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How to setup your FiveM server as a windows service

Keep FXServer running using txAdmin or an NSSM Windows service, configure crash auto-restarts, and learn when to combine both tools.

Updated July 31, 2026
FiveM

Running the server in a PowerShell window means it dies when you close the window or log out of RDP. For production, run FXServer either as a Windows service (via NSSM) or under txAdmin's process manager. This guide covers both. Complete Setup and Configuring your FiveM server first.

Which Option Should I Use?

NSSM txAdmin
Setup effort Moderate Easy
Web UI No Yes (console, players, restarts)
Scheduled restarts Via Task Scheduler Built in
Player management UI No Yes
Best for Minimal, headless setups Most production servers

Pick txAdmin unless you need a bare service

Most production FiveM setups use txAdmin. It is the recommended approach for almost everyone. Use NSSM if you specifically want a bare Windows service with no web layer.

txAdmin is a web-based admin panel that ships inside FXServer. It adds restart scheduling, player management, a live console, and resource management.

Step 1: Launch Into txAdmin Setup Mode

Start the server without the +exec server.cfg argument:

cd C:\FXServer-data
C:\FXServer\FXServer.exe
powershell

FXServer launches into txAdmin setup mode and prints a URL like:

[c-scripting-core] Started resource txAdmin
[txAdmin] Starting...
[txAdmin] Web Panel is running at: http://localhost:40120

Step 2: Complete the Web Setup

  1. Open that URL in a browser (use the server's public IP instead of localhost if you are setting up remotely, and open port 40120 in the firewall temporarily).

  2. txAdmin walks you through:

    • Linking your Cfx.re account
    • Importing your existing C:\FXServer-data folder
    • Pointing at your server.cfg
    • Starting the server

  3. Set an admin username and password for txAdmin itself (separate from your in-game admin identifiers).

Step 3: Use txAdmin

From the txAdmin panel you get:

  • A live console (send commands, watch output)
  • Player list with kick, ban, warn
  • Scheduled restarts (set a daily restart with in-game warnings)
  • Resource start/stop/restart without a full server reboot
  • Server performance graphs

txAdmin keeps the server process alive and can auto-restart it on crash. For it to survive a Windows reboot, run txAdmin's own FXServer process under NSSM (below) or set up a scheduled task that launches it on system startup.

Securing the txAdmin Port

Leaving the txAdmin port public exposes your server

Port 40120 (the txAdmin web UI) should not be left open to the public.

Either:

  • Close it in the firewall and access txAdmin only over RDP / localhost, or
  • Restrict the firewall rule to your own IP address

Option B: NSSM (Bare Windows Service)

NSSM (Non-Sucking Service Manager) wraps any executable as a Windows service. Download from nssm.cc.

Step 1: Install the Service

  1. Extract nssm.exe to C:\nssm\.

  2. From PowerShell as Administrator:

    cd C:\nssm
.\nssm.exe install FXServer

  3. In the GUI that opens:

    • Path: C:\FXServer\FXServer.exe
    • Startup directory: C:\FXServer-data
    • Arguments: +exec server.cfg

  4. On the I/O tab, set:

    • Output (stdout): C:\FXServer-data\logs\stdout.log
    • Error (stderr): C:\FXServer-data\logs\stderr.log

  5. Click Install service.

Step 2: Start the Service

Start-Service FXServer
powershell

It will now auto-start when the Windows server reboots.

Managing the NSSM Service

Start-Service FXServer       # Start
Stop-Service FXServer        # Stop
Restart-Service FXServer     # Restart
Get-Service FXServer         # Check status
powershell

To remove the service later:

C:\nssm\nssm.exe remove FXServer confirm
powershell

Scheduled Restarts With NSSM

NSSM does not schedule restarts on its own. Use Windows Task Scheduler:

  1. Open Task Scheduler.

  2. Create a task that runs Restart-Service FXServer (via powershell.exe -Command "Restart-Service FXServer").

  3. Trigger it daily at a low-population hour (e.g., 5 AM).

NSSM restarts are abrupt

For player-facing restart warnings, txAdmin is much better.

Combining Both

A common production pattern: run txAdmin for its web UI and scheduling, and wrap txAdmin's launch under NSSM so the whole thing survives reboots. Point the NSSM service at the txAdmin launch command instead of the direct +exec server.cfg.

Common Issues

  • Service starts then immediately stops: Check the stdout/stderr logs you configured. Usually a server.cfg error or a missing license key.
  • txAdmin web panel unreachable remotely: Port 40120 is not open, or you are using localhost from a remote browser. Open the port (temporarily and restricted to your IP) or tunnel over RDP.
  • Server does not restart after Windows reboot: The NSSM service startup type may be Manual. Set it to Automatic in services.msc.

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