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audiosoundsnui9 min read · updated 9/11/2026

Playing custom sounds on a FiveM server

Door beeps, radio clicks, alarms, a custom siren: sound makes scripts feel finished. FiveM gives you three levels — reuse GTA’s built-in sounds, play audio files through the NUI browser, or stream real game audio banks — and each fits different jobs.

Short answer: For short UI and gameplay sounds, first try GTA’s own sounds with PlaySoundFrontend(-1, name, set, true). For custom files, play .ogg/.mp3 through NUI — the approach used by InteractSound-style resources — optionally with distance-based volume, or use a positional audio resource such as xsound. For sounds that must behave like game audio (sirens, engines, weapons), stream audio banks with AUDIO_WAVEPACK and related data files.

Custom Sounds in FiveM: NUI Audio, 3D Sounds and Native Audio Banks

#Built-in GTA sounds

client.lua
PlaySoundFrontend(-1, 'SELECT', 'HUD_FRONTEND_DEFAULT_SOUNDSET', true)
PlaySoundFrontend(-1, 'CHECKPOINT_PERFECT', 'HUD_MINI_GAME_SOUNDSET', true)

Thousands of sound/set name pairs exist in the game; community lists collect them. They need no download and respect the player’s game volume.

#Custom files through NUI

client.lua
RegisterNetEvent('sound:play', function(file, volume)
    SendNUIMessage({ action = 'play', file = file, volume = volume or 0.4 })
end)
html/app.js
window.addEventListener('message', ({ data }) => {
  if (data.action !== 'play') return;
  const a = new Audio(`./sounds/${data.file}.ogg`);
  a.volume = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, data.volume));
  a.play();
});

List the sound files in the fxmanifest files. For sounds others should hear nearby, the server triggers the event for players within range and scales volume by distance — which is what positional audio resources automate.

#Native audio banks

Sirens, engine sounds and gunshots that should use the game’s audio engine are streamed as wave packs (.awc) with audio data (.rel) declared as AUDIO_WAVEPACK, AUDIO_GAMEDATA and AUDIO_SOUNDDATA. Weapons are covered in weapon sounds; vehicles reference audio through audioNameHash in vehicles.meta — see vehicle meta files.

#Formats and etiquette

  • .ogg at a modest bitrate; mono for effects.
  • Short files — every player downloads them.
  • Default volumes low; loud sounds get resources removed.
  • Only sounds you have rights to.

Questions

How do I play a custom sound in FiveM?
Play an audio file through NUI (an InteractSound-style resource) or use a positional audio resource; for game-integrated audio stream native audio banks.
How do I play built-in GTA sounds?
PlaySoundFrontend(-1, soundName, soundSetName, true) with a valid name and set.
How do I make a sound only nearby players hear?
Trigger it for players within a radius and scale volume by distance, or use a positional audio resource.
What format should sound files use?
Compressed .ogg (or .mp3), short and mono where possible.

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