How to Host a Local ARK Server on Your PC

Greetings Dev! In this article, we will guide you on how to host a local ARK server on your PC. ARK: Survival Evolved is a popular survival game that allows players to explore, build, and conquer in a prehistoric world. With a local server, you can create your own world with your own rules, mods, and friends. If you’re ready to dive into the world of ARK, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• Requirements to Host an ARK Server on Your PC
• Installing the ARK Server on Your PC
• Configuring the ARK Server Settings
• Setting Up Your Network for ARK Server Hosting
• Granting Access to the ARK Server
• Adding Mods to Your ARK Server
• Backing Up Your ARK Server
• Upgrading Your ARK Server
• FAQ

Requirements to Host an ARK Server on Your PC

Before we get started, let’s go over the requirements to host an ARK server on your PC.

Requirements	Minimum	Recommended
Processor	Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better	Intel Core i7-4770K/AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or better
Memory	8 GB RAM	16 GB RAM
Storage	100 GB available space	250 GB available space
Network	Broadband internet connection	Broadband internet connection
Operating System	Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions)	Windows 10 (64-bit version)

If your PC meets the minimum requirements, you can proceed with hosting an ARK server. If you’re not sure whether your PC can handle hosting an ARK server, you can check your PC’s specifications or run a benchmark test.

Installing the ARK Server on Your PC

Now that you’ve made sure your PC meets the requirements, it’s time to install the ARK server.

Step 1: Download Steam and Create an Account

If you haven’t already, download and install Steam from the official website. Once you’ve installed Steam, create an account if you don’t have one already.

Step 2: Download the ARK Server Software

Open Steam and go to the Library tab. Click on the Tools tab and search for ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server. Right-click on it and select Install. The download size is around 100 GB, so be patient.

Step 3: Launch the ARK Server Software

Once the ARK server software is installed, go to your Steam library and click on the Tools tab. You should see ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server. Double-click on it to launch the server software. The software will start to download additional files and may take a few minutes to complete.

Step 4: Set Up the ARK Server

Once the ARK server software is installed and launched, you need to set it up.

1. Choose a name for your server.
2. Set a password for your server if you want to make it private.
3. Set the maximum number of players that can join your server.
4. Choose the map you want to use.

Once you’ve configured the settings, click on the Start Server button. Your ARK server is now running!

Configuring the ARK Server Settings

Now that your ARK server is up and running, it’s time to configure the server settings. This will allow you to customize your server and make it unique.

Step 1: Accessing the Server Configuration Files

To access the server configuration files, go to the folder where you installed the ARK server software. The default location is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer

Open the file named GameUserSettings.ini. This file contains all the settings for your server.

Step 2: Editing the Server Settings

Once you’ve opened the GameUserSettings.ini file, you can start editing the server settings. Here are some of the settings you can change:

• Difficulty: Change the difficulty level of the game.
• TamingSpeedMultiplier: Change the speed at which players can tame creatures.
• HarvestAmountMultiplier: Change the amount of resources players can gather.
• MaxTamedDinos: Change the maximum number of tamed creatures allowed.
• PlayerDamageMultiplier: Change the amount of damage players deal.
• ServerMessage: Set a custom message that will be displayed to players when they join the server.

Once you’ve made the changes, save the file and restart your ARK server for the changes to take effect.

Setting Up Your Network for ARK Server Hosting

Hosting an ARK server can put a strain on your network, so it’s important to ensure that your network is properly set up for server hosting.

Step 1: Optimize Your Network Settings

Before hosting an ARK server, it’s important to optimize your network settings. You can do this by:

• Setting up Quality of Service (QoS): This will allow you to prioritize network traffic for your ARK server.
• Disabling UPnP: This will prevent other devices on your network from interfering with your ARK server.
• Opening Ports: ARK servers use certain ports to communicate with the internet. You need to open these ports on your network to allow players to connect to your server.

Step 2: Set Up Port Forwarding

To allow players to connect to your ARK server, you need to set up port forwarding on your router. This will direct incoming traffic to your PC running the ARK server. The port you need to forward is 7777 for the game server and 27015 for the Steam server.

Step 3: Test Your Network Connection

Once you’ve optimized your network settings and set up port forwarding, it’s important to test your network connection to ensure that players can connect to your ARK server. You can do this by asking a friend to join your server or by joining your server from another PC.

