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To install AsaApi for an ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server, install a current supported x64 Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, extract the AsaApi release into ARKShooterGameBinariesWin64, launch the server with AsaApiLoader.exe using the server’s existing arguments, and place plugins under Win64ArkApiPlugins. The framework is intended for Windows servers; the exact current AsaApi release and the redistributable year named by older guides are not consistently documented, so use the newest compatible x64 package and each plugin’s README.
What AsaApi does—and what this guide covers
AsaApi is a server-side plugin framework for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA). It loads native server plugins while the dedicated server is running, allowing server administrators to add or extend functionality without modifying the game client. Installation is performed on the machine that runs the dedicated server, not on players’ PCs.
The Tool Desk
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This guide addresses a manual installation. Hosted control panels can impose different file permissions, startup commands, or update procedures. A panel’s own instructions take precedence when they conflict with the steps below.
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Prerequisites and files you need
| Item | What to have ready | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows Server 2019 at minimum, according to the official API listing | AsaApi is a Windows server framework; unsupported operating systems can prevent the loader or plugins from starting. |
| Dedicated server installation | The ASA server’s installation directory, including ShooterGameBinariesWin64 |
The loader and API files must sit beside the Windows server binaries. |
| Visual C++ runtime | The latest supported x64 Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable | The API and native plugins depend on Microsoft’s C/C++ runtime libraries. |
| AsaApi release | A release downloaded from the official ASA Server API resource or the ArkServerApi GitHub organisation | The release contains the loader and framework files required at runtime. |
| Plugin packages | Plugin archives compatible with your ASA/AsaApi combination | Plugins can require other plugins or a particular API revision. |
| Administrative access | Permission to install software and write to the server directory | Windows may block extraction or DLL loading when the account lacks access. |
Stop the server before changing its binaries. Keep a backup of the server directory and configuration files so you can return to a known working state if a plugin prevents startup.
Install the Visual C++ runtime first
Documentation does not agree on one runtime year. The official ASA Server API listing refers to the Visual C++ 2019 redistributable, one hosting guide names Visual C++ 2022, and the ASA Plugin Template asks for the latest x64 MSVC redistributable. A Microsoft Q&A community answer explains that the current Visual C++ 2015–2022 package covers applications built for the 2019 and 2022 runtime family, but that answer is community guidance rather than a Microsoft product statement.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe practical choice is the newest Microsoft-supported x64 redistributable available for the server. The commonly circulated direct x64 package address is aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe. Verify the package and its current support status on Microsoft’s Visual C++ download documentation before installing it on a production machine.
- Download the x64 redistributable on the Windows server.
- Run the installer as an administrator.
- Accept the license terms and choose Install, or choose Repair if an existing installation is detected.
- Restart Windows if the installer requests it, particularly when it replaced runtime files that were in use.
- Keep the installer result or version information for troubleshooting. If AsaApiLoader later exits immediately, confirming this runtime is installed is the first check.
Do not install only an x86 package on a 64-bit ASA server. The server binaries and normal AsaApi builds are x64, so the x64 runtime is the relevant architecture.
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Download and extract AsaApi into the server’s Win64 directory
Obtain the release from the official ASA Server API resource or the ArkServerApi GitHub organisation. The exact current release number and release notes were not established in the available documentation, so select the release identified by the project as current and read its release notes before deploying it.
- Stop the ASA dedicated server and close any server manager that may restart it automatically.
- Open the ASA installation folder and locate
ARKShooterGameBinariesWin64. In a typical installation, this is the directory containing the Windows server executable. - Extract the complete AsaApi archive directly into that
Win64directory. Do not leave an extra nesting level such asWin64AsaApiAsaApiLoader.exeunless the release’s own instructions explicitly require it. - Confirm that
AsaApiLoader.exeis present in the expected Win64 location and that the archive’s framework folders were extracted alongside the server files. - If Windows marks the downloaded archive as blocked, open its file properties and use the available unblock option before extraction, then extract again. A blocked or partially extracted archive can look like a missing-DLL problem later.
The loader is the entry point for an AsaApi-enabled server. Extracting files alone does not activate plugins; the server must be started through the loader.
Start ASA through AsaApiLoader.exe
Launch the server with AsaApiLoader.exe, not directly with ArkAscendedServer.exe. Pass the same launch parameters that you previously used with the dedicated server executable. Those parameters may include your map, query settings, administrator password, session name, and other server configuration; AsaApi does not replace or rewrite them.
- Find the shortcut, batch file, service definition, or hosting-panel command that currently starts
ArkAscendedServer.exe. - Copy its complete argument string exactly. Do not remove map or server options simply because the executable name is changing.
