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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
ARK: Survival Evolved admin commands are entered through the in-game console. In single-player, you can usually open the console and run commands immediately. On a multiplayer server, authenticate first with enablecheats and the server’s ServerAdminPassword, then run administrative commands with the prefix your server accepts—commonly admincheat or cheat.
The reference below covers the commands consistently documented for server administration, player management, messaging, world control, and common gameplay cheats. ARK command syntax differs between PC, console, hosted servers, and game versions, so treat examples as templates and verify them in your own console before using them on a live world.
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Open the ARK console
PC
Press Tab while in the game. Press it again to close the command line. The same key is used in single-player and on most dedicated-server clients.
Console platforms
On PlayStation and Xbox, open the pause screen and use the platform’s console-command button combination. The exact combination depends on the platform and game build. The ARK wiki’s reference also notes that the enablecheats command itself is not compatible with gaming consoles, so console players should follow the platform-specific admin workflow supplied by their server or game version.
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The documented key for opening the console is the backtick key (`).
If the console does not appear, confirm that you are in a mode that permits commands, that the server has not disabled admin access, and that your keyboard layout is sending the expected key.
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Authenticate as a multiplayer administrator
Single-player games do not require enablecheats. On a multiplayer server, enter:
enablecheats ServerAdminPasswordReplace ServerAdminPassword with the exact value configured in the server settings. The password is case-sensitive on many installations. Do not include angle brackets or quotation marks unless your host specifically requires them.
After authentication, test with a low-risk command such as:
admincheat listplayersIf that fails, try the equivalent prefix accepted by your server:
cheat listplayersSome commands can be entered without a prefix in single-player, while multiplayer servers commonly require admincheat or cheat. The exact rule varies by server version and hosting configuration; a command that works in single-player may need a prefix on a dedicated server.
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Command syntax rules that prevent most errors
- Use the exact command name. ARK command names are generally lowercase and have no spaces.
- Separate arguments with spaces. Player names containing spaces can be troublesome; use an ID-based command when the command supports one.
- Check the ID type. Some guides call the value returned by
listplayersan Ark ID, while others call it a Steam ID. Use the identifier your server actually returns. - Expect prefix differences. Guides alternately show
cheat,admincheat, or no prefix. Confirm which form your server accepts. - Test on a disposable save first. Destructive commands cannot be undone by the console.
Core ARK admin commands
The following table lists the commands most consistently cited for everyday administration. Replace italicized values with your own data. A prefix such as admincheat may be required on multiplayer servers.
| Command | Example | Purpose and cautions |
|---|---|---|
enablecheats |
enablecheats MyPassword |
Authenticates an administrator on a multiplayer server. Not normally needed in single-player. |
listplayers |
admincheat listplayers |
Lists connected players and their identifiers. The returned identifier may be labeled an Ark ID or Steam ID depending on the server and guide. |
saveworld |
admincheat saveworld |
Immediately saves the current world to disk. Run it before maintenance or other risky operations. |
broadcast |
admincheat broadcast Server restart in 10 minutes |
Displays a message in the middle of every player’s screen. |
kickplayer |
admincheat kickplayer ID |
Disconnects a player. Sources commonly specify a Steam ID; verify the identifier returned by your server. |
banplayer |
admincheat banplayer ID |
Bans a player. Record the identifier and reason in your administration log. |
unbanplayer |
admincheat unbanplayer ID |
Removes a ban for the specified player identifier. |
destroywilddinos |
admincheat destroywilddinos |
Removes all wild dinosaurs. New wild creatures respawn naturally; tamed creatures are not the target of this command. |
doexit |
admincheat doexit |
Shuts down the server. Save first and warn players because unsaved progress can be lost. |
dorestartlevel |
admincheat dorestartlevel |
Restarts the current level. Treat it as a disruptive server operation. |
setservertime |
admincheat setservertime 12 |
Sets the server time. One commonly documented syntax accepts a value from 0 through 24. |
settimeofday |
admincheat settimeofday 12:00 |
Alternative time-setting syntax documented by other guides. Use the form supported by your build. |
Player communication commands
Send a server-wide announcement
Use broadcast when every connected player needs to see an announcement in the center of the screen:
admincheat broadcast Scheduled restart in 10 minutesKeep the message short enough to read before it disappears. Announce the reason and timing before using doexit or dorestartlevel.
Send chat as the server
serverchat sends a chat message attributed to the server:
admincheat serverchat Welcome to the serverTo target one player by name, use serverchattoplayer:
admincheat serverchattoplayer PlayerName Please check your tribe logNames with spaces, duplicate names, or unusual characters can make name-based targeting unreliable. A SteamID-based variant is preferable when your server build supports it and the player’s identity is unambiguous.
