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To host an ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) dedicated server on Windows, install Valve SteamCMD, download dedicated-server app 2430930 into a folder such as C:arkserver, launch ArkAscendedServer.exe with your map and settings, then open and forward the matching network ports. ASA uses -port=<port>; the older ?port=<port> syntax makes the server fall back to port 7777.
The complete setup has four separate jobs: preparing Windows, installing the server files, configuring the process and INI files, and making the server reachable through both Windows Firewall and your router. The steps below cover a single public server first, then updates, backups, multiple instances, and the failure points that keep friends from connecting.
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What a Windows ASA dedicated server does
A dedicated server runs the game world as a separate Windows process. Players connect to that process instead of relying on a player-hosted session, so the world can remain available when the administrator is not playing. You control the map, session name, administrator access, player limit, INI rules, backups, and mod or update schedule.
The server files are installed with SteamCMD, not through the normal game client. SteamCMD downloads the dedicated-server application identified by app ID 2430930. The executable is stored below the installation directory, while persistent saves and configuration are written below ShooterGameSaved.
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Windows prerequisites and planning
Supported operating system
The ARK Official Community Wiki recommends a supported Windows 10 release at version 22H2 or later, or a supported Windows Server edition. Keep Windows patched and use an administrator account for installation and firewall changes. A stable, always-on machine is preferable to a laptop that sleeps or changes networks.
Runtime components
Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable for x64 and the June 2010 DirectX End-User Runtimes before starting the server. These components are separate from the current Windows graphics stack; installing a newer runtime does not necessarily install the legacy libraries the server expects.
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- Create a short, dedicated path such as
C:arkserver. Avoid a location inside a user profile or a folder synchronized by consumer cloud software. - Give the Windows host a stable local IPv4 address, either with a DHCP reservation in the router or a correctly configured static address. Port forwarding breaks when the host receives a different address.
- Decide which map and player limit you want before writing the launch file. Map, session, query-port, and game-port choices must be consistent across the launch command, firewall, and router.
- Hardware requirements are not universal. CPU, memory, storage activity, and bandwidth vary with map, player count, mods, and gameplay settings, so treat any generic minimum as unreliable rather than a guarantee.
Install SteamCMD
- Download SteamCMD from Valve’s official distribution channel.
- Extract it to a simple folder such as
C:SteamCMD. - Run
steamcmd.exeonce so it can create its files and update itself. Close it after the prompt is ready.
SteamCMD is a command-line utility. It does not need to be installed into the ASA directory; keeping it in its own folder makes later updates easier to identify.
Download the ASA dedicated-server files
Open SteamCMD and enter the following commands. The path has no spaces, which avoids quoting problems in this first installation.
force_install_dir C:arkserver
login anonymous
app_update 2430930 validate
quitapp_update 2430930 validate downloads the dedicated-server build and checks the installed files. The same operation can be launched from a normal Windows command prompt in one line:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quitWhen SteamCMD finishes, verify that the installation contains ShooterGameBinariesWin64ArkAscendedServer.exe. If that executable is missing, check the SteamCMD output for a failed login, an invalid path, or a disk-permission error before attempting to create the launch file.
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Create a Windows launch batch file
Use the server’s binaries directory
In C:arkserver, create a file named start-asa.bat. Launching from the binaries directory avoids ambiguity about which executable and working directory Windows should use.
@echo off
cd /d C:arkserverShooterGameBinariesWin64
ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyASA -port=7777 -QueryPort=27015 -MaxPlayers=20 -ServerAdminPassword=replace-this
pauseThis example starts the Island map, names the session MyASA, sets the game port to 7777, sets the Steam query port to 27015, limits the server to 20 players, and assigns an administrator password. Replace the map token, session name, player limit, and password with your own values. Keep the administrator password private and use a long value that is not reused elsewhere.
Understand the port syntax
ASA requires the game port in the form -port=7777. Do not change it to the older ?port=7777 form. The official wiki states that the older syntax causes ASA to default to port 7777, which can make a custom port appear to be ignored. The query port is supplied separately with -QueryPort=27015.
The ?listen?SessionName=... portion belongs to the map and session argument. Keep the first question mark after the map name and the second separator before SessionName. If you later add another launch option, separate it with a space and a leading hyphen rather than placing it in the query string unless the option is specifically documented as a map parameter.
Start the process for the first time
- Right-click
start-asa.batand choose Run as administrator for the first test, so permission problems are obvious. - Leave the console window open. The first start can create directories and take longer than subsequent starts.
- Watch for startup messages and confirm that the process remains running rather than returning immediately to the prompt.
- Stop it from the console with
Ctrl+Cafter it has created its save and configuration folders. Do not close the window by force while the world is saving.
