Your FiveM server is running — but nobody can find it. The server browser is the front door to every public RP community, and a handful of convars in server.cfg determine exactly what players see (and whether they see anything at all). This guide walks through every listing-related setting: sv_hostname, sv_projectName, sv_projectDesc, sets tags, locale, sv_maxClients, and the most common reasons a server disappears from the list entirely.
How the FiveM Server Browser Works
When your server starts, it sends a heartbeat to the Cfx.re ingress service. That heartbeat registers your server in the public browser at servers.fivem.net. The browser then reads the metadata your server advertises — name, description, tags, locale, and player count — and displays it to players searching for servers. If any required piece of that chain is broken, your server either shows up unlabelled or does not show up at all.
The initial registration can take up to 8 minutes from a cold start. If you restarted the server and are not seeing it immediately, wait a few minutes before troubleshooting further.
The Core Listing Convars
All of the settings below live in your server.cfg file. Open it in any text editor — it is usually found at the root of your server data directory.
sv_hostname
sv_hostname is the server-specific host name. It is the primary name displayed in the server browser row. Keep it readable, memorable, and consistent with your community brand. Avoid stuffing tags or descriptions into this field — those have dedicated convars below.
sv_hostname "Liberty City Roleplay | Serious RP | QBCore"sv_projectName and sv_projectDesc
These two convars are set with the sets command, which marks them as server information variables (info sets) that the browser reads. Both are required — if either is missing the server may fail to display properly in the listing.
- sv_projectName — your community or project name. It appears alongside the hostname in the browser list.
- sv_projectDesc — a short sentence describing your server. It is displayed when a player expands or clicks on your server entry.
sets sv_projectName "Liberty City Roleplay"
sets sv_projectDesc "Immersive GTA V RP with custom jobs, housing, and a growing economy."Non-compliant or excessively long project names will be cut off in the browser. Write a clean name only — no pipe characters or tag lists here.
sets tags
Tags are a comma-separated list of keywords that players can use to filter servers in the browser. They are the equivalent of search metadata: choose words that accurately describe your server’s game mode, framework, and community focus.
sets tags "roleplay, qbcore, serious-rp, economy, custom-jobs"Common tag categories used by established communities include the framework (qbcore, esx, vrp), game mode (roleplay, drifting, racing, military), and tone (serious-rp, semi-serious, casual). Note that the default placeholder in a fresh install is sets tags "default" — replace it before going public.
locale
The locale info set tells the browser which language your server primarily operates in. It is used for region-based filtering. The default placeholder in a new install is root-AQ — this is not a real locale and should always be replaced.
sets locale "en-US"Other common values: fr-CA, de-DE, nl-NL, pt-BR, en-GB. Use the standard BCP 47 language tag format.
sv_maxClients
This integer convar sets the maximum concurrent player count displayed in the browser. The default in a vanilla install is 48. Key limits to know:
- Up to 31 players — no extra requirements.
- 32 or more players — OneSync must be enabled (
set onesync onorset onesync legacy). - More than 64 players — OneSync must be set to
on(legacy mode is not sufficient). - More than 48 slots — requires a Cfx.re Element Club Argentum subscription or higher, linked to your license key via the Cfx.re portal.
sv_maxclients 48
set onesync onload_server_icon (optional)
You can add a custom thumbnail to your server’s browser entry. The file must be a 96×96 PNG, placed in your server data directory.
load_server_icon myLogo.pngComplete Listing Block — server.cfg Reference
Here is a clean, copy-pasteable listing block you can drop into your server.cfg. Replace every placeholder value before starting the server.
