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To batch-install Steam Workshop mods on an ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server, collect each mod’s numeric Workshop ID, place the IDs in one comma-separated ActiveMods entry in GameUserSettings.ini, add -automanagedmods to the server’s startup arguments, then restart and wait for every download to finish. The first boot can take substantially longer with a large list, so verify the console and logs before players connect.
This procedure is for Survival Evolved. ARK: Survival Ascended is a separate game whose mod platform is CurseForge; do not copy this Steam Workshop configuration into an Ascended server.
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What you need before installing several mods
- An ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server with access to its configuration files or hosting control panel.
- The ability to stop and start the server and view its startup console or log.
- The Steam Workshop page for every mod you intend to run.
- A current save backup, especially if you are changing an established world.
Mods are loaded by the server, not by a separate mod manager on each player’s computer. The server tells the game which Workshop items it uses; joining players normally download and subscribe to those items automatically.
1. Collect every Workshop ID
Find the numeric ID
Open each mod’s Steam Workshop page and copy the number at the end of its URL. That number is the Workshop ID. For example, the Structures+ Workshop item uses ID 731604991. Record the IDs in the order you want the server to load them.
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- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
Keep a plain-text list while you work. A title such as “Structures+” is useful for humans, but the server configuration requires the numeric IDs. Check each page’s description for a required load position, dependencies, or a warning about a particular ARK version.
Plan an initial order
When a mod author gives a specific order, follow it. If no special instruction exists, put map mods first, followed by content or utility mods. Overhaul and total-conversion mods can require a particular position and may not be compatible with every other mod, so there is no universally safe order for arbitrary combinations.
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Stop the server completely before editing files. ARK can rewrite INI files during shutdown; changes made while the process is running can be overwritten or only partly saved.
- Use the hosting panel’s Stop control, or stop the dedicated-server process on your own machine.
- Wait until the console reports that the process has exited and the server is no longer accepting connections.
- Back up the world save and the configuration directory. Keep the backup outside the live server folder so a reinstall or migration cannot overwrite it.
- Do not remove an existing mod from the list yet. First get the complete batch loading successfully.
3. Put all IDs in ActiveMods
Linux dedicated-server path
Open:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.iniOn Windows, use the equivalent ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini location used by your installation. In the [ServerSettings] section, add one line containing every ID, separated by commas with no spaces:
[ServerSettings]
ActiveMods=123456789,987654321,456789123Use the exact capitalization ActiveMods. The value is one setting, not one setting per line. A space after a comma can prevent the server from parsing the list correctly, so keep the value compact.
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- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
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Do you need GameModIds too?
For the standard Steam Workshop workflow, ActiveMods is the setting that enables the server’s mod list. You do not normally need to duplicate the same IDs in a separate GameModIds setting. Add another setting only when the server software or a current, platform-specific configuration guide explicitly requires it; do not invent a second list when ActiveMods is accepted.
What about the [ModInstaller] section?
ARK’s official community documentation also describes a [ModInstaller] section in Game.ini for Workshop download and installation IDs. Host panels and server builds do not all expose that mechanism in the same way. If your installation specifically documents it, follow that documentation’s exact syntax. The broadly used configuration for an ordinary dedicated server remains the comma-separated ActiveMods line together with the automatic-mod option described next.
4. Turn on automatic Workshop downloads
Add -automanagedmods to the server’s startup command or the panel field named Additional Arguments, Startup Parameters, or similar. A command-line launch will contain the flag as a separate argument, for example:
...ShooterGameServer... -automanagedmodsDo not put the flag inside GameUserSettings.ini; it is a startup argument. If a control panel generates the command for you, save the additional-arguments field and restart from the panel.
With this option enabled, the server checks the Workshop IDs in ActiveMods at boot, downloads missing files, and fetches available updates. Watch the console rather than assuming that the process is ready as soon as the executable starts.
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- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
5. Restart and let the first batch finish
- Start the server after saving both the INI file and startup argument.
- Leave the console open and look for Workshop download or installation messages for each ID.
- Wait for all downloads and any mod loading steps to finish. Do not repeatedly force-restart the process while it is still working.
- When the normal map startup completes, check that the expected IDs appear in the log and that the server reaches its listening state.
- Join with an administrator account first, before announcing the server to the rest of the community.
Downloading multiple mods at once can be problematic if the server is interrupted. A slow first startup is preferable to a series of forced restarts that leaves an incomplete installation.
Load order, dependencies, and compatibility
Use the author’s required order
Map mods generally go at the beginning of the list. A total-conversion or overhaul mod may require a different position, and a dependency may need to appear before the mod that uses it. Treat the Workshop page’s instructions as authoritative for that item.
Do not assume combinations are compatible
A clean download does not prove that two mods work together. A crash, failed map load, missing asset, or server hang after adding a mod can indicate an incompatibility with the current ARK version or another item in the batch.
