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Want to lead your own tribe in ARK: Survival Evolved without the lag and drama of public servers? Hosting a dedicated ARK server is easier than you think—and it gives you absolute control over gameplay, mods, server settings, and who gets to play. Whether you're running a small server for friends or a massive community, this guide walks you through every step of getting your dedicated ARK server up and running.
Before we dive into the technical setup, let's talk about why hosting a dedicated ARK server is worth the effort.
A dedicated server is different from a non-dedicated session (which only runs when you're playing). With a dedicated ARK server, your world runs 24/7. Your dinos grow, your tribe mates can log in anytime, and the ecosystem continues whether you're online or not. You get:
Let's be real—ARK is a beast. Here's what you need to know about hosting requirements.
For a small server (10-20 players):
For a medium server (20-50 players):
Pro Tip: Many server hosts, including EZ Game Host, handle all these specs for you. If you're not ready to manage hardware, that's a solid alternative.
Technically? Yes. Practically? It depends. Running a dedicated ARK server on your gaming PC will:
If you're just starting, a PC-hosted server works fine for small groups. But as your server grows, you'll want proper hardware or a managed host like EZ Game Host.
Before you set up anything, you need to understand ARK's networking requirements.
ARK uses two main ports:
Both must be forwarded to your server and allowed through your firewall. If either port is blocked, players won't see your server in the server browser or won't be able to connect.
If you're running multiple servers, you'll need different port combinations:
Write these down—you'll need them later.
SteamCMD is the command-line tool that downloads and updates ARK server files. Here's how to set it up.
C:\ARKServer)steamcmd.exe to initialize it (this takes a minute)mkdir ~/arkserver
cd ~/arkserver
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxvf -
Once extracted, you're ready to download the server files.
Now you'll use SteamCMD to grab the actual ARK: Survival Evolved server files. This is a one-time download that's substantial (~150GB), so budget time for this step.
Open a command prompt in your ARK folder and run:
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +app_update 346110 validate +quit
From your arkserver directory:
./steamcmd.sh +login anonymous +app_update 346110 validate +quit
This command:
Depending on your internet speed, this can take 30 minutes to 2+ hours. Grab coffee.
Once complete, you should have a steamapps/common/ARK folder with all server files.
ARK server configuration happens in .ini files. Two files control most settings:
This file contains gameplay settings like difficulty, taming speed, and multipliers. It's located in:
Windows: C:\ARKServer\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\
Linux: ~/arkserver/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/
Key settings to adjust:
[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=20
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
DifficultyOffset=0.8
bUseCorruptionEnabled=True
XPMultiplier=2.0
TamingSpeedMultiplier=2.5
HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0
MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.5
This controls network and performance settings. You'll rarely touch this, but important options include:
[/Script/Engine.Engine]
bUseFixedFrameRate=False
MaxSmoothedFrameRate=120
Your router needs to know where to send ARK traffic. This varies by router model, but the general process is:
Example for a server at IP 192.168.1.100:
| External Port | Internal Port | Protocol | Internal IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | 7777 | UDP | 192.168.1.100 |
| 27015 | 27015 | UDP | 192.168.1.100 |
If you're unsure about your router, check the manual or visit portforward.com for specific instructions.
Windows Firewall might block your server. You need to allow ARK through:
ShooterGameServer.exe fileFor Linux, use ufw:
sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
sudo ufw allow 27015/udp
sudo ufw reload
Running the server manually every time is tedious. Create a batch file to automate startup.
In your ARK server folder, create a file named StartServer.bat and add:
@echo off
cd "C:\ARKServer\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64"
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MyARKServer?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20 -server -log
pause
Change these values:
C:\ARKServer = your server folder pathTheIsland = map name (Island, Extinction, Genesis, etc.)SessionName=MyARKServer = your server's display namePort=7777 = your game portMaxPlayers=20 = maximum playersDouble-click this file to start your server. The command window stays open so you can see server logs.
You want your server updating automatically and recovering from crashes.
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +app_update 346110 validate +quitModify your batch file to automatically restart if the server crashes:
:start
ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=MyARKServer?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015?MaxPlayers=20 -server -log
timeout /t 10
goto start
This restarts the server 10 seconds after any crash.
