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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
To broadcast an announcement to every player on an ARK: Survival Evolved server, connect to the server through RCON and send broadcast Your message. RCON is authenticated with the server’s admin password, so do not add the admincheat prefix. The broadcast command displays a prominent on-screen overlay; use serverchat when a normal chat line is less disruptive.
What the ARK broadcast command does
ARK: Survival Evolved has two useful server-wide announcement styles. The first is a large overlay produced by broadcast. It is designed for information that every connected player must notice, such as a restart warning, event start, maintenance notice or rule change. The second is serverchat, which writes a message into everyone’s in-game chat. It reaches the same audience but is easier to ignore and does not interrupt the play area with a large notification.
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| Command | Audience and display | Best use | Intrusiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
broadcast <message> |
Every player; large on-screen overlay | Urgent or high-priority announcements | High |
serverchat <message> |
Every player; ordinary in-game chat line | Routine reminders and status updates | Low |
serverchatto "<Steam64ID>" <message> |
One player identified by Steam64ID | Private notices or direct administration | Low for other players |
The command names above are for ARK: Survival Evolved. ARK: Survival Ascended uses similarly named commands, but its server manager, mods and version behavior can differ. Confirm that a guide or control panel applies to Evolved before copying its settings.
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Prerequisites: enable RCON before sending anything
The server must have RCON enabled, and you need the value used as its server administrator password. In ARK: Survival Evolved, RCON configuration is held in GameUserSettings.ini under the [ServerSettings] section. The ServerAdminPassword value serves as the RCON password.
What you need
- Access to the server’s files or hosting control panel.
- Permission to edit
GameUserSettings.iniand restart the server. - The server address and RCON port shown by your host.
- The server administrator password configured for RCON.
- An RCON client that supports the Source-compatible RCON protocol, or a host-provided RCON console.
Configure the server file
- Stop the ARK server cleanly. Editing while the process is running can be overwritten when the server shuts down.
- Open
GameUserSettings.iniand locate the[ServerSettings]section. - Make sure RCON is enabled using the setting exposed by your host or server configuration. Keep the administrator password in the same server-settings configuration and treat it as a secret.
- Save the file and start, or restart, the server. RCON changes apply after a restart; a live server will not necessarily pick up the new setting.
- Record the RCON port supplied by the host. It may be separate from the port players use to join the game.
Do not publish the administrator password in a Discord channel, a public rules page or a scheduled-task description. Anyone who obtains it and can reach the RCON endpoint may be able to issue administrative commands.
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Send a broadcast with an RCON client
The exact labels vary by client, but the connection process is the same: enter the server address, RCON port and administrator password, connect, then submit the command in the console input.
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- Open your Source-compatible RCON client.
- Create a connection for the ARK server using the address and RCON port supplied by the host.
- Enter the value of
ServerAdminPasswordas the RCON password. - Connect and wait for the client to show an authenticated console. If it reports an authentication or connection error, stop here and troubleshoot the connection before sending commands.
- Type
broadcast, followed by one space and the announcement text. For example:broadcast Server restart in 10 minutes. Please return to a safe location. - Submit the command. Connected players should receive a large overlay on their screens.
Send the bare command exactly as shown. Do not type admincheat broadcast ... in an RCON console. The RCON session has already authenticated against the server, and adding an in-game cheat prefix can cause the command to fail.
Start with a harmless test
Before relying on a broadcast for a time-critical event, send a short test such as broadcast Test announcement - no action required. Verify that it appears for you and at least one other connected player. This confirms that you are connected to the intended server and that the message is visible in the expected way.
Use server chat instead of an overlay
For routine information, use serverchat:
serverchat The community event starts at 20:00 UTC.
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This posts the text to everyone’s in-game chat and is less intrusive than broadcast. It is a better fit for recurring reminders, non-urgent rule explanations and status updates that players can read when convenient.
Message one player privately
To address a single player, use that player’s Steam64ID:
serverchatto "7656119XXXXXXXXXX" Please check your private ticket.
