / “Couldn’t start resource”

Symptoms: Couldn't find resource myresource. or a failed start for a resource you just added.

  1. Folder name. ensure uses the folder name. ensure my-car does not find My-Car on Linux (case sensitive) and does not find my-car-main (GitHub zip downloads add -main or -master, rename the folder).
  2. Nested folder. Unzipping often gives resources/[local]/mycar/mycar/fxmanifest.lua. The manifest must be directly inside the folder you ensure.
  3. No manifest. The folder needs fxmanifest.lua (or the ancient __resource.lua). Generate a correct one with the fxmanifest Generator.
  4. Wrong working directory. Starting FXServer from the wrong folder (vanilla setups) means it can’t see resources at all. Start it from your server data folder.
  5. Not refreshed. Added the folder while the server runs? Type refresh, then ensure name.

Manifest and script errors

Symptoms: Couldn't load resource x followed by a Lua error in fxmanifest.lua, or SCRIPT ERROR: @resource/file.lua:12: ....

  • A syntax error in the manifest (missing quote or comma in a { } list) stops the whole resource. The error names the line.
  • SCRIPT ERROR lines show @resource/path:line. Open that file at that line. Common ones:
    • attempt to index a nil value (global 'QBCore'): the framework object was never fetched, or the framework started after this resource. Fix ensure order.
    • attempt to call a nil value (field 'xyz'): calling an export or function that doesn’t exist (wrong resource name, wrong version).
    • No such export xyz in resource abc: the resource isn’t started, has another name, or doesn’t export that function in your version.
  • Could not find dependency x for resource y: install and ensure the dependency first.

More on reading errors in Debugging.

Server not in the server list

  1. Test direct connect: connect IP:30120 in F8. If it fails, it’s ports or firewall, see Ports and networking.
  2. Remove or comment out sv_master1 "".
  3. Set sets sv_projectName and sets sv_projectDesc.
  4. Wait up to 8 minutes after start.
  5. Check the IP isn’t blocked with the Cfx Blacklist Checker.
  6. Check what your server reports with the Server Status Checker.

Players get stuck while connecting

Where it hangs Usual cause
“Handshaking with server” UDP 30120 blocked, or the server is under heavy load at start.
“Downloading assets” for ages Huge streamed packs. Shrink textures with the YTD Optimizer, remove unused packs, consider a file server.
Loading screen never ends A loadscreen with loadscreen_manual_shutdown 'yes' that never calls ShutdownLoadingScreenNui(), or a framework spawn script erroring. Check F8.
Kicked with a timeout after joining A client script erroring in a loop, or a resource sending huge events. Check F8 and the server console.

Game build mismatch

Symptoms: players are told they need to download game data or a different build, or DLC vehicles and clothes don’t appear.

  • sv_enforceGameBuild must be set at startup, in server.cfg, and requires a restart to change.
  • A build number that your artifact doesn’t know yet does nothing. Update the artifact first.
  • DLC content (vehicles, clothes) from a newer build than the one you enforce won’t spawn. Check the build in server.cfg explained.
  • Some old MLOs and clothing packs break on newer builds because Rockstar changed the base files. Look for an updated version from the author.

Pure mode kicks

Symptoms: players are refused because of modified game files.

sv_pureLevel 1 allows audio mods and known graphics mods, sv_pureLevel 2 blocks everything modified. If legitimate players with graphics mods can’t join, lower it to 1 or remove it. On FiveM for GTA V Enhanced, pure mode is always on and can’t be disabled.

Oversized assets and texture loss

Symptoms: a console warning that an asset “uses XX MiB of physical memory” and that oversized assets can lead to streaming issues. In game: blurry or missing textures, the city not loading when you drive fast, invisible cars.

  • Usually a .ytd with 4K textures in a car or clothing pack.
  • Resize textures to 2048 or 1024, use DXT compression, generate mipmaps. The YTD Optimizer does this for many files at once.
  • Check a whole vehicle resource for broken references with the Vehicle Pack Validator.
  • Remove packs nobody uses. Every streamed MB costs every player memory.

Escrow errors

Symptoms: “Failed to verify protected resource” or an escrowed resource refusing to start.

  • The resource was bought on a different Cfx.re account than the one that owns the server’s license key. Escrowed assets are tied to the buying account.
  • Re-download it from the Cfx.re Portal. Files changed or re-zipped by hand (for example opened and saved in an editor) fail verification. Only edit the files the creator left open (usually config.lua).
  • Too old an artifact: escrow needs a reasonably recent build.
  • Some escrowed resources need a minimum game build or OneSync.

Database errors

See the table at the end of Database setup. The top three: MariaDB not running, wrong password in mysql_connection_string, forgot to import the resource’s .sql.

Port already in use

Symptoms: FXServer can’t bind to 0.0.0.0:30120, or txAdmin can’t use 40120.

Another FXServer (or an old one that didn’t close) is running. Close it (Task Manager on Windows, pkill -f FXServer or systemctl stop on Linux) or use different ports for the second server.

txAdmin says the server is not responding

  • A resource is blocking the main thread (an infinite loop without Wait, a slow synchronous query). txAdmin’s hang detection restarts it. Find the culprit with the profiler: see Threads and performance and the Profiler Analyzer.
  • Server hitches in the console (server thread hitch warning: timer interval of X milliseconds) mean the same thing on a smaller scale.

Still stuck?

Post on forum.cfx.re (Server Discussion) or the relevant framework Discord with:

  • the first red error, copied as text,
  • your artifact build and game build,
  • what you changed last,
  • your server.cfg without the license key and passwords.