How to Get Started with GTA RP (FiveM)

GTA RP is one of the most popular ways to play GTA V, but getting into it for the first time is not as straightforward as launching a game. You need a separate platform, the right version of GTA V, and at least a basic understanding of how roleplay servers work before joining your first session.

This guide covers everything from requirements to your first time connecting to a server.

GTA RP (Grand Theft Auto Roleplay) is multiplayer GTA V played on community-run servers where everyone stays in character. Instead of the open chaos of GTA Online, players create persistent characters with names, backstories, and jobs, then interact with other real people doing the same thing.

You might play a police officer responding to a robbery, a mechanic running a shop, a lawyer defending someone in court, or a criminal building an operation from nothing. The "game" is the story you and other players create together, and the city runs on community rules that keep it believable.

GTA RP exploded in popularity between 2019 and 2021 when top Twitch streamers started broadcasting their sessions, and it has stayed one of the most-watched categories on the platform since. GTA V pulled over 1.4 billion hours watched on Twitch in 2024, driven largely by RP.

GTA RP runs through a platform called FiveM, which only works on PC. Here is what you need before getting started:

• FiveM, the free multiplayer mod framework for GTA V. This is what connects you to RP servers.
• A copy of GTA V on Steam, Epic Games, or Rockstar Games Launcher
• The Legacy version of GTA V (not the Enhanced edition, more on this below)
• 16 GB of RAM recommended (8 GB minimum, but most RP servers run smoother with 16)
• About 190 GB of free storage, including GTA V itself plus FiveM's cache files. An SSD makes a noticeable difference in load times.
• A microphone. GTA RP is voice-driven. Other players hear you through proximity chat, so a mic is essential.

FiveM is a free multiplayer modification framework for GTA V. It lets communities run their own dedicated servers with custom scripts, jobs, vehicles, maps, economies, and rules, all completely separate from official GTA Online.

A few things worth knowing upfront:

• FiveM is free to download and use. You only need a legitimate copy of GTA V.
• It does not touch your GTA Online account or progress. You will not get banned from GTA Online for using FiveM.
• Rockstar Games acquired FiveM's parent company, Cfx.re, in August 2023. FiveM is fully sanctioned.
• FiveM validates your GTA V ownership against Rockstar's servers, so pirated copies do not work.
• FiveM has two versions: one for GTA V Legacy (stable, widely supported) and one for GTA V Enhanced (early access since July 2026, server-dependent). Most servers still run on Legacy.

GTA V has two PC versions: Legacy (the original) and Enhanced (a free upgrade released in March 2025 with ray tracing, DLSS/FSR, and faster loading).

Most FiveM servers run on the Legacy version. This is the standard, and if you are getting started for the first time, Legacy is the safest choice.

FiveM for GTA V Enhanced entered early access on July 21, 2026. It runs as a separate client alongside the existing Legacy version of FiveM, so neither replaces the other. The Enhanced version includes a rebuilt OneSync engine, improved sync for combat and physics, and a reworked voice system. However, it is early access, meaning bugs and missing features are expected. Server owners need to opt in and run new Enhanced-compatible server binaries before players can connect, so not every server supports it yet.

For new players, start with Legacy. It has the widest server compatibility, the most stable experience, and the largest number of active servers. You can always try the Enhanced early access later once more servers adopt it.

On all three storefronts, Legacy and Enhanced are listed as separate games in your library. If you own GTA V, both versions should appear.

• Steam: Look for "Grand Theft Auto V Legacy" and "Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced" as two separate entries in your library. Install Legacy if it is not already installed. You can have both installed at the same time.
• Epic Games: Both versions appear as separate tiles in your library. Search "Grand Theft Auto V" in your library to find Legacy if it is not visible. Clearing the launcher cache can help if it does not appear.
• Rockstar Games Launcher: Both versions are listed separately under your library. Choose Legacy when installing.

You can have both versions installed at once, and switching between them does not affect your GTA Online account or progress.

Once you have GTA V Legacy installed and updated, setting up FiveM takes a few minutes.

1. Launch GTA V in single-player mode at least once. This confirms your installation is complete and your Rockstar Social Club account is linked.
2. Go to fivem.net and download the FiveM client. The installer should be signed by Cfx.re.
3. Run the installer as administrator. FiveM installs into your AppData folder by default. Keep it separate from your GTA V folder.
4. Allow FiveM through your firewall when prompted. If your antivirus flags it, whitelist the FiveM folder.
5. On first launch, FiveM downloads additional files and detects your GTA V installation. If it does not find it automatically, point it to your GTA V Legacy executable.

Once FiveM finishes loading, you will see the main menu with a server browser.

FiveM has a built-in server browser where you can search, filter, and sort servers by name, player count, tags, and category.

There are three common ways to join a server:

• Server browser. The default way. Search by name, sort by players, and click connect.
• Direct connect. Open the FiveM console (tap F8) and type connect [server IP]. Useful when a server's Discord provides a direct IP.
• Server website or Discord. Most established servers have a website with a connect link or a Discord with join instructions. This is often the best way to find whitelisted servers that do not appear in the public browser.

