How to Set a Password on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server
Learn how to password protect your ARK: Survival Ascended server to restrict who can join.
Setting a password on your ARK: Survival Ascended server restricts access to players who know the password. This is useful for private servers, clan servers, or when you want to control who can join. Your server will still appear in the server browser but will display a lock icon.
Setting a Server Password
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and select your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Stop the server.
Set the password via Startup
Click Startup in the sidebar. Find the Server Password field (this maps to the ?ServerPassword= startup parameter) and enter your desired password.
Save and restart
Click Save and start your server. Players will now be prompted to enter the password when joining.
Alternative: Edit via Config File
You can also set the password directly in the configuration file:
Navigate to the config file
Click Files in the sidebar and navigate to:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.iniEdit the ServerPassword
Under the [ServerSettings] section, find or add:
[ServerSettings]
ServerPassword=YourPasswordSave and restart
Save the file and start your server.
Removing the Password
To remove the password and make your server open to everyone:
- Go to Startup in the sidebar.
- Clear the Server Password field (leave it empty).
- Save and restart your server.
Or, if you set it via the config file, remove the ServerPassword line or set it to an empty value:
ServerPassword=Server Password vs. Admin Password
ARK:SA has two different passwords that serve different purposes:
| Password Type | Purpose | Config Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Server Password | Controls who can join the server | ServerPassword / ?ServerPassword= |
| Admin Password | Controls who can use admin commands | ServerAdminPassword / ?ServerAdminPassword= |
Always use different values for these two passwords. The server password is shared with all players you want to allow in, while the admin password should only be shared with trusted administrators.
💡 Tip: Password-protected servers still appear in the server browser with a lock icon. Players can see the server exists, its player count, map, and settings — they just can't join without the password. If you want your server to be completely hidden, you may need to use additional configuration.
📝 Note: Passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure your players enter the password exactly as you set it, including uppercase and lowercase letters.
If you get stuck at any time, you can join our Discord.
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