# The FiveM server console commands you actually use

> A practical FiveM console reference: start, stop, ensure, restart, refresh, exec, status, clientkick, test_ace and how txAdmin fits around them.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-console-commands · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 8 min

**Short answer.** Use `ensure <resource>` to start or restart a resource, `refresh` after adding new folders, `stop`/`start`/`restart` for finer control (they also accept bracket categories like `[cars]`), and `exec file.cfg` to run nested configs. `status` and `clientkick` come from the rconlog resource, `say` from chat. Permission commands (`add_ace`, `add_principal`, `test_ace`) and the profiler are built in.

## Key points

- `ensure` = start if stopped, restart if running.
- `refresh` after adding or changing resource folders/manifests.
- Categories work: `restart [cars]`.
- `status`/`clientkick` need rconlog; `say` needs chat.
- txAdmin’s Live Console accepts the same commands.

The server console — in a terminal or txAdmin’s Live Console — is where you start and restart resources, reload configs and check who is online. A dozen commands cover almost everything, and knowing which resource provides which command saves confusion when one “does not exist”.

## Resource commands

| Command | Does |
| --- | --- |
| `ensure name` | Starts it, or restarts it if already running |
| `start name` / `stop name` | Start or stop |
| `restart name` | Restart a running resource |
| `refresh` | Rescan the resources folder and reload manifests |
| `start [cars]` | Works on a whole bracket category |

## Config and server

| Command | Does |
| --- | --- |
| `exec file.cfg` | Runs a config file (relative to server data or `@resource/...`) |
| `quit "reason"` | Stops the server with a message to players |
| `status` | Lists players with ID, identifier, endpoint and ping (rconlog) |
| `clientkick id reason` | Kicks a player (rconlog) |
| `say message` | Chat message as console (chat resource) |

## Permissions

*Console*

```cfg
add_ace group.admin command.announce allow
add_principal identifier.license:abc123 group.admin
test_ace group.admin command.announce
```

Console changes apply immediately but disappear on restart unless they are also in server.cfg — see [ACE permissions](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-ace-permissions).

## Debugging commands

- `profiler record 500`, then `profiler view` — see [hitch warnings](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-thread-hitch-warning).
- `svgui` opens the server debug GUI.
- Client side, `resmon 1` in F8 shows per-resource cost.

## With txAdmin

txAdmin’s Live Console runs the same commands; restarts, kicks and bans are also available as buttons with logging — see [txAdmin setup](https://fam-tools.com/guides/txadmin-setup-guide).

## Questions

### What is the difference between ensure and restart?

`ensure` starts a stopped resource or restarts a running one; `restart` only restarts a running resource.

### Why is my new resource not found?

Run `refresh` so the server rescans the resources folder, then `ensure` it.

### Why does the status command not work?

It is provided by the rconlog resource, which must be running.

### Can I restart a whole folder of resources?

Yes, with bracket categories: `restart [cars]`.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/txadmin-setup-guide
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-ace-permissions
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-cfg
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-thread-hitch-warning