## -- Server Identity & Browser Listing --
sv_hostname "Liberty City Roleplay | Serious RP"
sets sv_projectName "Liberty City Roleplay"
sets sv_projectDesc "Immersive GTA V RP with custom jobs, housing, and a growing economy."
sets tags "roleplay, qbcore, serious-rp, economy, custom-jobs"
sets locale "en-US"
## -- Capacity (32+ requires onesync) --
sv_maxclients 48
set onesync on
## -- License (from https://portal.cfx.re) --
sv_licenseKey "YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE"
## -- Optional: custom server icon (96x96 PNG in server root) --
# load_server_icon myLogo.png
## -- Keep this commented out to stay public in the browser --
# sv_master1 ""Quick-Reference: What Each Setting Does in the Browser
| Convar | Where it appears | Required? | Example value |
|---|---|---|---|
sv_hostname | Main name row in browser | Yes | “Liberty City Roleplay | Serious RP” |
sets sv_projectName | Project name alongside hostname | Yes | “Liberty City Roleplay” |
sets sv_projectDesc | Expanded server detail panel | Yes | “Immersive GTA V RP…” |
sets tags | Browser tag filter | Recommended | “roleplay, qbcore, serious-rp” |
sets locale | Language/region filter | Recommended | “en-US” |
sv_maxclients | Slot count shown in browser | Yes | 48 |
load_server_icon | Thumbnail next to server name | No | myLogo.png (96×96 PNG) |
Why Is My Server Not Showing in the List?
This is the most common question from new server operators. Work through this checklist in order:
- Wait up to 8 minutes. The first heartbeat registration after a cold start takes time. Do not restart the server while waiting — that resets the timer.
- Check port 30120 is open. Both TCP and UDP on port 30120 must be reachable from the internet. Test at canyouseeme.org. This is the most common cause of a server not appearing.
- Verify sv_projectName and sv_projectDesc are set. Missing either of these variables causes the server to fail its listing check.
- Check sv_master1 is commented out. If the line
sv_master1 ""is uncommented in your server.cfg, the server is marked private and the connect button is disabled in the browser. It should have a#prefix. - Test your info.json endpoint. In a browser, visit
http://YOUR_IP:30120/info.json. If you see a JSON response with your server details, the server is reachable. If the page times out, the problem is network/firewall. - Check for NAT/gateway masking. If your server is behind a router or NAT that rewrites UDP source ports, the Cfx.re ingress may not be able to register it. Use a server with a direct public IP, or configure your router’s NAT rules accordingly.
- Confirm your license key is valid. An invalid or missing
sv_licenseKeywill prevent proper registration. Keys are issued at portal.cfx.re.
Making Your Server Private
If you want a whitelist-only or development server that does not appear in the public browser, uncomment the sv_master1 line:
sv_master1 ""Note from the official docs: this marks the server as private and disables the public connect button, but heartbeats are still sent to the default ingress — this cannot be used to fully suppress all registration activity.
Next Steps After Getting Listed
Once your server appears correctly, you can focus on player experience. If you are building out an RP framework, our ox_target setup guide and server backup guide are natural next reads. For the full admin toolkit — bans, kicks, and permission management — see our FiveM ban and kick management guide.
If you are still standing up the server infrastructure itself, the FiveM server documentation covers txAdmin setup, resource loading, and initial configuration in detail. Or, if you would rather skip the infrastructure work and go straight to building your community, take a look at managed FiveM server hosting — fully configured instances with txAdmin pre-installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Cfx.re account to get my server listed?
Yes. You need a valid sv_licenseKey in your server.cfg, which is generated at portal.cfx.re after linking your Cfx.re account. Without a license key the server will either fail to start or fail to register in the browser. The key is free for standard usage (up to 48 slots).
Why does my server show in the list but players get a “server is private” error?
This means sv_master1 "" is uncommented in your server.cfg. That line marks the server as private, which disables the connect button for players browsing the public list. Add a # at the start of that line so it reads # sv_master1 "", then restart the server.
How many tags should I use, and does capitalisation matter?
There is no enforced limit, but keeping tags concise and relevant is more effective than listing dozens of keywords. Use lowercase — while the browser is not strictly case-sensitive, lowercase tags match how most players type filter queries. Separate each tag with a comma and a space: sets tags "roleplay, qbcore, economy, serious-rp". Avoid duplicating words already in your sv_hostname; tags are additive metadata, not a repeat of the server name.
Ready to play?
Run your own FiveM server with XGamingServer
Spin up an always-on FiveM server your friends can join in minutes — no port-forwarding, no tech headaches.
