FiveM Database Setup: MySQL/MariaDB & oxmysql Guide

Almost every serious FiveM server needs a database. Frameworks like ESX, QBCore and QBox store players, characters, money, vehicles and inventories in MySQL/MariaDB — so getting the database right is a core setup step. This guide covers how to set up a database for FiveM.

MySQL or MariaDB?

Either works, and the FiveM community largely uses MariaDB (a drop-in MySQL fork) for performance. The connection details are identical from FiveM’s point of view. Your host may provide one for you; if you self-host, install MariaDB and a management tool like HeidiSQL or phpMyAdmin to work with it visually.

Step 1: Create the database

1. Open your database tool (HeidiSQL/phpMyAdmin) and connect to your MySQL/MariaDB server.
2. Create a new database (schema) — e.g. fivem or your server name.
3. Create a database user with a strong password and grant it full privileges on that database.

Step 2: Install oxmysql

oxmysql is the standard, async database connector in 2026 — almost every modern resource depends on it. Place it in resources and ensure it before your framework and any script that uses the database.

Step 3: Add your connection string

Tell oxmysql how to reach your database with a single line in your server.cfg:

set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@localhost:3306/fivem?charset=utf8mb4"

Replace the user, password, host and database name with yours. If the database is on the same machine, localhost is correct; managed hosts usually supply the exact host and port.

Step 4: Import your framework’s SQL

Your framework and many scripts ship .sql files that create their tables. Import them into your database through HeidiSQL/phpMyAdmin (File → Run SQL file, or paste and execute). Do this for the framework first (ESX/QBCore/QBox), then each script that needs tables. Skipping a script’s SQL is the #1 cause of “table doesn’t exist” console errors.

Verifying it works

Start the server and watch the console: oxmysql prints a connection confirmation, and any database errors show the exact table or query at fault. If you see connection refused, double-check the connection string, that MariaDB is running, and that the user has privileges.

The managed shortcut

On managed FiveM hosting, the database is provisioned for you — oxmysql and the connection string are wired up, and you import SQL through the panel, skipping the MariaDB install entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Does a FiveM server need a database?

If you run a framework (ESX, QBCore, QBox) or any persistent script — yes. The database stores players, money, characters and inventories.

MySQL or MariaDB for FiveM?

Either; MariaDB is the common choice for performance and is a drop-in MySQL replacement.

What is oxmysql?

The standard async database connector for FiveM. You set your connection string for it in server.cfg and ensure it before your framework.

Why do I get “table doesn’t exist” errors?

You haven’t imported that resource’s SQL file into your database. Import the framework and each script’s SQL.