# How to Configure Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server (/docs/ark-survival-ascended/configure-your-server)





ARK: Survival Ascended server settings are controlled through two main configuration files: `GameUserSettings.ini` and `Game.ini`. These files are located in the `ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/` directory on your server. You can edit them directly through the XGamingServer panel's file manager.

Accessing Configuration Files [#accessing-configuration-files]

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Open the XGamingServer panel [#1-open-the-xgamingserver-panel]

    Log in to the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) and select your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Stop the server before editing config files.

    Many common settings can also be changed directly in the **Startup** tab:

        <img alt="Startup tab with ARK SA variables" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Navigate to the config folder [#2-navigate-to-the-config-folder]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and navigate to:

    ```
    ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Open the config file [#3-open-the-config-file]

    You'll find two main configuration files:

    | File                   | Purpose                                                                                           |
    | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | `GameUserSettings.ini` | Server name, passwords, player limits, rates (XP, taming, harvesting), and most gameplay settings |
    | `Game.ini`             | Advanced gameplay overrides — engram points, loot tables, per-level stat multipliers, dino spawns |

    Click on the file you want to edit to open it in the built-in editor.

    > 📝 **Note:** If these files don't exist yet, start your server once and then stop it. ARK:SA generates default config files on first launch.
  </div>
</div>

Key Settings in GameUserSettings.ini [#key-settings-in-gameusersettingsini]

The `[ServerSettings]` section of `GameUserSettings.ini` contains the most commonly changed settings:

XP and Progression Rates [#xp-and-progression-rates]

```ini
[ServerSettings]
XPMultiplier=1.0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0
DifficultyOffset=1.0
```

Taming and Breeding [#taming-and-breeding]

```ini
[ServerSettings]
TamingSpeedMultiplier=1.0
MatingIntervalMultiplier=1.0
EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=1.0
BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=1.0
BabyCuddleIntervalMultiplier=1.0
```

Harvesting and Resources [#harvesting-and-resources]

```ini
[ServerSettings]
HarvestAmountMultiplier=1.0
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=1.0
HarvestHealthMultiplier=1.0
```

Day/Night Cycle [#daynight-cycle]

```ini
[ServerSettings]
DayTimeSpeedScale=1.0
NightTimeSpeedScale=1.0
DayCycleSpeedScale=1.0
```

Player and Dino Stats [#player-and-dino-stats]

```ini
[ServerSettings]
PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=1.0
PlayerDamageMultiplier=1.0
DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=1.0
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=1.0
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=1.0
```

Common Rate Presets [#common-rate-presets]

Here are some popular rate configurations to get you started:

| Setting                   | Official (1x) | Boosted (3x) | Fast (10x) |
| ------------------------- | ------------- | ------------ | ---------- |
| XPMultiplier              | 1.0           | 3.0          | 10.0       |
| TamingSpeedMultiplier     | 1.0           | 3.0          | 10.0       |
| HarvestAmountMultiplier   | 1.0           | 3.0          | 10.0       |
| EggHatchSpeedMultiplier   | 1.0           | 3.0          | 10.0       |
| BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier | 1.0           | 3.0          | 10.0       |
| MatingIntervalMultiplier  | 1.0           | 0.33         | 0.1        |

> 📝 **Note:** For `MatingIntervalMultiplier`, **lower** values mean **faster** mating cooldowns (it's an interval, not a speed). Setting it to 0.33 means mating cooldown is 3x faster than official.

Key Settings in Game.ini [#key-settings-in-gameini]

`Game.ini` handles advanced overrides that aren't available in `GameUserSettings.ini`:

Custom Engram Points Per Level [#custom-engram-points-per-level]

```ini
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=15
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=20
OverridePlayerLevelEngramPoints=25
```

Each line corresponds to a level (1, 2, 3, etc.). Add one line per level you want to override.

Stack Size Overrides [#stack-size-overrides]

```ini
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
ConfigOverrideItemMaxQuantity=(ItemClassString="PrimalItemResource_Metal_C",Quantity=(MaxItemQuantity=500, bIgnoreMultiplier=true))
```

Max Player Level [#max-player-level]

```ini
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode]
LevelExperienceRampOverrides=(ExperiencePointsForLevel[0]=5,ExperiencePointsForLevel[1]=20, ...)
```

Using Startup Parameters [#using-startup-parameters]

Many settings can also be configured through [startup parameters](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/startup-parameters) in the **Startup** tab on the XGamingServer panel. Startup parameters override config file settings when both are present.

Common startup parameters for configuration:

| Parameter                       | Purpose                                                       |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `?SessionName=My Server`        | [Server name](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/change-server-name) |
| `?MaxPlayers=40`                | [Max players](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/max-players)        |
| `?ServerPassword=secret`        | [Server password](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/set-a-password) |
| `?ServerAdminPassword=admin123` | [Admin password](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/adding-admins)   |
| `-crossplay`                    | Enable crossplay between Steam and Epic                       |

Applying Changes [#applying-changes]

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Save the file [#1-save-the-file]

    After editing, click **Save** in the file editor.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Start the server [#2-start-the-server]

    Start your server from the **Console** or **Dashboard**. Changes take effect on startup.

    > ⚠️ **Warning:** ARK:SA may overwrite your config files if you edit them while the server is running. Always stop the server before making changes, and double-check your edits are saved after restarting.

    > 💡 **Tip:** Make one change at a time and test it before making more. This makes it much easier to identify which setting caused an issue if something goes wrong. Back up your config files before making major changes.
  </div>
</div>

Example GameUserSettings.ini (ServerSettings Section) [#example-gameusersettingsini-serversettings-section]

A real working server config:

```ini
[ServerSettings]
ShowMapPlayerLocation=True
AllowThirdPersonPlayer=True
ServerPVE=True
ServerCrosshair=True
ServerPassword=
ServerAdminPassword=YourAdminPassword
RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020
TheMaxStructuresInRange=10500
OxygenSwimSpeedStatMultiplier=1
AlwaysAllowStructurePickup=True
StructurePickupTimeAfterPlacement=30
KickIdlePlayersPeriod=3600
AutoSavePeriodMinutes=15
MaxTamedDinos=5000
ItemStackSizeMultiplier=1
RCONServerGameLogBuffer=600
AllowHitMarkers=True
LimitBunkersPerTribe=True
LimitBunkersPerTribeNum=3

[/Script/Engine.GameSession]
MaxPlayers=70

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My ARK Server
```

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Taming & Rates](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/taming-rates)
* [Change Map](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/change-map)
* [RCON Setup](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/rcon-setup)
* [Cluster Setup](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/cluster-setup)
* [Wipe Server](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/wipe-server)
* [Startup Parameters](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/startup-parameters)