Nothing kills excitement faster than watching the FiveM download bar freeze at 30%. You’ve found the perfect server, your friends are already playing, and you’re stuck staring at a progress bar that hasn’t moved in twenty minutes.
I’ve dealt with this exact problem dozens of times—both on my own machines and while helping server members troubleshoot. After years of working with FiveM and building servers that require players to download substantial FiveM MLOs and FiveM scripts, I’ve seen every variation of download problems imaginable.
The good news? Most FiveM download issues have straightforward fixes. The bad news? The solution that works varies depending on what’s actually causing the problem. This guide walks through the ten most effective fixes, starting with the quickest solutions and progressing to more involved troubleshooting.
Understanding Why FiveM Downloads Get Stuck
Before diving into fixes, it helps to understand what’s actually happening when FiveM downloads freeze.
FiveM uses a multi-stage download process. When you connect to a server, you’re not just downloading one file—you’re downloading potentially hundreds of resource files: custom vehicles, weapons, maps, FiveM MLOs, FiveM scripts, textures, and more. Each resource is downloaded individually, verified, and cached locally.
The download can freeze or stall for several reasons:
- Network interruptions causing incomplete downloads
- Corrupted cache files from previous failed attempts
- Firewall or antivirus interference blocking connections
- Server-side issues with resource hosting
- Bandwidth throttling by your ISP or router
- Insufficient disk space preventing cache writes
- Conflicting software interfering with network traffic
Most stuck downloads aren’t truly frozen—they’re either retrying silently, waiting on a timeout, or blocked by something in your system.
Fix #1: The Simple Restart (Works 40% of the Time)
I know it sounds too simple, but genuinely, restarting FiveM solves nearly half of all download issues. Here’s the right way to do it:
Step 1: Don’t just close the FiveM window. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find any FiveM processes, and end them all.
Step 2: Wait 10 seconds. This gives background processes time to fully terminate and release network connections.
Step 3: Launch FiveM again and attempt to connect.
Why this works: FiveM sometimes gets stuck in a retry loop or maintains broken network connections. A full restart clears these hung states and establishes fresh connections to the server.
Fix #2: Clear Your FiveM Cache
The FiveM cache stores downloaded resources locally so you don’t re-download them every time you play. When cache files become corrupted, they cause download loops or freezes.
The quick method:
- Close FiveM completely (check Task Manager)
- Press Windows Key + R
- Type:
%localappdata%\FiveM\FiveM.app\data\cache - Delete everything in the cache folder
- Launch FiveM and try connecting again
What you’re deleting: Cached game resources, server data, and temporary files. Nothing important is lost. FiveM will re-download everything cleanly.
Expected outcome: Your first connection after clearing cache will take longer because FiveM needs to download everything fresh. Subsequent connections will be faster with the new, uncorrupted cache.
This fix solves problems caused by partial downloads, corrupted files, or outdated cached resources that conflict with server updates.
Fix #3: Disable Your Antivirus and Firewall Temporarily
Antivirus software and Windows Firewall frequently interfere with FiveM downloads, especially when servers use custom FiveM scripts that trigger false positives.
Safe testing procedure:
- Temporarily disable Windows Defender real-time protection
- Disable Windows Firewall temporarily for testing
- If you use third-party antivirus, disable it temporarily
- Try connecting to the FiveM server
If this works: Don’t leave protection disabled. Create exceptions instead.
Adding FiveM exceptions:
Add these folders to your antivirus exclusions:
%localappdata%\FiveM- Your GTA V installation directory
This fix is especially important if you’re joining servers with extensive custom content including detailed FiveM MLOs and complex FiveM jobs systems.
Fix #4: Check Your Internet Connection
Sometimes the issue isn’t FiveM at all—it’s your internet connection struggling with large downloads.
Quick diagnostics:
Test your connection with: ping google.com -t in Command Prompt
If you see packet loss or ping spikes over 100ms, your connection is unstable.
Try these network fixes:
Switch from WiFi to Ethernet: Wireless connections are far more prone to interference and packet loss. This single change can transform unreliable downloads into smooth ones.
Use a mobile hotspot: If downloads suddenly work perfectly on mobile data, you’ve identified the problem is with your primary internet connection.
Reset your router: Unplug for 30 seconds, then plug back in.
Disable VPN: Some VPNs cause routing issues that disrupt FiveM’s download process.
Servers with extensive FiveM scripts and detailed FiveM MLOs can require downloading hundreds of megabytes.
Fix #5: Free Up Disk Space
FiveM downloads fail silently when there’s insufficient disk space to cache resources.