Configure GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini
Find the Windows configuration directory
Persistent Windows-server settings belong in:
C:arkserverShooterGameSavedConfigWindowsServerThe two primary files are GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini. If the first launch did not create them, stop the server, create the directory structure exactly as shown, and create the files with those names. Windows Explorer can hide file extensions, so confirm that you did not accidentally create GameUserSettings.ini.txt.
Put administrator and server identity settings in GameUserSettings.ini
Use the [ServerSettings] section for persistent server identity and administration values. A minimal example is:
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[ServerSettings]
SessionName=MyASA
ServerPassword=optional-player-password
ServerAdminPassword=replace-this
MaxPlayers=20Values supplied on the command line can be useful for a quick test, but putting persistent values in the INI file makes later edits easier to audit. Do not leave an example password in production. Stop the server before editing, save the file as plain text, and restart so the process reads the changes.
Use Game.ini for advanced game rules
Game.ini is the file for advanced gameplay rules and overrides. Add only settings you understand, preserve the section headers required by the setting, and change one group at a time. A malformed entry can prevent a rule from loading even though the server itself starts. Keep a copy of the previous file before each change so you can restore a known-good configuration.
Open Windows Firewall
A local firewall rule and a router rule solve different problems. Windows Firewall must allow inbound traffic to the server process, while the router must send traffic from the public interface to the host’s private address.
Recommended single-instance ports
| Purpose | Protocol | Typical port | When it is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game traffic | UDP | 7777 | Required for player connections in the example launch file |
| Peer traffic | UDP | 7778 | Use the companion peer port for the instance |
| Steam query | UDP | 27015 | Required for server discovery and status queries |
| RCON | TCP | 27020 | Optional; expose it only when RCON is enabled and configured |
The documented one-instance pattern is UDP 7777-7778 and UDP 27015. TCP 27020 is for optional RCON, not ordinary player traffic. If you choose different ports in the launch file, use those exact values in every firewall and forwarding rule.
Create inbound rules in Windows
- Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
- Select Inbound Rules, then New Rule.
- Choose Port, select UDP, and enter the game and peer ports. You can create one rule for
7777-7778or separate rules for each port. - Create another UDP rule for query port
27015. - If RCON is enabled, create a TCP rule for
27020; otherwise do not expose it. - Allow the connection for the network profiles that apply to the host, give each rule a descriptive name, and finish.
Restrict the rule to the server’s executable or to the required local ports when your environment demands tighter control. Avoid turning off Windows Firewall globally as a shortcut; it hides the actual rule that needs correction.
Forward ports on the router
- Sign in to the router’s administration interface and open its Port Forwarding, NAT, or similarly named page.
- Create a rule that sends UDP 7777 to the Windows host’s stable local IP address.
- Create a second UDP rule for 7778 and a third for UDP 27015.
- Add TCP 27020 only if you intentionally run RCON.
- Save or apply the configuration, then confirm that the destination address still matches the Windows computer.
Forwarding must target the private address of the machine running ArkAscendedServer.exe, not the router’s own address. If the Windows host changes from, for example, one private address to another after a reboot, the old forwarding rule will silently point at the wrong computer. A correct Windows rule without router forwarding still prevents players outside the LAN from reaching the server.
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Start, discover, and test the server
Verify the local process first
- Start the batch file and wait for the world to finish loading.
- Check the server console and log files under
ShooterGameSavedfor startup errors. - From another computer on the same LAN, try to find the session using the exact session name and map filters.
- Only after a local test succeeds, test from outside the LAN. This separates game configuration problems from NAT or ISP problems.
Server-browser filters can hide a healthy server. Clear map, password, unofficial, or region filters as appropriate, and verify that the query port in the browser is the one configured with -QueryPort. If the process is running but discovery is unreliable, test a direct connection method supported by your ASA client and recheck the query-port rule.
Check listening ports
On the Windows host, an elevated Command Prompt can show whether a process has opened the expected ports:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsnetstat -ano | findstr "7777 7778 27015"The command is diagnostic only; it does not open a port. Seeing no listener usually means the server did not finish starting, the launch file used a different port, or the process exited. Seeing a listener locally while outside players fail points you toward Firewall, router forwarding, an incorrect local IP, or a public-address limitation.
Update safely and back up the world
Update with SteamCMD
Before a planned restart or after an ASA update, stop the server cleanly and run:
steamcmd +force_install_dir C:arkserver +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quitRun the update while the server process is stopped so files are not replaced while in use. Read SteamCMD’s output for download or validation errors, then start the existing batch file again. Keep the launch file and INI files outside any process that might overwrite them, and record deliberate changes so an update can be rolled back operationally.
Back up the Saved directory
Back up C:arkserverShooterGameSaved before changing builds, changing major settings, or installing and removing mods. That directory contains the world and configuration state you need to recover. Stop the server first, copy the directory to another disk or machine, and label the backup with the date and ASA build. Test that a backup can actually be opened or restored rather than assuming a file copy is usable.
