Illustration for How to Make an ARK: Survival Ascended Server

How to Make an ARK: Survival Ascended Server

Install an ARK Ascended server on Windows, configure its map, ports and passwords, then validate the first persistent save.

The ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server installs through SteamCMD app 2430930. It runs natively on 64-bit Windows; the official community wiki does not document a native Linux ASA binary. This guide creates a private or community instance without mixing Ascended and Survival Evolved commands.

Requirements and backup

Plan for a 64-bit system, SSD, a public IPv4 address or provider, and four logical cores per instance with strong single-thread performance. Memory varies sharply by map, world age, structures, players and mods; do not size from slot count alone.

For an existing instance, stop and archive ShooterGame/Saved/, INI files, startup script and mods. Saves, tribes and profiles live under Saved; never run a destructive validation without an external copy.

Licence and commercial hosting

The official community wiki notes ASA commercial-hosting licence restrictions outside a dedicated licence. If you sell or monetise hosting, verify current Wildcard/Nitrado terms before launch.

Install ARK Ascended with SteamCMD

1

Install SteamCMD

Download SteamCMD from Valve, extract it into its own directory and run it once to update. Use an unprivileged service account rather than a permanent administrator login.
2

Download app 2430930

Choose a server directory separate from SteamCMD and install ASA anonymously. Leave room for binaries, maps, saves, mods and update staging.
steamcmd +force_install_dir "C:\ark-asa" +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit
3

Create a startup script

In the Win64 binary folder, call ArkAscendedServer.exe followed by the internal map name. The Island is TheIsland_WP. Keep the admin password last among ? options and set the ASA game port with -port=7777.
ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?SessionName=MyServer?ServerPassword=PLAYER?ServerAdminPassword=ADMIN -port=7777 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=8 -log
4

Perform the first start

Start without mods and wait for loading to finish. The server creates ShooterGame/Saved/, configuration and the first world. Stop cleanly before editing INI files.

Do not put real secrets in screenshots, a public repository or a shared command. The simple values above are placeholders for the command example only, not usable passwords.

Open ports and join

Default portProtocolPurpose
7777UDPGame port
7778UDPPeer port, always game port + 1
27015UDPSteam query, for Steam browser
27020TCPOptional RCON

Allow used ports through Windows Firewall and, at home, forward them to a stable LAN address. ARK does not configure the router through UPnP. Multiple instances need separate game, peer, query and RCON values.

In Ascended, search the unofficial list and remove incompatible filters. Also test from another network: a router without NAT loopback may fail a local test even though external players can join.

Validate before inviting players

First-launch validation

  • •The process stays running and the log has no crash loop.
  • •The name and _WP map appear correctly in the ASA browser.
  • •An external player joins with the password and creates a character.
  • •A save command creates data under ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks.
  • •After restart, the same character and world load.
  • •Admin and player passwords are different.
  • •A copy of Saved/ exists off-host.

If the server is missing, first check the ASA map name (TheIsland_WP, not TheIsland), -port=, game version, firewall and logs. Add settings, mods or clustering only after vanilla works. The GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini guide separates advanced settings.

Run ARK Ascended without managing Windows and ports

Compare ARK plans with backups, updates and ASA map support.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ARK Survival Ascended SteamCMD app ID?
The ASA dedicated server app ID is 2430930. App 376030 is ARK: Survival Evolved and does not install Ascended.
Does ARK Ascended have a native Linux server?
The official community wiki says ASA requires Windows or a Windows-like environment and has no native Linux support. ASE does provide a native Linux binary.
Why does the server keep using port 7777?
For ASA, the wiki specifies -port=<value> rather than the older ?Port= syntax. Also check whether your provider panel overrides the command line.

Sources: ARK dedicated server setup, server configuration and SteamCMD.

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