# How to Set a Password on Your ARK: Survival Ascended Server (/docs/ark-survival-ascended/set-a-password)



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 [#setting-a-server-password]

<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.
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Set the password via Startup [#2-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.
  </div>

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

    Click **Save** and start your server. Players will now be prompted to enter the password when joining.
  </div>
</div>

Alternative: Edit via Config File [#alternative-edit-via-config-file]

You can also set the password directly in the configuration file:

<div className="fd-steps">
  <div className="fd-step">
    Navigate to the config file [#1-navigate-to-the-config-file]

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

    ```
    ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Edit the ServerPassword [#2-edit-the-serverpassword]

    Under the `[ServerSettings]` section, find or add:

    ```ini
    [ServerSettings]
    ServerPassword=YourPassword
    ```
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Save and restart [#3-save-and-restart-1]

    Save the file and start your server.
  </div>
</div>

Removing the Password [#removing-the-password]

To remove the password and make your server open to everyone:

1. Go to **Startup** in the sidebar.
2. Clear the **Server Password** field (leave it empty).
3. 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:

```ini
ServerPassword=
```

Server Password vs. Admin Password [#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](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/adding-admins) 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](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/).