Some servers are public (anyone can join the queue) and some are whitelisted (you need to submit an application and get approved before connecting). If you are brand new, start with a public server to learn the basics.

There are hundreds of FiveM servers, but these are a few well-known options across different experience levels.

Beginner-friendly (no application required):

• NoPixel Public is the public version of the most famous GTA RP server. Anyone can join the queue, though wait times can be long during peak hours. It runs the same framework as the whitelisted NoPixel server with a more relaxed enforcement level.
• Lucid City RP lets you create a character and jump in without a written application. Good for learning the basics of FiveM RP in a populated server.
• CityLife RP is a smaller, beginner-friendly public server with around 275 active players. Search for it in the FiveM server browser.

Whitelisted (application required):

• Eclipse RP has a deep faction system, a functioning justice system, and strict RP standards. The application is a written process.
• ProdigyRP runs both public and whitelisted servers. The public server lets you try the framework before committing to an application for the whitelisted side.

A note on NoPixel V: On September 8, 2026, NoPixel launched NoPixel V in closed beta on the Rockstar Games Launcher. This is the first official Rockstar-backed roleplay server, built as a collaboration between the NoPixel team and Rockstar Games. The closed beta is currently invite-only for roughly 450 content creators and established roleplayers. NoPixel 4.0 and NoPixel Public remain fully active on FiveM for everyone else. If public access to NoPixel V opens up, it will be a separate experience from the FiveM-based servers.

Every RP server has its own ruleset, but the core principles are nearly universal. Breaking these will get you kicked or banned, often on your first offense.

• Stay in character (IC). Once you are in the server, everything you say and do should be through your character. If you need to talk about something out of character (OOC), use the designated OOC chat or channel, not voice.
• No metagaming. Do not use information your character would not know. Watching someone's stream to find their location, checking Discord for in-game intel, or acting on information from a previous character's life all count as metagaming.
• No powergaming. Do not force outcomes on other players without giving them a chance to respond. RP is collaborative. If you rob someone, they get to react. If you restrain someone, they get to resist. One-sided actions that remove another player's ability to participate break the experience for everyone.
• Fear RP / Value of Life. If someone points a gun at you, your character should react realistically. Running away mid-sentence, pulling a weapon when you are clearly outgunned, or ignoring a direct threat is considered "no value of life" (NVL) and is a bannable offense on most servers.
• New Life Rule (NLR). When your character is downed and respawns, you forget the events that led to your death. You do not go back to get revenge. You do not tell your friends who killed you. That chapter is closed.
• No Random Deathmatch (RDM) or Vehicle Deathmatch (VDM). Do not attack or kill players without a roleplay reason. Do not run people over with a vehicle for fun. Every conflict needs context.

Read your server's specific rules before your first session. Most servers post them on their website or Discord, and many quiz you on them during the application process.

FiveM includes built-in proximity voice chat powered by a Mumble-based audio system. This means your voice gets louder as other players get closer and quieter as they move away, just like a real conversation. Most servers use this by default, so you do not need to install any extra software.

Before joining your first session:

1. Make sure your microphone is set as the default input device in Windows sound settings.
2. In FiveM, check the voice settings to confirm your mic is selected.
3. Most servers use push-to-talk (PTT) by default. The key varies by server, but N and caps lock are common defaults. Check your server's keybind list.
4. Proximity range is usually cycleable with a key (often F11 or the backtick key). This lets you switch between whisper, normal, and shout distances.

Since RP is voice-driven, your microphone is part of the immersion. A mic that captures your voice cleanly helps other players stay in the moment with your character. Wave:3 MK.2 is a solid USB option, and for XLR setups, Wave DX paired with Wave XLR MK.2 is a strong XLR pairing

Once you are comfortable in GTA RP, Stream Deck can help you stay in character without fumbling for keybinds.

Emotes and commands. FXCommands is a free plugin for Stream Deck that sends commands directly to the FiveM console from Stream Deck keys. Bind emotes, /me actions, and chained command sequences to keys you can tap without looking away from the scene. Our guide on setting up Stream Deck for FiveM emotes walks through the full setup, from installing the plugin to building toggle keys and dial controls.

Character voices. Voicemod voice changers are available as VST effects inside Wave Link, letting you give your character a distinct voice without a standalone app. You can also use the Voicemod plugin on Elgato Marketplace with the standalone Voicemod app if you prefer that route.

Ambient audio. Stream Deck's built-in soundboard can play audio clips from a key. Route the audio through Wave Link so other players hear it in proximity voice chat, adding atmosphere to bar scenes, radio chatter, or ambient noise. For the full routing setup, see our guide on staying in character without alt-tabbing.

Pick a beginner-friendly server, read its rules, and join with a simple character concept. You do not need a complex backstory for your first session. A name, a basic personality, and a willingness to stay in character go a long way.

Build from there. Learn the server's economy, find a job, interact with other characters, and add complexity as you get comfortable. Browse Elgato Marketplace for Stream Deck plugins, profiles, and icons to keep your RP controls organized as your setup grows.