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June 28, 2026ModForge Team

How to Install ESX on Your FiveM Server (ESX Legacy Guide)

ESX is the most widely used FiveM framework with the largest script library available. Here's how to install ESX Legacy correctly on a fresh server including database setup.

ESX (es_extended) is the original FiveM framework and despite being over seven years old, it still has the largest library of compatible scripts of any FiveM framework. If your server needs access to the widest possible range of existing resources, ESX is a strong choice. This guide covers installing ESX Legacy — the actively maintained modern version of ESX.

What You Need Before Starting

  • A working FiveM server with server artifacts installed
  • MySQL installed with a database already created
  • oxmysql installed (ESX Legacy dropped mysql-async in favour of the faster oxmysql)
  • Git installed on your server

Step 1: Download ESX Legacy

ESX Legacy is maintained on GitHub under the esx-framework organization. The esx_core repository bundles multiple required resources together:

git clone https://github.com/esx-framework/esx_core resources/[esx]/

This clones the following resources you will need:

  • es_extended — the core framework
  • esx_menu_default
  • esx_menu_dialog
  • esx_menu_list

Check the repository README for the current full list of included resources as it can change between releases.

Step 2: Import the ESX SQL File

ESX requires a number of database tables including users, user_accounts, user_inventory, user_jobs, and more. The SQL file is included inside the es_extended resource folder.

Command line import:

mysql -u root -p your_database_name < resources/[esx]/es_extended/es_extended.sql

Using HeidiSQL:

  1. Connect to your MySQL server
  2. Select your FiveM database in the left panel
  3. Go to File → Run SQL File
  4. Select es_extended.sql and run it
  5. Verify no errors appear in the output

Step 3: Configure the Database Connection

Place this in your server.cfg before any ESX resources:

set oxmysql_connection_string "mysql://root:password@localhost/fivem_db?charset=utf8mb4"

oxmysql must also start before es_extended in your resource load order.

Step 4: Configure es_extended

Open es_extended/config.lua. Key settings to review and adjust:

Config.StartingAccountMoney = { bank = 5000, black_money = 0, money = 500 }
Config.EnableDebug           = false   -- set false in production
Config.Multichar             = true    -- enable multiple characters per account
Config.PlayerMaxWeight       = 24      -- inventory weight limit (in kg)
Config.DefaultSpawn          = vector3(215.17, -810.21, 30.73)

Read through the entire config before your first launch. Most ESX runtime issues originate from misconfigured values here.

Step 5: Add Resources to server.cfg

The correct load order for a basic ESX setup:

ensure oxmysql

ensure es_extended
ensure esx_menu_default
ensure esx_menu_dialog
ensure esx_menu_list

All ESX-dependent scripts must be listed below these lines. Adding a script before es_extended is the single most common cause of ESX installation failures.

Step 6: Install a Character System

ESX does not ship with character creation by default. Install these additional resources:

  • esx_skin — handles player appearance and character looks
  • esx_identity — collects character name, date of birth, and sex
  • esx_multichar (optional) — enables multiple characters per Steam account

Install each one, import its SQL file if it has one, and add it to server.cfg below es_extended.

Step 7: Add Jobs to the Database

Unlike QBCore which stores jobs in a Lua config file, ESX stores job definitions directly in the MySQL database. After the initial SQL import you will have a jobs table and a job_grades table.

You can insert jobs manually via HeidiSQL or the MySQL command line:

INSERT INTO jobs (name, label) VALUES ('police', 'Law Enforcement');

INSERT INTO job_grades (job_name, grade, name, label, salary, skin_male, skin_female)
VALUES ('police', 0, 'cadet',     'Cadet',      50,  '{}', '{}');

INSERT INTO job_grades (job_name, grade, name, label, salary, skin_male, skin_female)
VALUES ('police', 1, 'officer',   'Officer',    75,  '{}', '{}');

INSERT INTO job_grades (job_name, grade, name, label, salary, skin_male, skin_female)
VALUES ('police', 2, 'sergeant',  'Sergeant',   100, '{}', '{}');

Most ESX job scripts include their own .sql file that inserts the required job and grade rows automatically — check the script documentation before adding entries manually.

Step 8: Install Essential ESX Scripts

With ESX running without console errors, install these foundational scripts next (one at a time, testing after each):

  • esx_basicneeds — hunger and thirst system
  • esx_status — status bars displayed on screen
  • esx_hud — player HUD
  • esx_vehicleshop — vehicle purchasing
  • esx_garage — persistent vehicle storage

Common ESX Installation Errors

Column 'identifier' cannot be null — The player identifier is not being passed correctly. Check Config.Identifier in es_extended/config.lua and ensure it matches the identifier your server provides (steam, license, discord, etc.).

attempt to index a nil value (global 'ESX') — A script that depends on ESX is loading before ESX itself. Fix the load order in server.cfg.

Table 'users' doesn't exist — The SQL file was not imported, or it was imported into the wrong database. Verify the table exists in HeidiSQL.

Couldn't start resource es_extended — A syntax error in config.lua or a missing dependency. Check the server console for the specific error line.

Browse thousands of ESX-compatible scripts for your server at modforge.xyz.