How to connect to your ARK: Survival Ascended server and set up the most important things.
Connecting
- Open the server page in the client area and click Start.
- Wait until the status shows "running". The first start of ASA takes 5–10 minutes because the server files are loaded and the map is prepared. You can follow it in the Console tab.
- In the game: Join → switch to Unofficial at the top → search for your server name.
- Click the server and join. If you set a server password, the game asks for it.
If the server doesn't show up right away, wait a few minutes after the start and refresh the list. Also check the filter at the top (e.g. "show password protected").
Important settings
In the Startup variables tab – changes apply after the next restart:
- Server name (
SESSION_NAME) – how you and your friends find the server in the list. Pick a unique name. - Server password (
SERVER_PASSWORD) – leave empty for a public server. - Max players (
MAX_PLAYERS). - Server map (
SERVER_MAP) – default isTheIsland_WP. Other maps: see Change the map. - PvE mode (
SERVER_PVE) – on = player versus environment (no attacks on other players), off = PvP. Default is on. - BattlEye (
BATTLE_EYE) – anti-cheat. Usually not needed for servers with friends. - Mod IDs (
MOD_IDS) – pick mods more easily in the Mods tab, see Mods from CurseForge.
Experience, taming, gathering and more are set in the configuration files: ASA: set experience, taming and gathering.
Becoming admin
The portal generates the admin password (ARK_ADMIN_PASSWORD) automatically during setup and shows it once at the top of the server page – please note it down. It unlocks the admin commands in the game: Become admin and important commands.
Good to know
- ASA needs a lot of memory, so our servers start with 16 GB – see How much memory does an ASA server need?.
- The server downloads updates automatically on every restart. After a big ARK update, restart it once so server and game match again.
- Bring over your single-player save: Upload a save.