# How to set a FiveM server icon (96×96 PNG)

> Set a custom FiveM server icon with load_server_icon: the exact 96×96 PNG requirement, where the file goes, why icons fail to show, and how to design a logo that stays readable at 96 pixels.

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

**Short answer.** Put a 96×96 PNG next to your server.cfg and add `load_server_icon yourfile.png` to server.cfg, then restart the server. The file must be exactly 96×96 and a real PNG; any other size or format is not shown.

## Key points

- The icon must be a **96×96 PNG** — this is the Cfx documented requirement.
- Load it with `load_server_icon myLogo.png` in server.cfg; the path is relative to the server’s working directory.
- It is read when the server starts, so a change needs a server restart.
- Design a symbol, not a wordmark: text is unreadable at 96 pixels.

The server icon is the first piece of branding a player sees — a tiny square next to your name in a list of thousands. It is also the one image FiveM is strict about. This guide covers the exact requirement, the one line of config that loads it, every reason it can fail, and how to design something that still reads at 96 pixels.

## The requirement

The Cfx server command reference describes `load_server_icon [fileName.png]` as loading a server icon from the specified file, and it states that the icon must be **a 96x96 PNG file**. There is no alternative size and no support for JPG, WebP or GIF here.

| Property | Requirement |
| --- | --- |
| Dimensions | Exactly 96×96 pixels |
| Format | PNG (a real PNG, not a renamed JPG) |
| Transparency | Allowed |
| Location | Relative to the server’s working directory, normally the folder with server.cfg |
| When it loads | On server start |

## Setting it up step by step

1. Export your icon as a 96×96 PNG. Name it simply, for example `myLogo.png`, with no spaces.
2. Copy it into the same folder as your `server.cfg` (with txAdmin, that is your server data folder).
3. Add the line below to server.cfg, anywhere before the resources start.
4. Restart the server — not just a resource. The icon is read at startup.
5. Open the server browser and search for your server. The list caches entries, so allow a few minutes.

*server.cfg*

```cfg
# Server identity
sv_hostname "^5My City ^7| Serious RP"
sets sv_projectName "My City"
sets sv_projectDesc "Serious roleplay with custom jobs and a player economy."
load_server_icon myLogo.png
```

## Why the icon does not show

When the icon is missing, it is almost always one of these, in this order:

| Cause | How to check | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wrong size | Open the file’s properties — is it 96×96? | Re-export at exactly 96×96. |
| Not a real PNG | A JPG renamed to .png still has JPEG data inside. | Export as PNG from an editor. |
| Wrong path | The server console reports when the file cannot be opened. | Move the file next to server.cfg or give a correct relative path. |
| Not restarted | Did you only `refresh` or restart a resource? | Restart the whole server. |
| Browser cache | The server list updates periodically. | Wait a few minutes and reopen the browser. |

> **Check the file, not the name** — Image tools sometimes save a PNG with an embedded colour profile or 16-bit depth. If a correctly sized PNG still refuses to load, re-save it as a plain 8-bit RGBA PNG — any editor’s “export for web” does this.

## Designing an icon that works at 96 pixels

An icon is not a shrunken logo. At 96×96 on a list, detail disappears and thin lines vanish. The icons that stand out in the FiveM browser share a few traits:

- **One shape.** A monogram, a badge or a simple symbol. Drop the tagline and the full wordmark.
- **Strong contrast.** A bright mark on a dark field (or the reverse) survives both list themes.
- **A solid background.** Transparent icons can disappear against a similar list colour. A filled rounded square is safer.
- **Thick lines.** Anything thinner than 3–4 pixels at final size will blur.
- **Brand colour.** Use the same accent as your loading screen and Discord so players recognise you across all of them.

Design at 960×960 or larger, then export to 96×96 and look at it at 100% zoom next to a few popular servers’ icons. If you have to squint, simplify. The [logo design guide](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-logo-design) covers the whole mark, and the [image sizes guide](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-image-sizes-assets-guide) lists every other size you will export from the same file.

## The rest of your server-list identity

The icon sits beside three other things that decide whether someone clicks: the host name, the project name and description, and the banners. Keep them consistent: The 96 by 96 version is one of the formats [FAM Tools cuts automatically](https://fam-tools.com/graphics/studio) when you design a pack.

- `sv_hostname` — the name line, which supports colour codes. See [server name colours](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-name-colors).
- `sv_projectName` and `sv_projectDesc` — the cleaner name and one-sentence description used in newer list layouts. See [project name and description](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-project-name-description).
- `banner_detail` / `banner_connecting` — the wide images. See [the banner guide](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-banner-detail-connecting).

## Questions

### What size does the FiveM server icon need to be?

Exactly 96×96 pixels. The Cfx documentation requires a 96×96 PNG for `load_server_icon`.

### Can the server icon be a GIF or animated?

No. Only a static PNG is supported for the server icon.

### Where do I put the icon file?

In the server’s working directory — normally the same folder as server.cfg. The path in `load_server_icon` is relative to that folder.

### Do I need to restart the server after changing the icon?

Yes. The icon is read when the server starts, so restart the whole server, then allow a few minutes for the server list to update.

### Can I use a transparent background?

Yes, transparency is allowed. A solid background is often more readable because it looks the same on light and dark list themes.

### Does the icon affect my ranking in the server list?

Not directly — ranking is driven by player numbers and upvotes. But a clear icon raises how many people click your entry, which is what grows player numbers.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-image-sizes-assets-guide
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-banner-detail-connecting
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-logo-design
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-project-name-description