Granting Access to the ARK Server

Now that you’ve set up your ARK server and optimized your network, it’s time to grant access to the server. You can do this by setting up user accounts and assigning roles to each user.

Step 1: Creating User Accounts

To create user accounts, open the GameUserSettings.ini file in the folder where you installed the ARK server software. Scroll down to the section called [ServerSettings] and look for the following setting:

AdminPassword=

Set a password for the admin account by entering a password between the quotation marks. Save the file and restart your server for the changes to take effect.

Step 2: Assigning Roles to Users

Once you’ve created user accounts, you can assign roles to each user. You can do this by:

• Adding a user’s Steam ID to the GameUserSettings.ini file.
• Assigning a role to each user using the following commands:

admincheat MakeTribeFounder

admincheat MakeTribeAdmin

admincheat MakeTribeDinoTamer

admincheat MakeTribeWarInitiator

Once you’ve assigned roles to each user, save the file and restart your server for the changes to take effect.

Adding Mods to Your ARK Server

If you want to add mods to your ARK server, you can do so by following these steps:

Step 1: Download and Install the ARK Server Manager

The ARK Server Manager is a tool that makes it easy to install and manage mods on your ARK server. Download and install the ARK Server Manager from the official website.

Step 2: Install Mods

To install a mod, open the ARK Server Manager and click on the Mods tab. Click on the Install button next to the mod you want to install. The mod will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Step 3: Configure Mods

Once you’ve installed a mod, you need to configure it. Open the Game.ini file in the folder where you installed the ARK server software. Look for the following line:

ActiveMods=

Add the mod ID to the list of active mods. The mod ID can be found in the URL of the mod’s Steam Workshop page.

Step 4: Launch Your ARK Server

Once you’ve installed and configured your mods, launch your ARK server and the mods will be loaded automatically.

Backing Up Your ARK Server

It’s important to back up your ARK server regularly to ensure that you don’t lose any progress or data. You can do this by following these steps:

Step 1: Stop Your ARK Server

Stop your ARK server by clicking on the Stop Server button in the ARK Server Manager.

Step 2: Back Up Your Server Files

Copy the ShooterGame folder and the Saved folder to a safe location on your PC or an external hard drive.

Step 3: Restart Your ARK Server

Restart your ARK server by clicking on the Start Server button in the ARK Server Manager.

Upgrading Your ARK Server

Upgrading your ARK server is important to ensure that you have the latest features and bug fixes. You can upgrade your ARK server by following these steps:

Step 1: Check for Updates

Check for updates by clicking on the Tools tab in your Steam library and selecting the ARK: Survival Evolved Dedicated Server. If there is an update available, it will be downloaded automatically.

Step 2: Back Up Your Server Files

Before upgrading your ARK server, it’s important to back up your server files. Follow the steps in the previous section to back up your server files.

Step 3: Install the Update

Once the update is downloaded, install it by launching the ARK server software. The new features and bug fixes will be applied automatically.

FAQ

Q: How many players can join my ARK server?

A: The maximum number of players that can join an ARK server depends on the server settings and the performance of your PC. The recommended maximum number of players is 10-20.

Q: How do I make my ARK server private?

A: You can make your ARK server private by setting a password in the GameUserSettings.ini file. Look for the following line:

ServerPassword=

Enter a password between the quotation marks to make your server private.

Q: Can I run an ARK server on a Mac?

A: Yes, you can run an ARK server on a Mac by using a virtual machine or by using Wine.

Q: Can I run an ARK server on Linux?

A: Yes, you can run an ARK server on Linux using Wine or a virtual machine.

Q: How do I set up a dedicated ARK server?

A: You can set up a dedicated ARK server by following the same steps as for hosting a local server on your PC. The only difference is that a dedicated server runs on a separate machine instead of your PC.

Q: What are the best mods for an ARK server?

A: The best mods for an ARK server depend on your personal preferences and the type of gameplay you want to create. Some popular mods include:

• Structures Plus (S+)
• Stackable Foundations
• Classic Flyers
• ARK: Eternal
• Primal Fear

Conclusion:

Congratulations, Dev! You’ve successfully learned how to host a local ARK server on your PC. We hope this guide has been helpful in creating your own world with your own rules, mods, and friends. Remember to back up your server regularly, optimize your network for server hosting, and have fun!