- Change only the executable at the start of the command to
AsaApiLoader.exe, keeping the working directory set toARKShooterGameBinariesWin64when your launcher allows that setting. - Start the loader once. Do not start
ArkAscendedServer.exeseparately at the same time; that bypasses AsaApi and can also create a port or file-lock conflict. - Wait for the server to finish its normal initialization, then inspect the AsaApi log for plugin loading and dependency messages.
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cd /d "ARKShooterGameBinariesWin64"
AsaApiLoader.exe <the same server arguments used previously>The angle-bracket text above is explanatory, not a literal switch. Replace it with your existing argument string; do not invent new arguments unless the ASA server or a plugin’s documentation calls for them.
If a server manager has a field labeled “server executable,” select AsaApiLoader.exe and preserve the manager’s existing parameters. If the panel does not allow a custom executable, ask the provider whether AsaApi is supported before copying files into a managed installation.
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AsaApi looks for plugins below ARKShooterGameBinariesWin64ArkApiPlugins. The exact package layout is the main point of conflicting guidance, so inspect the plugin’s README before deciding where its DLL belongs.
| Layout described by documentation | Example path | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Plugin folder containing its DLL | Win64ArkApiPluginsPluginNamePluginName.dll |
One installation guide says the DLL name and folder name must match. Renaming the folder can stop the DLL from loading. |
| Per-plugin subfolder layout | Win64ArkApiPluginsPluginName with the package’s files inside |
An ASA server manager documents a separate subfolder for each plugin. The plugin package may include additional files beside the DLL. |
| Alternative package layout | Defined by the plugin’s own README | Follow the author’s instructions when they differ from a generic guide; dependencies and configuration files may require a specific structure. |
- Stop the server before adding or replacing a plugin.
- Create
ArkApiPluginsunder the Win64 directory if it does not already exist. - Read the plugin README for its required API version, dependencies, configuration location, and folder layout.
- Extract the plugin into its own subfolder under
ArkApiPlugins, unless the README explicitly specifies another arrangement. - Preserve the DLL’s filename. When the package uses a matching-name convention, keep the folder and DLL names identical, including capitalization.
- Copy any documented configuration files to the location specified by the plugin. Do not copy a DLL from one plugin into another plugin’s folder.
- Start the server through
AsaApiLoader.exeand watch the startup log for the plugin’s load message or an unmet-dependency warning.
Install one plugin at a time when setting up a new server. This makes it possible to identify the package that introduced a startup failure. Once the server is stable, add the remaining plugins in small groups.
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Check dependencies and logs after the first start
AsaApi checks plugin dependencies during startup and displays warnings when a required dependency is missing. A warning is actionable information, not proof that the framework itself failed. Read the plugin name and the missing dependency, then install the required dependency in the order specified by the plugin author.
The regular AsaApi log is located at:
ARKShooterGameWin64logsArkApi.logCrash logs are located at:
ARKShooterGameSavedLogsUse the timestamps in those files to correlate a failed start with the last plugin you installed. Look for the first error, not only the final shutdown message; later errors are often consequences of the original load failure.
- Successful framework start: the loader remains running and the log records AsaApi initialization.
- Successful plugin start: the plugin is listed without a load error, and any required dependency checks pass.
- Dependency problem: the log names a missing or unavailable dependency. Install the required component or remove the dependent plugin temporarily.
- Crash during loading: use the crash files in
SavedLogstogether with the last entries inArkApi.log.
Troubleshoot an ASA plugin that does not load
AsaApiLoader.exe does not open or closes immediately
- Confirm that the x64 Visual C++ Redistributable is installed. This is the first dependency check recommended when the loader fails to start.
- Verify that the loader and its supporting files were extracted into the actual
ShooterGameBinariesWin64directory, not into a nested archive folder. - Run the loader from that directory so its relative paths resolve correctly.
- Check
ArkApi.logfor a missing runtime, missing DLL, or permission error. If no log is created, the failure may occur before AsaApi initializes; recheck extraction, Windows security blocks, and runtime installation. - Make sure only one server process is being launched and that your shortcut or panel was changed from
ArkAscendedServer.exetoAsaApiLoader.exe.
The server starts, but one plugin is absent
- Check that the plugin is under
Win64ArkApiPlugins, not beside the server executable or under the game’s client content directory. - Compare the DLL and folder names. The documented matching-name convention means a renamed folder can prevent loading.
- Read the plugin README and test its required layout. Some tools describe a per-plugin subfolder, while another guide describes the DLL-plus-matching-folder convention.
- Confirm that the plugin is built for ASA and for the AsaApi version you installed. An ARK: Survival Evolved plugin is not automatically compatible with ASA.
- Look for a dependency warning in
ArkApi.log. Install the named dependency before troubleshooting the plugin itself.
