FiveM Server Not Showing in Server List (How to Fix It)

A FiveM server shows up in the server list when four things are true: it is running with a valid license key, sv_master1 is not set to an empty string, Cfx.re's servers can reach its game port on TCP and UDP, and you are searching for its project name (sv_projectName), not sv_hostname. A new server can take several minutes to appear. In the meantime, connecting with F8 and connect your-ip:port always works, so your players are never stuck.

Go through these in order. Most people find the problem in the first three.

1. Are you searching for the right name?

The FiveM server list shows your project name and project description, not sv_hostname. The default server.cfg even says so: sv_hostname "is not usually shown anywhere in listings".

Set these in server.cfg (txAdmin's CFG Editor):

sets sv_projectName "Harbor City RP"
sets sv_projectDesc "Serious roleplay, whitelisted, active police and EMS"
sets tags "roleplay, serious, qbox"
sets locale "en-US"

• sv_projectName: a name, not a list of keywords. Search for this.
• sv_projectDesc: one sentence.
• tags: comma separated, used for filtering.
• locale: the server's main language. txAdmin recipes ship root-AQ, which is a placeholder. Players who filter by language will not see a server left on it.

Restart the server after changing them.

2. Is sv_master1 set to empty?

#sv_master1 ""

This line in the default server.cfg is commented out on purpose. With the # removed, the server is private: it is not joinable from the server list. Leave it commented, or delete it. Do not set it to any other value either.

Also check that no extra .cfg file you exec sets it. Recipes like Qbox split settings over several files (ox.cfg, voice.cfg, misc.cfg, permissions.cfg).

3. Is the license key valid?

Without a working sv_licenseKey the server does not register with Cfx.re at all. Look in the console right after start for a license error. Common causes: the key was regenerated on portal.cfx.re, it was pasted with a space, or you changed it in one place but txAdmin's server.cfg still has the old one. Step by step fixes are in FiveM license key errors.

4. Can Cfx.re reach your server?

Being listed is not just your server saying "I exist". Cfx.re's servers check back that your game port answers. If it does not, you are not listed even though you can join locally.

A quick test: ask a friend on a different internet connection to join with connect your-public-ip:30120. If they cannot, the list cannot reach you either. Fix that first with our port forwarding guide.

Forwarding only UDP is the classic mistake. FiveM needs both.

5. Is the server actually running?

Obvious, but it catches people out:

• On the txAdmin type, txAdmin can be online while the game server is stopped. Check txAdmin's dashboard says the server is online, not just that txAdmin loads.
• A crashed resource on boot can stop the server or keep it restarting. Read the console.
• Servers that stop when empty drop off the list while stopped. On GamezServers, Sleep when empty stops the server after 4 days with nobody on. Turn it off in Settings if you want to stay listed around the clock.

6. How long does it take to appear?

Usually a few minutes after a clean start with a valid key and reachable ports. Give it 10 to 15 minutes before you start changing things. Restarting over and over while you wait does not speed it up.

When it does appear, open your server's page in the list: it has a cfx.re/join link you can share in Discord, which is easier for players than an IP address.

7. Check the list's filters

The FiveM server list has filters for things like language, tags, empty and full servers, and a new server with zero players sits at the bottom of a list sorted by player count. Clear your filters and search for the exact project name before deciding it is not listed.

Connect by address always works

None of the above stops players from joining directly:

1. Open FiveM and press F8.
2. Type connect your-ip:port, for example connect 203.0.113.10:30120.
3. Press Enter.

Players can also add the server to their favourites after the first join. On GamezServers, the Invite friends button in your panel gives you a join page with these steps and your address already filled in.

Want the server hidden on purpose?

For a private test server, uncomment sv_master1 "". People can still join by address, but not from the list. Pair it with a whitelist if you want to keep people out entirely: see how to whitelist a FiveM server.

On GamezServers

On a GamezServers FiveM server the game port is open on TCP and UDP, outbound access to Cfx.re works, and there is nothing to forward, so a missing listing almost always comes down to a key problem, sv_master1, a server that is stopped or asleep, or searching for the wrong name. Edit the listing lines in txAdmin's CFG Editor and restart from txAdmin. More on that panel in how to use txAdmin.

FAQ

Why can I join my server but nobody can find it?

You are probably searching for sv_hostname instead of sv_projectName, or Cfx.re cannot reach your port from outside. Joining from the same network as the server proves nothing about outside access.

Does a whitelist hide my server from the list?

No. A whitelisted server is still listed. Players see it, try to join, and get your allowlist instructions.

How do I get higher in the FiveM server list?

The list is sorted by player count by default, so the way up is active players. A clear project name, accurate tags, a real locale and a Discord where people can find you do more for a new server than anything in server.cfg.

Why did my server disappear from the list?

It stopped, crashed, went to sleep, or its license key changed. Check the console and that the server is online in txAdmin, then give it a few minutes after it starts again.