Set a message of the day
setmessage defines the message shown when players join:
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Player and creature cheats
Protection and movement
godenables protection from most damage. Drowning is an important exception, so do not assume it makes the character invulnerable in every situation.flyenables flying movement.ghostenables no-clip movement through terrain and objects. Usewalkafterward, where supported, to return to normal movement.
Movement and invulnerability commands affect the currently controlled player. They can also change how a support session or a construction task behaves, so turn them off before ordinary gameplay.
Unlock engrams
giveengrams unlocks all engrams for the current player:
admincheat giveengramsThis can permanently alter progression on a character. Consider using a test survivor or a backup save on a progression-focused server.
Spawn wild or tamed creatures
Use summon to create a wild creature and summontamed to create a tamed one. The command requires the creature’s blueprint or summon name, which varies by creature and game version:
admincheat summon Rex_Character_BP_Cadmincheat summontamed Rex_Character_BP_Cgmsummon creates a tamed creature at a specified level. A commonly shown pattern is:
admincheat gmsummon Rex_Character_BP_C 150Blueprint names and level behavior can differ between ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, maps, and mods. Confirm the identifier for your installation before spawning on a public server.
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Give items by numeric ID
giveitemnum grants an item by numeric item ID. The ID and quantity are separate arguments, and the exact argument order can vary in command lists, so verify the syntax for your version before using it:
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admincheat giveitemnum ItemID Quantity 0 0Item IDs are maintained in separate command references; do not guess an ID, because a wrong value can grant an unintended item or fail silently.
Whitelist and access-control commands
Whitelist command names are inconsistent across guides and server builds. One commonly documented pair is:
admincheat allowplayertojoinnocheck IDadmincheat disallowplayertojoinnocheck ID
Other guides use whitelistplayer instead. If one form returns an unknown-command error, check your host’s command reference or control panel rather than repeatedly trying variants on a live server. Use the same identifier type that your server expects for kick and ban operations.
What setcheatplayer actually does
Use:
admincheat setcheatplayer trueadmincheat setcheatplayer false
Published descriptions conflict. Some describe it as enabling cheat commands for the current player, mounted dinosaur, and game world. Others describe an administrator debug overlay that exposes tribe TeamIDs, a client cheat-mode HUD, or an admin indicator. Because the behavior is not consistent across the descriptions, test it on a non-production server and observe the result before relying on it for administration.
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Many hosted ARK servers expose an RCON connection or a web control panel with a Console tab. Commonly supported RCON commands include saveworld, broadcast, listplayers, kickplayer, banplayer, and destroywilddinos. Availability depends on the host, server software, and RCON configuration.
- Enable RCON in the server configuration and set a strong RCON password.
- Connect with the host’s console or an RCON client.
- Run a harmless command such as
listplayersto confirm connectivity. - Save before maintenance, then issue disruptive commands only after warning players.
- Disconnect RCON and rotate the password if it was shared with anyone who no longer needs access.
RCON output may omit the same visual feedback shown in the game console. Keep an external log of bans, restarts, and destructive maintenance actions.
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Common failures and recovery steps
“Unknown command”
Check spelling, capitalization, and the required prefix. Try the server’s documented admincheat or cheat form. A command listed for ARK: Survival Ascended may not exist in your ARK: Survival Evolved build, and modded servers can change command availability.
The command runs but affects nobody
Confirm that you authenticated in the same session, that you targeted the correct player ID, and that the command is valid for the current map and mode. For player names, switch to an ID-based form when possible.
Kick or ban targets the wrong player
Run listplayers immediately before the action and copy the returned identifier exactly. Do not assume every guide’s “Steam ID” and “Ark ID” labels refer to the same value.
The server shuts down unexpectedly
doexit is an immediate shutdown command. Reconnect through the host panel or service manager, inspect the server log, and restore from the most recent backup if the world did not save cleanly.
Time commands produce an error
Try the syntax your build documents: one guide uses setservertime with a number from 0 to 24, while another uses settimeofday with a clock value such as 12:00. Do not combine the argument formats.
Safe administration checklist
- Back up the world before using destructive commands or changing progression.
- Authenticate only on a trusted device and never publish the ServerAdminPassword.
- Warn players before restarts, wipes, bans, or wild-dinosaur destruction.
- Use a test save for spawning, item grants, and uncertain commands.
- Record the command, target ID, operator, reason, and time for moderation actions.
- Confirm whether the server is running ARK: Survival Evolved or another ARK edition before copying syntax.
- Use the server console’s help output or the ARK console-command reference when a command is not listed here.
Why this is not an exhaustive command database
Community command lists combine entries from different ARK editions, platforms, server versions, and mods. The commands above are the administration and gameplay entries consistently identified for this guide, but a definitive every-command database requires the command reference for your exact build or the help output supplied by your server. Treat unverified lists as version-specific documentation, especially for item IDs, blueprint paths, whitelist syntax, and commands that alter player progression.
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