A dependency warning appears
AsaApi reports unmet plugin dependencies at startup. Record the exact dependency name, obtain the version requested by the plugin author, and install it in its own documented folder. If the warning remains, remove the dependent plugin temporarily and restart to confirm that the rest of the server is healthy.
The server crashes after adding a plugin
- Stop the server and remove or rename only the newly added plugin folder.
- Start through
AsaApiLoader.exeagain. If the server now starts, the removed plugin or one of its dependencies is the likely cause. - Review
ArkApi.logand the newest files inARKShooterGameSavedLogs. - Check the plugin’s compatibility notes, required dependencies, and configuration syntax before reinstalling it.
- Add the plugin back only after correcting the reported issue, and keep a known-good backup of the working directory.
A plugin loads but its features do not work
Loading only proves that the DLL was accepted. Check the plugin’s own configuration file, permissions, required dependency, and in-game command or activation procedure. Avoid changing several plugins at once; otherwise you cannot distinguish a configuration problem from an API conflict.
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A hosting panel ignores the loader
Some managed hosts permit only their supplied executable or startup template. If the panel always launches ArkAscendedServer.exe, AsaApi will not be in that process even if its files are present. Ask the host whether it supports a custom Windows executable and whether it has a documented AsaApi integration. Managed-host support was not established uniformly, so do not assume that copying the manual files is sufficient.
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Build your own AsaApi plugin (optional)
Server administrators who are developing rather than merely installing a plugin need a C++ build environment. The ASA Plugin Template specifies Visual Studio 2022 with the Desktop development with C++ workload and vcpkg integration. Its template targets AsaApi v1.19, which is a template target rather than confirmation of the latest runtime release.
- Install Visual Studio 2022 and select Desktop development with C++.
- Set up the vcpkg integration required by the template.
- Obtain the matching AsaApi development files. The template links against
AsaApi.lib. - Build
AsaApi.libfrom the AsaApi solution in Release/x64, or use the library supplied with the compatible AsaApi release. - Configure the plugin project to use the headers and library for the same API revision as the server installation.
- Build the plugin as x64, then copy its DLL and any required configuration files into the documented
ArkApiPluginslayout. - Start the server through
AsaApiLoader.exeand inspectArkApi.logfor load and dependency results.
Mixing a plugin compiled against a different API revision, architecture, or runtime can produce a load error or a crash. Keep the development library, template target, and deployed AsaApi release aligned.
Updating AsaApi or plugins safely
Because the current AsaApi release and its exact compatibility matrix were not established in the available documentation, treat updates as compatibility changes rather than routine file replacements.
- Record the current AsaApi release, plugin versions, launch command, and working directory.
- Stop the server and back up the entire
Win64ArkApitree, the launch script, and relevant configuration files. - Read the new AsaApi release notes and every plugin’s compatibility notes.
- Replace the framework files as instructed by the release author; do not merge unknown DLLs from unrelated versions.
- Start with only the framework and a minimal plugin set. Confirm that the loader and log work before restoring the remaining plugins.
- Add plugins back one at a time and retain the backup until the server has completed a normal restart.
For a plugin update, replace the complete plugin package rather than leaving obsolete DLLs or configuration files mixed with the new version. Preserve custom configuration separately, then compare it with the new package’s example configuration.
Known compatibility limits and unresolved details
- Windows scope: the documented framework setup is for Windows ASA dedicated servers.
- Runtime naming: sources refer variously to Visual C++ 2019, Visual C++ 2022, and the latest x64 redistributable. Installing the latest supported x64 package is the least ambiguous approach, but verify current Microsoft guidance.
- Plugin layout: a matching DLL/folder convention and a per-plugin subfolder convention both appear in documentation. The individual plugin README is authoritative for that package.
- Release currency: an exact current AsaApi release number and release-note summary were not available, so check the official release channel immediately before installation.
- Hosting panels: support varies by provider. A manual Windows procedure cannot guarantee that a managed panel will permit a custom loader.
No published performance statistic or other named benchmark was established for AsaApi. Evaluate a plugin by its compatibility, log behavior, and effect on your own server rather than by an assumed performance figure.
Quick Recap
Installation checklist
- Windows 10 or Windows Server 2019 or newer is running the dedicated server.
- The latest supported x64 Visual C++ Redistributable is installed.
- AsaApi files are extracted into
ARKShooterGameBinariesWin64. - The server starts with
AsaApiLoader.exe, using the same arguments as the original server command. - Each plugin is under
Win64ArkApiPluginsin the layout specified by its README. - DLL and folder names match when the plugin’s documentation requires that convention.
- Dependencies are installed and no unmet-dependency warning remains.
ARKShooterGameWin64logsArkApi.logis checked after startup.- Crash output in
ARKShooterGameSavedLogsis available if the server terminates unexpectedly.
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