Run more than one ASA instance
Multiple instances on one Windows host need separate installation or working directories as appropriate, separate save/configuration locations, and non-overlapping ports. Never assign the same game, peer, or query port to two running processes.
| Instance setting | First server | Additional server |
|---|---|---|
| Game port | 7777 | Choose a different unused UDP port |
| Peer port | 7778 | Choose a different unused UDP port |
| Query port | 27015 | Choose a different unused UDP port |
| RCON port | 27020 if enabled | Choose a different TCP port if enabled |
The exact secondary numbers are your design choice; what matters is that every instance has a unique assignment and matching firewall and router rules. Give each server a unique session name and verify its own ShooterGameSaved path so one process cannot load or overwrite another instance’s world.
Troubleshoot in a deliberate order
The console closes immediately
- Run the batch file from an existing Command Prompt so the error remains visible.
- Confirm that
C:arkserverShooterGameBinariesWin64ArkAscendedServer.exeexists. - Recheck the Visual C++ 2013 x64 package and June 2010 DirectX runtime.
- Verify that the Windows account can read and write the server directory.
- Remove a recently added launch option and test the minimal map, port, query-port, and administrator-password command.
The server runs, but nobody sees it
- Confirm that the process is still running and that the query port is UDP, not TCP.
- Clear browser filters and verify the map and session name.
- Check that the launch file uses
-port=..., not?port=.... - Make sure Windows Firewall allows UDP game, peer, and query traffic.
- Verify that the router forwards to the host’s current local IP, not an obsolete DHCP address.
- Test from outside the LAN; a local browser result does not prove Internet reachability.
Players connect locally but not from the Internet
This pattern almost always moves the investigation beyond the game files. Recheck all three layers: the server’s actual listening ports, Windows Firewall, and router NAT rules. Confirm the public address being shared is the address assigned to your router and that your Internet service permits inbound connections. If the ISP places the router behind another layer of carrier NAT, ordinary port forwarding may not provide a reachable public IPv4 address; in that case, request a public address or use a hosting arrangement that supplies one.
A port appears to be ignored
Read the launch command character by character. The game port must use -port=number; the older map-query style causes ASA to use 7777. Then compare the command, firewall rule, router rule, and any browser query-port entry. One mismatch is enough to make a healthy process appear offline.
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An update or configuration change breaks the world
Stop the server, restore the last known-good INI or Saved-directory backup, and start again before making another change. Keep one change per restart when diagnosing a problem. This identifies whether the failure came from a build update, a setting, or a mod rather than combining several possible causes.
Self-hosting versus managed Windows hosting
Running the server yourself gives direct control over INI files, launch parameters, mods, backups, and the number of instances. The trade-off is that you also own Windows patching, SteamCMD updates, firewall rules, router administration, public-IP problems, monitoring, and recovery.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted Windows server | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| INI and mod control | Full access to files and launch commands | Depends on the provider’s control panel and policy |
| Multiple instances | You assign resources and non-overlapping ports | Limited by the purchased plan and provider architecture |
| Updates and backups | You schedule SteamCMD and copy Saved | Often assisted or automated, but verify the exact policy |
| Firewall and router work | Your responsibility | Usually handled on the host’s network |
| Public-IP requirement | Your connection must accept inbound traffic | Normally supplied by the hosting platform |
| Cost and support | Uses your hardware, electricity, and time | Recurring fee in exchange for infrastructure and support |
Choose self-hosting when you want hands-on control and can maintain Windows and networking. Choose a managed service when router access, public-IP availability, uptime, or routine maintenance is the problem you are trying to remove. Confirm current ASA support, Windows platform details, backup behavior, uptime terms, and support response before committing.
Final pre-launch checklist
- Windows is a supported Windows 10 22H2-or-later release or supported Windows Server edition.
- Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable x64 and June 2010 DirectX End-User Runtimes are installed.
- SteamCMD installed app ID 2430930 into the intended directory.
- The batch file starts
ArkAscendedServer.exefromShooterGameBinariesWin64. - The game port uses
-port=...; the query port uses-QueryPort=.... GameUserSettings.iniandGame.iniare underShooterGameSavedConfigWindowsServer.- Windows Firewall allows UDP game, peer, and query ports, with TCP RCON only when needed.
- The router forwards those same ports to the host’s stable local IP.
- LAN and external tests have both succeeded, with browser filters checked.
- The
ShooterGameSaveddirectory is backed up before updates or major configuration changes.
Bottom line
A reliable Windows ASA server is the result of matching four things: the SteamCMD installation, the launch command, the INI configuration, and the network path. Use app ID 2430930, keep the server files in a dedicated directory, use ASA’s -port=... syntax, expose UDP 7777-7778 and UDP 27015 for a typical single instance, and make both Windows Firewall and router forwarding point to the same host. Once local and external tests pass, a documented update and backup routine keeps the world maintainable.
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