FiveM

oxmysql / mysql-async: Database connection failed (FiveM)

oxmysql and mysql-async are the two main MySQL libraries FiveM resources use. When they log 'Database connection failed' or 'ECONNREFUSED', FXServer started but couldn't reach the MySQL server. Every resource that runs queries fails silently or throws Lua errors after this. The fix is always in the connection configuration — MySQL address, credentials, or firewall.

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How to fix it

  1. 1

    Check the connection string in server.cfg

    oxmysql uses: set mysql_connection_string "mysql://user:password@host/dbname". mysql-async uses: set mysql_connection_string "server=host;database=dbname;userid=user;password=pass". Verify user, password, host, and database name are all correct — a single wrong character causes the failure.

  2. 2

    Verify MySQL is running on the database server

    SSH into the database server and run 'systemctl status mysql' or 'systemctl status mariadb'. If it's stopped, start it. If it's crashing, check /var/log/mysql/error.log. A crashed MySQL means no amount of connection string fixes will help.

  3. 3

    Test connectivity from the FiveM server

    From the FXServer machine, run: 'mysql -h <host> -u <user> -p<password> <dbname>'. If this fails, the problem is network connectivity or MySQL config, not the FiveM resource. Check firewall rules — MySQL's default port 3306 must be open from the FXServer IP to the database IP.

  4. 4

    Allow the FiveM server's IP in MySQL bind-address and user grants

    MySQL's /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf may have bind-address = 127.0.0.1, which blocks all remote connections. Change to 0.0.0.0 (then restrict via firewall). Also run: GRANT ALL ON dbname.* TO 'user'@'fivem_server_ip' IDENTIFIED BY 'password'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES; in the MySQL console.

Alternative causes

These can produce the same error message — worth ruling out if the steps above don't resolve it.

Wrong hostname when MySQL is on the same machine

If MySQL runs on the same VPS as FXServer, use '127.0.0.1', not 'localhost'. MySQL on Linux distinguishes between them: 'localhost' triggers a Unix socket connection, which may not be accessible from inside the FXServer process path. '127.0.0.1' forces TCP and works in both cases.

MySQL user doesn't have privileges on the database

Even if the TCP connection succeeds, a user without SELECT/INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE on the database gets 'Access denied'. Check grants: 'SHOW GRANTS FOR user@host;' in MySQL console.

Frequently asked

Do I need MySQL for every FiveM server?

Only if you run resources that require it (ESX, QBCore, and most roleplay resources need a database). A vanilla FXServer with simple gamemodes doesn't need MySQL at all.

What's the difference between oxmysql and mysql-async?

oxmysql is the modern replacement for mysql-async, offering better performance and a cleaner API. They use a similar connection string format. If you're starting fresh, use oxmysql. If you have legacy resources written for mysql-async, they usually work with oxmysql's compatibility shim.

Can I use MySQL on a different server from FiveM?

Yes — many setups use a separate database VPS. Use the database server's public or private IP in the connection string. Private IPs are preferred if both servers are on the same network (same datacenter VLAN) for latency and security.

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Last reviewed 2026-06-15. If a step is wrong or out of date, tell us — we'll fix the article and the auto-pattern at the same time.