How to Install ESX or QBCore on Your FiveM Server

ESX vs QBCore: Which to Choose?

ESX Legacy

Advantages:

• Very large and established community
• Tons of available scripts
• Complete documentation
• Stable and proven
• Easy for beginners

Disadvantages:

• Sometimes outdated code
• Less optimized than QBCore
• More rigid structure

QBCore

Advantages:

• Modern and optimized code
• Better performance
• Modular structure
• Frequent updates
• Highly customizable

Disadvantages:

• Smaller community
• Fewer scripts available
• Steeper learning curve

Prerequisites

• Working FiveM server
• txAdmin installed (recommended)
• FTP or file manager access
• MySQL/MariaDB database
• Basic FiveM knowledge

Part 1: Installing ESX Legacy

Step 1: Download ESX Legacy

1. Go to https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_core
2. Click Code then Download ZIP
3. Extract the ZIP file on your computer

Step 2: Prepare the Database

Create the Database

1. Log in to your game panel
2. Go to Databases or MySQL
3. Create a new database:
   • Name: esx_legacy
   • User: Create a user with all privileges
   • Password: Write it down carefully

Import the SQL File

1. Open phpMyAdmin or your MySQL manager
2. Select the esx_legacy database
3. Click Import
4. Import the esx_core.sql file (in the downloaded folder)

Step 3: Install the Files

Folder Structure

In your resources folder, create the following structure:

resources/
└── [esx]/
    ├── es_extended/
    ├── esx_menu_default/
    ├── esx_menu_dialog/
    ├── esx_menu_list/
    └── esx_context/

Upload the Resources

1. Connect to your FTP or file manager
2. Go to the resources folder
3. Create a folder [esx] (with brackets)
4. Upload all ESX folders into [esx]/

Step 4: Configure MySQL Connection

Open the server.cfg file and add:

# MySQL Configuration for ESX
set mysql_connection_string "mysql://username:password@localhost/esx_legacy?charset=utf8mb4"

# Alternative with separate parameters
set mysql_connection_string "user=username;password=password;host=localhost;port=3306;database=esx_legacy"

Replace:

• username: Your MySQL username
• password: Your MySQL password
• localhost: Your database address
• esx_legacy: Your database name

Step 5: Configure server.cfg

Add these lines to server.cfg:

# ESX Legacy
ensure es_extended
ensure esx_menu_default
ensure esx_menu_dialog
ensure esx_menu_list
ensure esx_context

# Essential ESX Resources
ensure esx_skin
ensure esx_identity
ensure esx_basicneeds
ensure esx_optionalneeds

Step 6: Install ESX Base Resources

Download and install these essential resources:

esx_skin (character appearance):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_skin

esx_identity (character creation):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_identity

esx_basicneeds (hunger/thirst):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_basicneeds

Place them all in the [esx]/ folder

Step 7: ESX Configuration

Open [esx]/es_extended/config.lua:

Config = {}
Config.Locale = 'en' -- Language (en, fr, de, etc.)

Config.Accounts = {
    'bank',
    'black_money',
    'money'
}

Config.StartingAccountMoney = {
    bank = 50000,
    money = 5000,
    black_money = 0
}

Config.StartingInventoryItems = false

Config.EnableDebug = false -- Disable in production

Config.EnableDefaultInventory = true
Config.MaxWeight = 30
Config.MaxWeaponWeight = 3000

Config.PaycheckInterval = 7 * 60000 -- Salary every 7 minutes

Step 8: Test ESX

1. Restart your FiveM server
2. Connect to the server
3. You should see the character creation screen
4. Check the console for errors

Part 2: Installing QBCore

Step 1: Download QBCore

1. Go to https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-core
2. Click Code then Download ZIP
3. Extract the ZIP file

Step 2: Download Dependencies

QBCore requires several additional resources:

qb-core (main framework):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-core

qb-multicharacter (character selection):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-multicharacter

qb-spawn (spawn system):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-spawn

qb-smallresources (various resources):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-smallresources

qb-apartments (apartments):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-apartments

qb-inventory (inventory):

• https://github.com/qbcore-framework/qb-inventory

Step 3: Prepare the Database

Create the Database

1. Create a new MySQL database
2. Name: qbcore
3. Create a user with all privileges

Import the SQL File

1. Open phpMyAdmin
2. Select the qbcore database
3. Import the qbcore.sql file (in the qb-core folder)

Step 4: Install the Files

Folder Structure

Create this structure in resources:

resources/
└── [qb]/
    ├── qb-core/
    ├── qb-multicharacter/
    ├── qb-spawn/
    ├── qb-apartments/
    ├── qb-inventory/
    ├── qb-smallresources/
    └── [other qb scripts]

Upload the Resources

1. Create the [qb] folder in resources
2. Upload all downloaded QBCore resources

Step 5: Configure MySQL Connection

In server.cfg:

# MySQL Configuration for QBCore
set mysql_connection_string "mysql://username:password@localhost/qbcore?charset=utf8mb4"

Step 6: Configure server.cfg

Add to server.cfg:

# QBCore Framework
ensure qb-core
ensure qb-multicharacter
ensure qb-spawn
ensure qb-apartments
ensure qb-garages
ensure qb-interior
ensure qb-clothing
ensure qb-weathersync
ensure qb-inventory
ensure qb-smallresources

# Base Scripts
ensure qb-ambulancejob
ensure qb-policejob
ensure qb-shops
ensure qb-vehicleshop

Step 7: QBCore Configuration

Open [qb]/qb-core/shared/config.lua:

