How to Change Your FiveM Server Icon

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Changing your FiveM server icon gives players a recognizable image in the server list and helps your server look consistent with its name and community. You’ll need access to the server’s files or hosting control panel, an image that meets FiveM’s icon requirements, and permission to restart or update the server.

What You’ll Need

Access to your FiveM server’s resource or configuration files, using your host’s file manager, FTP/SFTP, or a local server folder.
A square PNG image, preferably 96 × 96 pixels and no larger than 96 × 96 pixels. Keep the file small and legible; simple designs work best at this size.
The ability to edit server.cfg and restart the server.

Step-by-Step

Prepare the image. Make a square image in an editor and export it as PNG. FiveM server-list icons use a 96 × 96 pixel image. If your source image is a different size, crop or resize it before exporting. Use a descriptive filename such as server-icon.png, without spaces or unusual characters.
Make a backup of your configuration. Before changing anything, download or copy server.cfg so you can restore it if you make an editing mistake. Do not overwrite your only copy.
Connect to the server files. Open your hosting provider’s file manager or connect with the file-transfer method it supplies. If the server is running on your own computer, open the folder containing the server configuration and resources.
Upload the icon to the server’s data folder. Place server-icon.png in the same server data folder as server.cfg. Do not put it inside an unrelated resource folder unless your setup specifically expects it there. Check that the upload completed and that the filename and extension are exactly as intended.
Edit server.cfg. Open the configuration in a plain-text editor. Add this line on its own, or update the existing line:
load_server_icon server-icon.png
The filename must match the uploaded file, including capitalization. The path is interpreted from the server data directory, so a file in a subfolder needs a relative path, for example load_server_icon images/server-icon.png.
Save and check the configuration. Save the file as plain text, not as a rich-text document. Look for duplicate load_server_icon lines and remove or correct the old one so the server has one clear icon setting. Make sure the line is not commented out with a leading #.
Restart the server. Stop and start the server using your host’s controls or your normal server-management method. A configuration change typically will not take effect until the server starts again. Watch the startup output for file or configuration errors.
Verify the result. Refresh the FiveM server list or search for your server again. Allow time for the listing to update, and check from another client if possible. The server list can cache information, so an unchanged icon immediately after restart does not always mean the upload failed.

Common Mistakes

Wrong dimensions or shape: A wide or tall image may not display as expected. Use a square 96 × 96 PNG.
Wrong location: Uploading the image to a resource folder or a general website folder does not make it available to the server configuration. Put it in the server data folder or use the correct relative path.
Filename mismatch: Server-Icon.png and server-icon.png can be treated as different names on some systems. Match the configuration line exactly.
Incorrect file format disguised by its extension: Renaming a JPG to end in .png does not convert it. Export the image as an actual PNG.
Forgetting to restart: Saving the configuration alone does not reliably reload the icon. Restart the server after making the change.
Editing the wrong configuration: Some hosts have multiple server instances or configuration files. Confirm you are changing the file used by the instance you are restarting.

Tips

Use high contrast and a simple central symbol. Fine text and thin details can become difficult to see when the icon is shown small.
Keep a copy of the original image and note the working filename and configuration path. That makes future updates easier.
Use your host’s recommended file-transfer method and avoid changing permissions or unrelated configuration settings.
If you update the icon later, overwrite the intended file, confirm the upload, and restart again. A changed filename also requires changing the configuration line.
Check the icon after the listing has refreshed rather than repeatedly restarting the server. Repeated restarts will not necessarily clear a client-side or listing cache.

Troubleshooting

The server starts, but no icon appears: Check that the image is a valid PNG, is square and 96 × 96 pixels, and is in the expected folder. Verify the spelling and capitalization in both the filename and load_server_icon line. Confirm the line is active and that you restarted the correct server instance.

The server reports that it cannot load the icon: Re-upload the image in case the transfer was incomplete. Open it locally to confirm it is not corrupted, then check the path relative to the server data folder. If the file is in a subfolder, include that folder in the setting.

The old icon still appears: Refresh the server list, wait a little, and search for the server again. Listing or client caching can delay the visible change. Confirm the new file was uploaded to the live server, not a staging copy, and that the server completed a fresh restart.

The configuration no longer works: Review the edited line for missing characters, quotes added unnecessarily, or accidental changes to nearby settings. Restore your backup if needed, then make only the icon change and restart. If the issue continues, check your host’s documentation or server startup logs for the exact path and configuration file in use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should a FiveM server icon be?
Use a square PNG that is 96 × 96 pixels. A correctly sized image avoids unexpected scaling and display issues.

Where do I put server-icon.png?
Place it in the server data folder alongside server.cfg, or use a correct relative path in the configuration if you store it in a subfolder.

What line goes in server.cfg?
Use load_server_icon server-icon.png, changing the filename or relative path to match your uploaded image.

Do I need to restart the server?
Yes. Restart the server after changing the configuration or replacing the icon so the setting can be loaded again.

Can I use a JPG or animated GIF?
Use a static PNG for the server icon. Renaming another format to .png does not convert it; export or convert it to PNG first.

Why does my server still show the old icon?
The listing may be cached, or the new image may have been uploaded to the wrong instance or path. Verify the file and setting, restart the correct server, then refresh and allow time for the listing to update.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.