A FiveM server will not start without a licence key, and it does not start halfway either. Press Start with no key and the server process refuses to come up at all. This trips up nearly every new FiveM owner, because nothing about the panel suggests you need to visit another website first. The key is free, it takes a couple of minutes, and once it is in place you will not think about it again.
What the key actually is
FiveM is run by Cfx.re, and every server that connects to their network identifies itself with a licence key. It is not a purchase and it is not a subscription. It exists so Cfx.re knows which server is which.
One key belongs to one server. If you run two FiveM servers, you generate two keys.
Keys look like cfxk_ followed by a string of letters and numbers. If what you are holding does not start with cfxk_, it is not the thing you need.
Before you start
- Your FiveM server created in the game panel
- A few minutes and an email address you can receive mail on
You do not need the server running. It cannot run yet, which is rather the point.
Step 1: Create your Cfx.re account
Go to portal.cfx.re and sign in, or register if this is your first time. This is the official Cfx.re portal and the only place you should ever get a key from.
Use an email address you will still have access to in a year. Losing the account means losing the ability to manage the keys attached to it.
Step 2: Generate a key for your server
Once signed in, create a new server key. The portal asks you for a few details:
- A label, so you can tell your keys apart later. Name it after the server.
- The server's IP address. Copy this from your server's connection details in the panel.
- The server type, where you say what kind of server this is.
If your portal offers an option for a dynamic or unassigned IP, that is the safer choice when you are not certain the address will stay the same. A key locked to one IP stops working the moment the server moves.
When it is done you get your cfxk_ key. Copy it now. Some portals show a key in full only once.
Step 3: Put the key into your server
The panel checks for the key before it tries to start anything. Press Start on a server with no key and instead of a failed boot you get a dialog asking for it.
- Paste the key into the dialog
- Save
That writes the key to your server and starts it in one go. You do not need to visit the Startup tab or restart anything by hand.
If you would rather set it directly, or you need to replace a key later, it lives on the Startup tab as the FIVEM_LICENSE variable. Servers that have never been configured carry the placeholder value CHANGE_ME, which counts as no key at all.
Step 4: Confirm it worked
Open the Console tab and start the server. A server with a good key boots through its startup lines and settles into a running state. A server with a bad one stops early and says so.
Troubleshooting
The server will not start and nothing appears in the console. No key, or the key is still CHANGE_ME. Check the FIVEM_LICENSE variable on the Startup tab.
Invalid license key specified. The key is wrong, was mistyped, or has been deleted in the portal. Check it starts with cfxk_ and that you copied the whole thing, with no trailing space. Pasting from a chat message is a common way to lose the last character.
The key works for a while, then the server stops. The key was revoked or deleted in the portal, or it is in use on another server. Two servers cannot share one key. Generate a second key.
Invalid or the server refuses after moving. If the key was tied to a specific IP and the server's address changed, the key no longer matches. Update the IP in the portal, or regenerate the key against the new address.
I lost my key. Sign in to the portal and read it from there. Every key you have generated is listed against your account, which is why the account email matters.
The dialog will not accept what I paste. The panel hints at the expected format but does not block you, so if it still fails after saving, the key itself is being rejected rather than the format. Re-copy it from the portal.
Frequently asked questions
Does the key cost anything? No. Server keys from Cfx.re are free.
Do I need one key per server? Yes. One key, one server. Running a second server means generating a second key.
Can I reuse a key from an old server? If the old server is genuinely gone and you have removed or repurposed the key in the portal, yes. Two live servers on one key will not work.
Do I need to give the key to my players? No. It identifies the server, not the players. Players never see it and never need it.
Is this the same as a Patreon or FiveM Element Club subscription? No. Those are optional paid extras. The licence key is the free requirement every server has.
Does the key expire? It does not expire on a timer, but it can be revoked or removed from the portal, and a key nobody is using can be cleaned up. If a working server suddenly stops, the portal is the first place to look.
Should I share it anywhere for support? No. Treat it like a password. Support never needs your key to help with a server.
Still stuck at the start gate? Contact support with your server name and the exact console output and we will take a look. Not running a server yet? See our FiveM server hosting plans.