# ARK: Survival Ascended Startup Parameters (/docs/ark-survival-ascended/startup-parameters)



Startup parameters (also called command-line arguments) let you configure your ARK: Survival Ascended server without editing config files. Parameters set via the command line take priority over settings in `GameUserSettings.ini`. You can set them through the **Startup** tab on the XGamingServer panel.

Setting Startup Parameters [#setting-startup-parameters]

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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. You'll see fields for common startup parameters that the panel manages for you (like Session Name, Max Players, etc.).
  </div>

  <div className="fd-step">
    Add additional parameters [#3-add-additional-parameters]

    For parameters not covered by the panel's built-in fields, look for an **Additional Command Line Parameters** or **Custom Startup** field where you can add extra flags.
  </div>

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

    Click **Save** and start your server.
  </div>
</div>

Parameter Syntax [#parameter-syntax]

ARK:SA uses two types of startup parameters:

* **Query parameters** — Start with `?` and are appended to the map name. Multiple query parameters are chained with `?`: `TheIsland_WP?SessionName=MyServer?MaxPlayers=40`
* **Flag parameters** — Start with `-` and are standalone: `-crossplay -NoBattlEye`

Common Query Parameters [#common-query-parameters]

These parameters configure basic server settings:

| Parameter                | Description                      | Example                          |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `?SessionName=`          | Server name shown in the browser | `?SessionName=My ARK Server`     |
| `?MaxPlayers=`           | Maximum simultaneous players     | `?MaxPlayers=40`                 |
| `?ServerPassword=`       | Password required to join        | `?ServerPassword=secret`         |
| `?ServerAdminPassword=`  | Password for admin commands      | `?ServerAdminPassword=admin123`  |
| `?Port=`                 | Game port (default 7777)         | `?Port=7777`                     |
| `?QueryPort=`            | Steam query port (default 27015) | `?QueryPort=27015`               |
| `?AltSaveDirectoryName=` | Custom save directory name       | `?AltSaveDirectoryName=MyServer` |
| `?MultiHome=`            | Bind to a specific IP address    | `?MultiHome=192.168.1.100`       |

Map Parameters [#map-parameters]

The map is specified as the first part of the command line:

| Map                | Parameter Value    |
| ------------------ | ------------------ |
| **The Island**     | `TheIsland_WP`     |
| **Scorched Earth** | `ScorchedEarth_WP` |
| **Aberration**     | `Aberration_WP`    |
| **The Center**     | `TheCenter_WP`     |
| **Extinction**     | `Extinction_WP`    |

Example: `TheIsland_WP?SessionName=My Server?MaxPlayers=40`

Gameplay Parameters [#gameplay-parameters]

| Parameter                      | Description                          | Example                           |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------- |
| `?DifficultyOffset=`           | Difficulty level (0.0–1.0)           | `?DifficultyOffset=1.0`           |
| `?OverrideOfficialDifficulty=` | Override max dino level              | `?OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0` |
| `?ServerPVE`                   | Enable PvE mode (no PvP)             | `?ServerPVE`                      |
| `?ServerHardcore`              | Enable hardcore mode (permadeath)    | `?ServerHardcore`                 |
| `?AllowThirdPersonPlayer`      | Allow third-person view              | `?AllowThirdPersonPlayer`         |
| `?ShowMapPlayerLocation`       | Show player location on map          | `?ShowMapPlayerLocation`          |
| `?ServerCrosshair`             | Enable crosshair                     | `?ServerCrosshair`                |
| `?RCONEnabled=True`            | Enable RCON for remote admin         | `?RCONEnabled=True`               |
| `?RCONPort=`                   | RCON port (default 27020)            | `?RCONPort=27020`                 |
| `?DisableStructureDecayPvE`    | Disable structure decay in PvE       | `?DisableStructureDecayPvE`       |
| `?AllowFlyerCarryPvE`          | Allow flyers to carry players in PvE | `?AllowFlyerCarryPvE`             |

Flag Parameters [#flag-parameters]

Flag parameters use a `-` prefix and don't take values:

| Parameter                  | Description                                                                    |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `-crossplay`               | Enable crossplay between Steam and Epic Games                                  |
| `-NoBattlEye`              | Disable BattlEye anti-cheat                                                    |
| `-ForceAllowCaveFlyers`    | Allow flying dinos inside caves                                                |
| `-NoTransferFromFiltering` | Disable character transfer filtering                                           |
| `-ClusterDirOverride=`     | Set a custom cluster directory for transfers                                   |
| `-nosteamclient`           | Run without Steam client (server-only)                                         |
| `-automanagedmods`         | Auto-manage and update mods                                                    |
| `-mods=`                   | Comma-separated list of [mod IDs](/docs/ark-survival-ascended/installing-mods) |

Rate Multiplier Parameters [#rate-multiplier-parameters]

These parameters override the rate settings in `GameUserSettings.ini`:

| Parameter                     | Description              | Default |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------- |
| `?XPMultiplier=`              | Experience gain rate     | 1.0     |
| `?TamingSpeedMultiplier=`     | Taming speed             | 1.0     |
| `?HarvestAmountMultiplier=`   | Resource harvest amount  | 1.0     |
| `?EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=`   | Egg hatching speed       | 1.0     |
| `?BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=` | Baby growing speed       | 1.0     |
| `?MatingIntervalMultiplier=`  | Mating cooldown interval | 1.0     |

Cluster Parameters [#cluster-parameters]

For running a cluster of ARK:SA servers that share character transfers:

| Parameter                    | Description                       |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| `-ClusterDirOverride=<path>` | Shared directory for cluster data |
| `-clusterid=<id>`            | Cluster identifier string         |
| `?PreventDownloadSurvivors`  | Block character downloads         |
| `?PreventDownloadItems`      | Block item downloads              |
| `?PreventDownloadDinos`      | Block dino downloads              |

Example Startup Command [#example-startup-command]

Here's what a typical startup command looks like with multiple parameters:

```
TheIsland_WP?SessionName=My ARK Server?MaxPlayers=40?ServerPassword=secret?ServerAdminPassword=admin123?DifficultyOffset=1.0?OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0?RCONEnabled=True?RCONPort=27020 -crossplay -mods=927131,928988
```

> 💡 **Tip:** Start with the essential parameters (SessionName, MaxPlayers, passwords) and add more as needed. Too many parameters at once makes troubleshooting difficult if something goes wrong.

> 📝 **Note:** Parameters set in the **Startup** tab take priority over the same settings in config files. If you set `MaxPlayers=40` as a startup parameter and `MaxPlayers=20` in `GameUserSettings.ini`, the server will use 40.

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