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ARK: Survival Ascended Troubleshooting

Solutions to common issues with ARK: Survival Ascended servers.

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Server Won’t Start

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Out of Memory

ARK:SA requires significant RAM. If the server crashes immediately:
  1. Check RAM usage in the Game Panel
  2. Upgrade to a higher RAM plan (minimum 12GB recommended)
  3. Remove mods to reduce memory usage

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Stuck on Starting

If the server seems stuck:
  1. Wait longer - first startup can take 10+ minutes
  2. Check the console for errors
  3. Look for “Waiting commands for 127.0.0.1:” to confirm startup

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Installation Incomplete

If installation failed:
  1. Go to Settings tab
  2. Click Reinstall Server
  3. Wait for full installation (20-30 minutes)

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Invalid Configuration

If you edited INI files and server won’t start:
  1. Check for syntax errors in config files
  2. Remove recent changes
  3. Restore from backup or reinstall

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Can’t Connect to Server

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Server Not in Browser

  1. Wait 5-10 minutes after starting
  2. Verify server is fully started (check console)
  3. Check that the server name is correct
  4. Try filtering for Unofficial servers

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Connection Timeout

  1. Verify server is running
  2. Check the correct IP and port in Network tab
  3. Try direct connect instead of browser
  4. Ensure no firewall issues on your end

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Password Issues

  1. Double-check server password (case-sensitive)
  2. Ensure you’re entering password correctly
  3. Try removing password temporarily to test

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Version Mismatch

  1. Update both game client and server
  2. Enable Auto Update in Startup tab
  3. Reinstall server if version issues persist

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Performance Issues

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Server Lag

Check RAM usage first:
  1. View resource usage in Game Panel
  2. If RAM is maxed, upgrade your plan
Reduce server load:
  1. Lower max players
  2. Reduce dino counts
  3. Remove resource-heavy mods
Structure lag:
  1. Lower TheMaxStructuresInRange in config
  2. Encourage players to clean up unused structures
  3. Enable structure decay

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Low Server FPS

  1. Check CPU usage in panel
  2. Reduce player count
  3. Lower view distances
  4. Schedule regular restarts

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Rubber-banding

  1. Check network tab for packet loss
  2. Reduce player count
  3. Lower structure limits
  4. Upgrade server resources

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Mod Issues

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Mods Not Loading

  1. Verify mod IDs are correct (CurseForge Project IDs)
  2. Check for spaces in mod ID list (remove them)
  3. Ensure server has enough disk space
  4. Review console for mod errors

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Crash After Adding Mods

  1. Remove recently added mods
  2. Add mods back one at a time
  3. Check mod compatibility
  4. Ensure all dependencies are installed

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Players Missing Mods

  1. Verify players have matching mods
  2. Enable mod auto-download in ARK settings
  3. Have players manually install mods
  4. Check if mods are server-side only

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Save/World Issues

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World Not Saving

  1. Use SaveWorld command before stopping
  2. Shutdown gracefully (don’t force stop)
  3. Check disk space in panel
  4. Verify save location exists

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World Reset/Corrupted

  1. Check for backup in Backups tab
  2. Look for .ark save files in: 
    ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
  3. Restore from backup
  4. Contact support if no backups available

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Progress Lost

  1. Server may not have saved before crash
  2. Schedule regular auto-saves
  3. Use SaveWorld command periodically
  4. Set up automatic backups in panel

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Admin/RCON Issues

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EnableCheats Not Working

  1. Verify admin password is correct
  2. Check password in Startup tab
  3. Password is case-sensitive
  4. Try restarting and reconnecting

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RCON Won’t Connect

  1. Check RCON port (default 37015)
  2. Verify admin password
  3. Ensure RCON is enabled in config
  4. Try different RCON client

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Commands Not Working

  1. Ensure you’re authenticated (EnableCheats)
  2. Check command syntax
  3. Some commands need admincheat prefix
  4. Verify command exists in ARK:SA

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BattlEye Issues

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Players Kicked by BattlEye

  1. Have players verify game files in Steam
  2. Ensure players have BattlEye installed
  3. Try temporarily disabling BattlEye to test:
    • Set BATTLE_EYE to 0 in Startup tab

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BattlEye Service Errors

  1. Restart the server
  2. Reinstall server if issue persists
  3. Check if BattlEye service is running

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Map Issues

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Map Won’t Load

  1. Verify map name is correct
  2. Check available maps in Startup description
  3. Use default TheIsland_WP to test

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Map Crashes Server

  1. May need more RAM for certain maps
  2. Try default map to isolate issue
  3. Check if mods conflict with map

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Cluster/Transfer Issues

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Can’t Upload/Download

  1. Check cluster settings in config
  2. Verify transfer is enabled
  3. Check PreventDownloadSurvivors/Items/Dinos settings

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Quick Fixes

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Force Server Stop

If server is unresponsive:
  1. Use the Kill button in Console tab
  2. Wait 30 seconds
  3. Start again

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Reset Configuration

  1. Stop server
  2. Delete config files in ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/
  3. Start server (generates fresh configs)

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Full Reset

  1. Go to Settings tab
  2. Click Reinstall Server
  3. Warning: This deletes all data!

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Getting More Help

If you’re still having issues:
  1. Check Console - Look for specific error messages
  2. Review Logs - Check ShooterGame/Saved/Logs/ShooterGame.log
  3. Discord Support - Join our Discord
  4. Support Ticket - Open a ticket
When contacting support, include:
  • Console output/errors
  • Server specs (RAM, plan type)
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Any recent changes made