fxmanifest.lua loadscreen, explained properly

What each loading-screen directive does, when to use a local file versus a URL, and the mistakes that quietly break the screen.

Work through these in order

1. 01

   The minimum working manifest

   A loading screen resource needs almost nothing else. fx_version and games are required by FiveM, and the loadscreen line does the actual work.

   fx_version 'cerulean'
   games { 'common' }
   
   loadscreen 'index.html'   -- a file inside the resource
   -- or
   loadscreen 'https://fivemloadingscreen.pro/s/your-slug'   -- a hosted URL

2. 02

   Local file vs hosted URL

   A local file means every design change requires re-uploading the resource and every player re-downloading it. A hosted URL means the client fetches the page each time it connects, so edits go live without touching the server. The trade-off is that a hosted screen needs the client to reach that domain.

3. 03

   loadscreen_manual_shutdown

   Set to yes, FiveM will not close the screen on its own — it waits for a shutdown call. Useful for a play-your-own-intro effect, and a common cause of players getting stuck when nothing calls it. Leave it off unless you need it.

   loadscreen_manual_shutdown 'yes'

4. 04

   loadscreen_cursor

   Shows the mouse cursor over the loading screen so players can click links or buttons. Only enable it if your screen actually has something clickable, otherwise it just looks broken.

   loadscreen_cursor 'yes'

5. 05

   The sets loadscreen alternative

   You can skip the resource entirely and set the screen straight from server.cfg. It is quicker to try, but you lose the ability to ship anything alongside it.

   sets loadscreen "https://fivemloadingscreen.pro/s/your-slug"
   sets loadscreen_manual_shutdown "true"

6. 06

   Common mistakes

   Using single quotes inside the Lua manifest but double quotes in server.cfg (both are required, in their own place); pointing loadscreen at a folder instead of a file; and leaving a second loading screen resource enabled, which cancels both out.

Common questions

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