Getting and using a FiveM server licence key
Every public FiveM server needs a licence key: it links the server to your Cfx.re account, lets it appear in the server list and decides how many players it can hold. Getting one is free and takes two minutes; most problems come from typos, shared keys or slot limits.
Short answer: Log in to portal.cfx.re (the Cfx.re Portal replaced the old Keymaster), create a server key, and put it in server.cfg as sv_licenseKey "your_key" — or enter it in txAdmin. Use one key per server and never share it. Servers without a subscription can have up to 48 slots; more than 48 requires an Element Club Argentum subscription or higher on the account that owns the key.
#Creating a key
- Go to portal.cfx.re and log in with your Cfx.re (forum) account.
- Open the server keys section and create a new key.
- Give it a label you will recognise (for example “Main RP – VPS”) and fill in the requested server details.
- Copy the generated key.
#Using the key
sv_licenseKey "paste_your_key_here"
sv_maxclients 48With txAdmin, the key is asked for during recipe deployment and can be changed later in the server settings. Many owners keep it in a separate, git-ignored file and exec it from server.cfg — see server.cfg explained.
#Slots and subscriptions
| Setup | Player slots |
|---|---|
| No subscription | Up to 48 |
| Element Club Argentum | More than 48 (Argentum is the entry tier for extra slots) |
| Higher tiers (Aurum, Platinum) | More slots; Platinum reaches the 2048 maximum with OneSync |
Exact per-tier limits are listed on the Cfx.re Portal subscription page.
sv_maxclients above 32 requires OneSync, and above 64 requires OneSync set to on. The subscription must belong to the Cfx.re account that owns the key. More: max players and slots.
#Keep it secret
- Anyone with your key can run a server under your account — and get it banned.
- Do not commit it to GitHub or paste it in Discord support channels.
- If it leaks, delete it on the portal and create a new one.
- Developers you hire get their own key for their test server, never yours.
#Licence key errors
| Message | Cause |
|---|---|
| No license key was specified | The line is missing, or server.cfg was not executed (+exec server.cfg) |
| Invalid / could not authenticate license key | Typo, deleted key, or extra spaces/quotes |
| Server not listed / slot errors | Slots above your tier, or the key’s account lacks the subscription |
Questions
Where do I get a FiveM license key?
Is the FiveM license key free?
What happened to Keymaster?
Can I use one key on two servers?
How many players can I have without paying?
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