Getting started

Create your server

On the Create a server page pick ARK: Survival Ascended. The game is heavy: 16GB is the smallest plan you can order it on, and it's also the comfortable experience.

Once you pay, your machine is prepared, and the moment it is ready your server pulls the latest ARK build from Steam and starts on its own. There is nothing to set up first.

Join the game

Your server is still being prepared and has no address yet. It shows up here the moment the install finishes.

Make yourself admin

The admin password is generated for you on the first start, and it lives in the Controls tab.

1. Open the Controls tab and copy the Admin password
2. Join your server and press Tab to open the console
3. Type EnableCheats followed by the password, then Enter

Every admin command works from then on. To become admin without typing a password each time, add your account ID to the admins file. That's covered in "Admin and commands".

Pick your map and your slots

The Launch tab is where the map, the slot count and crossplay live.

• The default map is The Island, the right start if this is your first ARK
• Every map keeps a save of its own, so switching between them deletes nothing
• Fewer slots means more memory per player, so keep the number close to how many friends actually play

Your first week

• Mods come from CurseForge and your server downloads them itself. See "Mods from CurseForge"
• Your map is covered: we take backups automatically, and you can take one yourself before any big change
• ARK ships updates often, and your server pulls the latest build from Steam on every start
• If things get laggy, the first thing to try is Respawn the wild dinos from the Controls tab