QBShared = {}

-- Language
QBShared.Locale = 'en'

-- Starting money
QBShared.StarterAmount = {
    cash = 500,
    bank = 5000
}

-- Default jobs
QBShared.DefaultJob = 'unemployed'

-- General configuration
QBShared.MaxPlayers = 64
QBShared.DefaultSpawn = vector4(-1035.71, -2731.87, 12.86, 0.0)

-- Inventory
QBShared.MaxInventorySlots = 41
QBShared.MaxInventoryWeight = 120000

Step 8: Configure Permissions

In [qb]/qb-core/server/main.lua, configure administrators:

QBCore.Config.Server.Permissions = {
    ['god'] = {
        'steam:110000xxxxxx', -- Replace with your Steam Hex
    },
    ['admin'] = {
        'steam:110000yyyyyy',
    }
}

To find your Steam Hex, type in the server console when connected:

status

Step 9: Test QBCore

1. Restart the server completely
2. Connect
3. You should see the character selection screen
4. Create a character and test the spawn

Post-Installation Configuration

Install Essential Jobs

For ESX

esx_policejob (police):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_policejob

esx_ambulancejob (EMS):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_ambulancejob

esx_mechanicjob (mechanic):

• https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_mechanicjob

For QBCore

Jobs are already included in the recommended downloads:

• qb-policejob
• qb-ambulancejob
• qb-mechanicjob

Add Vehicles

ESX

Edit [esx]/es_extended/config.lua and add vehicles in the database file.

QBCore

Edit [qb]/qb-core/shared/vehicles.lua:

QBShared.Vehicles = {
    ['adder'] = {
        ['name'] = 'Adder',
        ['brand'] = 'Truffade',
        ['model'] = 'adder',
        ['price'] = 1000000,
        ['category'] = 'super',
        ['hash'] = `adder`,
        ['shop'] = 'pdm',
    },
    -- Add more vehicles here
}

Configure Shops

ESX - esx_shops

1. Install esx_shops
2. Configure positions in config.lua
3. Add items to the database

QBCore - qb-shops

Edit [qb]/qb-shops/config.lua:

Config.Locations = {
    ['247supermarket'] = {
        ['label'] = '24/7 Supermarket',
        ['coords'] = vector4(24.47, -1346.62, 29.5, 271.66),
        ['products'] = Config.Products['normal'],
        ['showblip'] = true,
    },
}

Useful Commands

ESX Administrator Commands

/setjob [id] [job] [grade]

Set a player's job

/setgroup [id] [group]

Set a player's group (admin, superadmin, etc.)

/givemoney [id] [account] [amount]

Give money (account: money, bank, black_money)

/car [model]

Spawn a vehicle

QBCore Administrator Commands

/setjob [id] [job] [grade]

Set a player's job

/givemoney [id] [amount]

Give money

/giveitem [id] [item] [amount]

Give an item

/car [model]

Spawn a vehicle

Optimization and Security

Disable Debug

ESX - In es_extended/config.lua:

Config.EnableDebug = false

QBCore - In qb-core/shared/config.lua:

QBShared.Debug = false

Secure Events

Install an anticheat like:

• AC (Anticheat) for ESX
• qb-anticheat for QBCore

Optimize Performance

1. Disable unused resources
2. Limit the number of vehicles/objects
3. Use optimized scripts
4. Configure txAdmin properly

Troubleshooting

ESX Won't Start

Checks:

• MySQL connection is correct
• SQL file has been imported
• Resources are in the correct [esx]/ folder
• ensure es_extended is in server.cfg

Solution: Check server logs for the exact error.

QBCore Won't Start

Checks:

• All dependencies are installed
• Database is imported
• Folders are named correctly (case-sensitive)
• ensure qb-core is before other QB scripts

Solution: Restart the server completely, not just a refresh.

MySQL Connection Error

Cause:

• Incorrect MySQL credentials
• Database not created
• MySQL not started

Solution: Check the MySQL connection string and test the connection.

Players Cannot Create a Character

ESX:

• Check that esx_identity is started
• Check that esx_skin is installed

QBCore:

• Check that qb-multicharacter is started
• Check that qb-spawn is installed

Admin Commands Don't Work

ESX:

• Add yourself to the database users with admin group

QBCore:

• Add your Steam Hex in qb-core/server/main.lua

Recommended Resources

For ESX

Essential:

• esx_society (companies)
• esx_billing (billing)
• esx_vehicleshop (dealership)
• esx_property (properties)

Optional:

• esx_drugs (drugs)
• esx_holdup (robberies)
• esx_garage (garages)

For QBCore

Essential:

• qb-management (business management)
• qb-banking (bank)
• qb-vehicleshop (dealership)
• qb-houses (houses)

Optional:

• qb-drugs (drugs)
• qb-storerobbery (robberies)
• qb-garages (garages)
• qb-phone (phone)

Migrating ESX to QBCore

If you want to migrate from ESX to QBCore:

1. Backup your entire database
2. Use a conversion tool (available on GitHub)
3. Test on a test server first
4. Expect to redo some configurations manually

Note: Migration is complex and may require a lot of manual work.

Conclusion

ESX Legacy and QBCore are both excellent frameworks for creating a FiveM roleplay server. ESX is ideal for beginners with its large community and many available scripts, while QBCore offers better performance and a more modern structure for experienced developers.

Choose the one that best fits your needs and technical skills. Both frameworks have complete documentation and active communities ready to help.