A server running 24/7 needs monitoring and protection.
ARK world saves are in:
C:\ARKServer\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArks\~/arkserver/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/Set up daily automated backups:
Windows (Task Scheduler):
SavedArks folder to an external drive or cloud storageLinux (crontab):
0 */6 * * * tar -czf ~/arkbackups/ark-$(date +\%Y\%m\%d-\%H\%M\%S).tar.gz ~/arkserver/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
This backs up your world every 6 hours.
Monitor your server for crashes and high resource usage:
Windows: Use Task Manager or third-party tools like HWInfo
Linux: Use htop or top commands
Consider keeping a log file running to track issues:
Windows batch file addon:
ShooterGameServer.exe ... -server -log >> "ServerLog_%date%.txt" 2>&1
Want players to find your server publicly?
GameModIds= line in your startup command if running modsbPublicIPConnections=True in your GameUserSettings.iniIf your server doesn't appear, check:
Check port forwarding: Use an online port checker (canyouseeme.org) for ports 7777 and 27015 Check firewall: Make sure ShooterGameServer.exe is allowed Check ISP: Some ISPs block game hosting. Consider upgrading to a server with EZ Game Host for guaranteed uptime and support
Verify files: Run the SteamCMD validate command again Check logs: Look at the server console output for error messages Reduce max players: Try lowering MaxPlayers if you have limited RAM Update drivers: Especially network drivers on older machines
ARK is demanding. If your server is slow:
GameModIds=1234567,7654321 formatRunning a dedicated ARK server yourself gives you ultimate control, but it comes with responsibilities: 24/7 uptime, hardware management, troubleshooting, and security updates.
EZ Game Host handles all of that for you. We provide:
For players who want a dedicated ARK server without managing hardware, EZ Game Host ARK dedicated server hosting is the answer. You focus on building your world—we handle the rest.
Q: How much does it cost to host a dedicated ARK server? A: Self-hosting is free after initial hardware costs. Managed hosting with EZ Game Host ranges from $9-30/month depending on player count and features.
Q: What's the difference between dedicated and non-dedicated? A: Dedicated servers run 24/7 regardless of player presence. Non-dedicated servers only run when the admin is playing and can't be accessed when offline.
Q: How many players can one server handle? A: This depends on your hardware. Most PCs handle 20-40 players comfortably. Larger servers need dedicated hardware and scale to 100+ players.
Q: Can I run multiple ARK servers on one machine? A: Yes, but each needs different ports and sufficient RAM. Each additional server needs ~8GB minimum.
Q: Do I need mods to run a good server? A: No, but mods enhance gameplay. Popular mods include: Structures Plus, Awesome Spyglass, and Reusable Plus. You can start vanilla and add mods later.
Q: How often should I backup my server? A: At least daily. For active communities, backup every 6 hours to minimize data loss from crashes.
Q: Can I play on my own server while others are connected? A: Yes. The server admin can join as a regular player. Just remember that admin commands affect everyone.
Q: What's the best map for a new server? A: The Island is beginner-friendly. Ragnarok is popular for variety. Extinction is advanced. Start with what you know.
Q: Will my server appear in the server browser? A: Yes, if configured correctly and port-forwarded properly. It may take 5-10 minutes to appear after first launch.
Q: Can I reset my server without losing player structures? A: Yes, you can spawn new areas or create seasonal servers, but resetting the world wipes everything. Plan wipes in advance with your community.
Hosting your own dedicated ARK server is an achievable goal, whether you're a technical wizard or a complete beginner. The key is patience during setup, proper configuration, and consistent maintenance.
Start small—test with a few friends before opening to a large community. Document your settings so you remember why you changed things. Back up frequently. Join ARK community forums for troubleshooting help.
And remember: if the technical side ever feels overwhelming, EZ Game Host lets you skip the hardware headaches and focus on building your legendary ARK dynasty. Either way, you've got this.
Now get out there and lead your tribe!
Ready to host? Start self-hosting today with SteamCMD, or explore managed hosting with EZ Game Host for a worry-free experience.