Isolate a failing item
- Stop the server and copy the current configuration and save backup.
- Remove one suspected ID from
ActiveMods, leaving the others in their original order. - Start with
-automanagedmodsstill enabled and inspect the log. - If the server starts, test the removed mod by itself or with a smaller subset.
- Repeat one change at a time until the conflicting item or combination is identified.
Changing several IDs at once makes the log ambiguous and can cause you to remove a working mod while the real problem remains.
How players receive the mods
Players normally do not need to copy files manually. When they join a modded ARK: Survival Evolved server, the game downloads and subscribes them to the mods that server runs. The first connection can be slow when the server has a large list or a large content mod.
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- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Give players the server’s Workshop collection, if you maintain one, so they can pre-subscribe before connecting. This does not replace the server’s configuration; it simply moves some waiting time to the player’s own Steam client.
Handling “Mod Version Mismatch”
If a player sees Mod Version Mismatch, first determine whether the server has just downloaded an update. Wait for the server’s automatic update to finish, allow the player’s client to finish its own download, and then reconnect. If the message persists, restart the server once, confirm that the console shows the updated mod, and have the player quit and relaunch ARK before trying again.
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Updating a batch of mods
When -automanagedmods is enabled, the server checks for Workshop updates on restart. Plan updates during a maintenance window:
- Notify players and stop the server normally.
- Keep a backup of the save and current INI files.
- Start the server with the existing
ActiveModslist and-automanagedmods. - Wait for every changed mod to download before allowing connections.
- Check the startup log and test important structures, creatures, and items in-game.
After a major ARK game patch, restart the server again if a mod fails on the first attempt. The mod may need a new version, or the first boot may have occurred while Workshop files were still being refreshed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Removing a mod without damaging the world
Back up before removing anything. A mod can supply items, creatures, structures, or other data referenced by the save. Deleting its ID can therefore leave missing content or damage the world rather than simply making the feature disappear.
- Tell players which content will be unavailable and stop the server normally.
- Copy the save and configuration to a separate backup location.
- Remove only the mod’s numeric ID from
ActiveMods; preserve the remaining IDs and their order. - Start the server and inspect the log for errors.
- Check the affected areas in-game before treating the removal as successful.
Removing content mods at a planned wipe is the safer operational point because the old save no longer contains as many references to their assets. If you must remove one from a live world, keep the backup until you have confirmed that the save remains usable.
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Troubleshooting: symptoms and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| None of the mods load | The server did not read ActiveMods, the entry is outside [ServerSettings], or the capitalization is wrong. |
Stop the server, verify the exact file path and section, use ActiveMods= with comma-separated numeric IDs, save, and restart. |
| One ID is ignored | A digit was copied incorrectly, the Workshop item is unavailable, or the value contains an invalid separator or space. | Open the Workshop page again, recopy the numeric ID, remove spaces, and compare the startup log with the intended list. |
| The server starts slowly or appears stuck | Several Workshop files are downloading or updating. | Watch the console and allow the operation to finish; avoid repeated force-restarts. |
| The server crashes after adding a mod | Version incompatibility, a conflicting mod, or a required load-order rule. | Restore the backup if necessary and isolate the new IDs one at a time. |
| Players cannot join after an update | The server and client have different mod versions. | Wait for both downloads to complete, restart the client and reconnect; restart the server once if the update did not complete. |
| Configuration changes disappear | The file was edited while the server was running and shutdown rewrote it. | Stop the process fully, edit after shutdown, save, and then start it again. |
Manual server versus a managed control panel
The installation logic is the same, but a hosting panel may write the file and startup command for you. Before relying on a panel’s mod field, verify these capabilities:
| Capability | What to check |
|---|---|
| Correct list formatting | Does the panel create one ActiveMods value with comma-separated IDs and no spaces? |
| Automatic Workshop management | Can you enable -automanagedmods or an equivalent documented option? |
| File and log access | Can you inspect GameUserSettings.ini, the startup arguments, and the download log when a mod fails? |
| Backups and migration | Can you download a save and configuration backup before changing or removing a mod? |
| Region and support | Are the server location, support hours, and any advertised price appropriate for your region and use? Promotional prices and availability can change. |
If a panel’s graphical mod installer produces an unexpected result, use its file manager or console to confirm the generated ActiveMods line rather than trusting the form alone.
Batch-install checklist
- Confirm that the server is ARK: Survival Evolved, not Survival Ascended.
- Copy every numeric Workshop ID and decide the order.
- Stop the server and make a save/configuration backup.
- Place one comma-separated, no-space
ActiveModsline under[ServerSettings]. - Add
-automanagedmodsto startup or Additional Arguments. - Start once and wait for every download or update to finish.
- Read the console, then test the world before inviting players.
- For failures, change one ID at a time.
- Back up before removing a mod, especially one that adds world content.
Once those checks pass, the server will maintain the listed Steam Workshop mods on subsequent restarts and players can download the required files when they join.
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