# How to Install Mods on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server (/docs/ark-survival-ascended/installing-mods)



ARK: Survival Ascended uses **CurseForge** as its modding platform (replacing the Steam Workshop from the original ARK). Mods are installed by adding their CurseForge mod IDs to your server's startup parameters. The server will automatically download and install the mods on startup.

Finding Mod IDs [#finding-mod-ids]

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  <div className="fd-step">
    Browse CurseForge [#1-browse-curseforge]

    Visit the [ARK: Survival Ascended mods page on CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/ark-survival-ascended) to browse available mods.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Copy the mod ID [#2-copy-the-mod-id]

    On the mod's page, find the **Project ID** number in the sidebar on the right. This is the numeric ID you'll need to add to your server. For example, a mod might have Project ID `927131`.

    > 💡 **Tip:** You can also find the mod ID in the URL of the mod's CurseForge page. The number at the end of the URL path is typically the project ID.
  </div>
</div>

Installing Mods [#installing-mods]

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  <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.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Open Startup settings [#2-open-startup-settings]

    Click **Startup** in the sidebar. Find the **Mods** or **Active Mods** field.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Add mod IDs [#3-add-mod-ids]

    Enter the CurseForge mod IDs separated by commas. For example:

    ```
    927131,928988,929890
    ```

    This tells the server to download and load three mods on startup.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#4-save-and-restart]

    Click **Save** and start your server. The server will download the mods during startup — this may take several minutes for large mods or when adding multiple mods at once. Monitor the **Console** to see download progress.
  </div>
</div>

Alternative: Command Line Parameters [#alternative-command-line-parameters]

If you prefer to set mods via the [startup parameters](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/startup-parameters) directly, use the `-mods=` parameter:

```
-mods=927131,928988,929890
```

Mod Load Order [#mod-load-order]

The order in which you list mod IDs matters. Mods are loaded in the order they appear in the comma-separated list. If two mods modify the same game feature, the one loaded later may override the earlier one. Place core/framework mods first and dependent mods after them.

```
FrameworkMod,DependentMod1,DependentMod2
```

Popular Mod Categories [#popular-mod-categories]

| Category              | Examples                    | Description                                    |
| --------------------- | --------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Quality of Life**   | Stack mods, UI improvements | Reduce grind and improve the player experience |
| **Structures**        | S+ (Structures Plus)        | Enhanced building systems with more options    |
| **Creatures**         | Custom dino mods            | Add new creatures or modify existing ones      |
| **Maps**              | Custom maps                 | New playable worlds beyond official maps       |
| **Total Conversions** | Overhaul mods               | Completely change the game experience          |
| **Utilities**         | Admin tools, death recovery | Server management and convenience features     |

Updating Mods [#updating-mods]

Mods on CurseForge are updated by their authors independently from ARK:SA game updates. Your server handles mod updates automatically:

* **Automatic updates** — When the server starts, it checks for updated versions of installed mods and downloads them
* **Manual refresh** — If you need to force a mod update, restart your server. The startup process re-validates mod files

Removing Mods [#removing-mods]

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  <div className="fd-step">
    Stop the server [#1-stop-the-server]

    Stop your ARK:SA server from the XGamingServer panel.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Remove the mod ID [#2-remove-the-mod-id]

    Go to **Startup** and remove the mod's ID from the mods list. Make sure the remaining IDs are still separated by commas with no trailing comma.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#3-save-and-restart]

    Save and start your server.

    > ⚠️ **Warning:** Removing mods that add items, creatures, or structures will cause those objects to disappear from the world. Players who had mod items in their inventory will lose them. If a mod added structures to player bases, those structures will vanish. Consider warning your players before removing content mods.
  </div>
</div>

Client-Side Requirements [#client-side-requirements]

Players connecting to your modded server must have the same mods installed. ARK:SA handles this automatically:

* When a player tries to join, the game checks for required mods
* Missing mods are downloaded automatically from CurseForge
* Large mods may take several minutes to download on first connect
* Players must have a CurseForge account linked to their game platform

Troubleshooting Mod Issues [#troubleshooting-mod-issues]

If your server crashes or mods aren't loading:

1. **Check the Console** — Look for error messages in the **Console** tab. Mod-related errors typically reference the mod name or ID.
2. **Verify mod IDs** — Make sure all mod IDs are correct and the mods still exist on CurseForge. Deleted or hidden mods will fail to download.
3. **Check compatibility** — After a game update, some mods may not be compatible with the new version. Check the mod's CurseForge page for update status.
4. **Test one at a time** — If you recently added multiple mods, remove them all and add them back one at a time to identify the problematic mod.
5. **Check mod conflicts** — Some mods are incompatible with each other. Read the mod descriptions for known conflicts.

> 📝 **Note:** Mod downloads happen during server startup, so the first start after adding mods will take longer than usual. Large mod packs with multiple large mods can take 5–10 minutes to download. Don't interrupt the process — let it complete before trying to connect.

If you get stuck at any time, you can join our [Discord](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/).