Skip to content

Getting started with your ARK: Survival Evolved server

Connect via Steam favorites using query ports, switch maps, manage server wipes, and establish automated backup habits for your tribe.

Updated August 19, 2026
ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: Survival Evolved is a dinosaur survival game where players tame creatures, build bases, and progress through a tech tree from stone tools to tek armor. It is one of the most configurable survival games available, and also one of the most demanding to host. This guide gets your server running and connected; the deeper settings live in their own guides.

This guide covers ARK: Survival Evolved

ARK: Survival Ascended is a separate game with its own client and server behaviour — the console key, ports, and save-file paths below are specific to ARK: Survival Evolved.

Before You Start

First Boot

  1. Open your server in the panel and press Start on the Console tab.

  2. The first boot downloads the ARK server files (this is a large game, allow time) and generates the map. Watch the Console for the ready line.

  3. Pick your map in the Startup tab if you want something other than the default. The Island is the safe first choice; Ragnarok, Aberration, Extinction, and the others each change the experience considerably.

How to Connect

ARK's in-game server browser does not reliably show unofficial servers, so the most dependable ways to join are direct:

  1. Steam favorites (recommended): in the Steam client, open View > Game Servers > Favorites and add your server as IP:QueryPort, for example 203.0.113.10:27015. Then in ARK, set the session filter to Favorites and join from there. Note that this uses the query port, not the game port.
  2. In-game console: launch ARK: Survival Evolved, press Tab to open the console, and connect with the game port:
> open 203.0.113.10:7777
text

Your server's IP, game port, and query port are shown in the Address at the top left of the panel.

Steam favorites and the console want different ports

The two-port split trips people up constantly: Steam favorites wants the query port, the open command wants the game port.

Wiping and Map Changes

To start fresh or switch maps, stop the server, then in the File Manager remove the save files for the current map (named after the map, for example TheIsland.ark) inside ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. Switching the map in the Startup tab loads a different save automatically, so your old map is preserved if you switch back.

Removing a save file cannot be undone

Take a backup first; this is permanent.

Backups

ARK saves are valuable and corruption is not unheard of, so use the Backups tab regularly and set a schedule. See Managing Backups.

Force a save before anything risky

The cheat SaveWorld console command forces an immediate save before any risky change.

Common Issues

Problem Fix
Server not in the browser Set the filter to unofficial sessions, or join by IP via Steam Favorites
Config changes ignored Breeding, imprinting, and XP settings go in Game.ini, not GameUserSettings.ini. See Configuration Overview
Server crashes on a busy base ARK is memory-heavy. Large bases and many tames push hardware hard; size your plan accordingly
GameUserSettings.ini resets on restart You edited it while the server was running. Always stop the server before editing config

Made with 💜 by GameServerKings

Need an ARK: Survival Evolved server?

Deploy an instantly-provisioned ARK: Survival Evolved server on high-clock hardware — DDoS protected, no contracts, cancel anytime.

From $12.00 /month

Deploy a server ARK: Survival Evolved server hosting