Check your available space: Right-click C: drive → Properties
Minimum requirement: 10GB free space
Recommended: 20GB+ free space
For servers with heavy custom content: 30GB+ free space
Safe to delete:
- FiveM cache
- Windows Temp files
- Old downloads
- Recycle Bin contents
Servers featuring extensive FiveM MLOs with high-resolution textures can require substantial cache space.
Fix #6: Adjust Your DNS Settings
DNS issues can prevent FiveM from properly resolving server addresses and download locations.
Switching to Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS:
- Open Network Connections
- Right-click your active connection → Properties
- Select IPv4 → Properties
- Use the following DNS server addresses:
Google DNS:
- Preferred: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate: 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS:
- Preferred: 1.1.1.1
- Alternate: 1.0.0.1
- Open Command Prompt as admin and run:
ipconfig /flushdns - Restart your computer
Your ISP’s DNS servers might be slow or blocking certain connections. This is particularly effective if others can connect but you can’t.
Fix #7: Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers cause surprising issues with FiveM, including download problems.
For NVIDIA users:
- Go to nvidia.com/drivers
- Download latest Game Ready Driver
- Choose “Clean installation”
For AMD users:
- Go to amd.com/drivers
- Download latest driver
- Choose “Factory Reset” option
FiveM relies heavily on graphics APIs for rendering custom content like FiveM MLOs. Driver issues can cause initialization hangs that manifest as download freezes.
Fix #8: Run FiveM as Administrator
Permission issues can prevent FiveM from writing cache files or accessing network resources.
Permanent method:
- Right-click FiveM icon → Properties
- Compatibility tab
- Check “Run this program as administrator”
- Click OK
Without administrator privileges, FiveM might not be able to write to cache or modify necessary system files. This is especially relevant for servers with complex FiveM scripts.
Fix #9: Verify Your GTA V Installation
Corrupted GTA V files cause FiveM problems because FiveM builds on top of the base game.
For Steam users:
- Right-click GTA V in library
- Properties → Installed Files
- Click “Verify integrity of game files”
For Epic Games users:
- Library → Three dots next to GTA V
- Select “Verify”
For Rockstar Launcher users:
- Settings → GTA V
- Select “Verify Integrity”
Launch GTA V itself first after verification to ensure it works, then try FiveM.
Fix #10: Completely Reinstall FiveM
The nuclear option, but highly effective for persistent issues.
Complete reinstall procedure:
- Uninstall FiveM from Control Panel
- Delete
%localappdata%\FiveMfolder completely - Delete any FiveM folders in
%appdata% - Download fresh installer from fivem.net
- Install and launch
You’ll need to re-download all server resources on first connection. For servers with extensive FiveM MLOs and FiveM scripts, this initial download can take 10-30 minutes.
Advanced Troubleshooting: When Nothing Works
If all fixes fail, the issue might be:
Server-side problems: Try connecting to different servers to confirm whether the problem is universal or specific to one server.
ISP throttling: Try using a VPN to test if your ISP is interfering.
Hardware limitations: Check if your system meets minimum requirements:
- Windows 10/11 64-bit
- 8GB RAM minimum (16GB recommended)
- Modern GPU with 2GB+ VRAM
- Stable 10Mbps+ internet
Reach out to server community: Server Discord communities often have server-specific solutions.
Prevention: Avoiding Download Problems in the Future
Maintain your system:
- Keep graphics drivers updated
- Regularly clear FiveM cache
- Keep 20GB+ free space
- Restart PC regularly
Optimize your network:
- Use ethernet when possible
- Keep router firmware updated
- Close bandwidth-heavy applications
Configure FiveM properly:
- Add permanent antivirus exceptions
- Run as administrator by default
- Use SSD storage for faster cache operations
Choose servers wisely: Well-managed servers with optimized FiveM scripts and compressed FiveM MLOs load faster and cause fewer issues.
The Bottom Line
FiveM download problems are frustrating but almost always fixable. In my experience, roughly 70% of stuck downloads resolve with the first three fixes: restart, clear cache, and disable antivirus temporarily.
For the remaining 30%, working through the other fixes systematically will identify and resolve the problem. The key is being methodical—start at Fix #1 and work down the list.
Remember that servers featuring extensive custom content—detailed FiveM MLOs, complex FiveM jobs, and numerous FiveM scripts—naturally require longer initial downloads. Give it 5-10 minutes before assuming it’s frozen.
Good luck, and enjoy your roleplay experience once those downloads complete!
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