FiveM Keymaster key: create your CFX.re account and generate your license

Without a Keymaster license key, your FiveM server won't be visible publicly and won't accept players. This key is delivered free of charge by CFX.re (FiveM's publisher) and must be linked to your server at configuration time. This guide details the full procedure: account creation, key generation and integration into your Lordhosting Pterodactyl panel.

⚙️ Prerequisites

• An active Lordhosting FiveM hosting plan
• Access to your Pterodactyl panel
• A valid email address to create the CFX.re account

⚙️ 1. Create a CFX.re account

Go to the Keymaster portal:

https://keymaster.fivem.net

Click "Register" at the top right. You'll be redirected to the CFX.re forum, which serves as the unique identity for all FiveM services (Keymaster, Tebex, Server List, etc.).

Provide:

• A valid email (used for confirmation and account recovery)
• A unique username
• A secure password

Confirm your email via the link received, then log back into Keymaster.

💡 Important: use a serious personal account. If your account is suspended by CFX.re (for code of conduct violation), all your license keys are revoked.

⚙️ 2. Get your Lordhosting server IP

Before generating the key, note down the public IP of your Lordhosting FiveM server:

1. Log in to your Lordhosting Pterodactyl panel
2. Click on your FiveM server in the list
3. On the server's Dashboard, the Server IP is displayed at the top (format xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:30120)

Our FiveM server IPs are static: they don't change as long as you keep your plan active. You can therefore safely use the "locked to IP" mode on Keymaster.

⚙️ 3. Generate the license key

On keymaster.fivem.net, once logged in:

1. Click "New" (or "Register" depending on the version)
2. Choose the target server:
   • Server type: FXServer (default)
   • IP Address: paste the public IP retrieved in step 2 (without the port)
3. Select the license mode:
   • Locked to IP (recommended for Lordhosting plans): the key only works on this IP. More secure.
   • No IP restriction (Master): the key works anywhere. Only choose if you plan to change hosts often.
4. Validate. Your key appears in the form:

cfxk_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX_YYYYYY

Copy it and keep it in a safe place. It won't be displayed in plain text again afterwards (except via regeneration).

⚙️ 4. Register the key on your Pterodactyl server

You have two methods to integrate the key into your Lordhosting server:

Method A — Via the Startup tab (recommended)

1. In your Pterodactyl panel, select your FiveM server
2. "Startup" tab (in the left menu)
3. Find the LICENSE_KEY variable (or SV_LICENSE_KEY depending on the egg)
4. Paste your key in the field
5. Click "Save"

This method is the cleanest: the key stays isolated from the server.cfg file, reducing the risk of exposing the key when sharing configuration.

Method B — Directly in server.cfg

1. In your Pterodactyl panel, open the File Manager
2. Edit the server.cfg file (at the root of your server)
3. Add or modify the line:

sv_licenseKey "cfxk_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX_YYYYYY"

4. Save the file

⚠️ Never commit your server.cfg with the key in plain text to a public Git repository. Always prefer method A if you version your configuration.

⚙️ 5. Start the server

Go back to your Pterodactyl server's "Console" tab and click "Start".

If the key is valid, you'll see in the logs:

Authenticated with Cfx.re Nucleus
Server is up

If you see an error like License key authentication failed, check:

• The key is complete (including the cfxk_ prefix)
• The IP used to generate the key matches your Lordhosting server's IP
• No spaces were added before or after the key during copy-paste

⚙️ 6. Verify your server visibility

Once started, your server should appear in the public FiveM server list within a few minutes. To check:

https://servers.fivem.net

Search for your server name (set by sv_hostname in server.cfg). If it doesn't appear after 10 minutes:

• Verify FiveM ports are properly exposed (Pterodactyl handles this automatically at Lordhosting)
• Check the console logs to spot any configuration error

⚙️ What if you change plan or server?

If you migrate to another Lordhosting plan (or change hosts), your server IP changes. You'll then need to:

1. Go back to keymaster.fivem.net
2. Delete the old key (or regenerate it with the new IP)
3. Create a new key linked to the new IP
4. Replace it in your Pterodactyl panel (method A or B)

It's free and unlimited on the Keymaster side.

⚙️ Going further

• The server.cfg file from A to Z: customize your server identity (name, slots, tags, banner)
• ESX vs QBCore: which framework to choose?: the choice that shapes your future RP server
• How to update your FiveM server: keep your artifacts up to date