ARK: Survival Ascended Startup Parameters
Complete list of startup parameters and command-line options for your ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server.
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
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and select your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Stop the server.
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.).
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.
Save and restart
Click Save and start your server.
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
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
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
| 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 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 |
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
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
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=40as a startup parameter andMaxPlayers=20inGameUserSettings.ini, the server will use 40.
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