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Replace the example value with the player’s complete Steam64ID and retain the quotation marks around the ID. This command is intended for a private message to that player rather than a server-wide announcement. Make sure you have identified the correct account before sending moderation or account-related information.
Host control panels and browser-based RCON
Some game hosts provide an RCON console inside their control panel, so you do not need to install a separate desktop client. The panel may label the feature “Panel RCON” or use a similar name. A panel implementation can have additional prerequisites: one documented setup requires the relevant mod to be installed through the host’s mod manager before its Panel RCON button becomes available. The panel then asks for the administrator password and the command to execute.
- Install any panel-required mod through the host’s mod manager, if the panel documentation says one is required.
- Restart the server when the host requires a restart for the mod or RCON configuration.
- Open the panel’s RCON console and authenticate with the server administrator password.
- Enter
broadcast Your messageorserverchat Your messagewithout anadmincheatprefix. - Check the live server for the result and close the console when finished.
Web-based RCON services for ARK: Survival Evolved can also send these commands from a browser. They still require the same server address, RCON port and password, and they should be secured with a unique account password and two-factor authentication where available. A browser interface changes the access method, not the ARK command syntax.
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Schedule recurring announcements
If players need the same reminder at regular intervals, use the host’s Scheduled Tasks feature when available. A scheduled task typically runs an RCON command at a configured time or interval.
- Open the hosting panel’s Scheduled Tasks tool.
- Create a task that executes an RCON command.
- Choose an interval that matches the purpose of the notice. Frequent overlays can become distracting, so reserve
broadcastfor information that genuinely needs attention. - Enter the complete command, for example
serverchat Scheduled restart at 03:00 UTC.Usebroadcastonly when a prominent overlay is necessary. - Save the task, enable it and run a one-time manual test if the panel supports one.
- Watch the server at the next scheduled time to confirm that the task uses the intended server and time zone.
Keep the task text free of the administrator password. The task should reference the panel’s secured RCON connection rather than placing credentials in the message or a publicly visible script.
Choosing the right command
| Situation | Use | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate restart, evacuation or outage warning | broadcast |
The large overlay is difficult to miss. |
| Routine event reminder | serverchat |
It informs everyone without covering the play view. |
| Advice for one player | serverchatto |
It limits the message to the specified Steam64ID. |
| Repeated scheduled status message | Scheduled RCON task with serverchat |
It reduces visual interruption while automating delivery. |
Write the action and timing plainly. “Restart in 10 minutes; log out safely” tells players what to do, while a vague “notice” does not. Keep urgent overlays short enough to read quickly, and put longer explanations in ordinary chat or your server’s rules channel.
Troubleshoot messages that do not appear
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The RCON client cannot connect | RCON is disabled, the address or port is wrong, or a firewall blocks access. | Confirm the RCON setting in GameUserSettings.ini, use the host-provided RCON port rather than the game-join port, check firewall or allow-list rules, then restart the server after configuration changes. |
| Authentication fails | The password does not match ServerAdminPassword, or the client is using stale credentials. |
Copy the current password exactly, remove accidental spaces, reconnect after a server restart and change the password if it may have been exposed. |
| The command is rejected | The command was entered with the wrong syntax or an unnecessary prefix. | Use broadcast Message, serverchat Message or serverchatto "Steam64ID" Message. Omit admincheat in RCON. |
| The console accepts the command but nobody sees it | You may be connected to a different server, no players are currently connected, or the client display is filtering output. | Verify the server address, ask a connected player to watch for the test message and review the RCON client’s response. |
| A scheduled message never runs | The task is disabled, its schedule uses an unexpected time zone, or its RCON connection is invalid. | Run the task manually, confirm it is enabled, inspect the configured time zone and recheck the panel’s saved RCON credentials. |
| A private message reaches the wrong person | The Steam64ID was copied incorrectly. | Confirm the complete Steam64ID before resending. Do not rely on a display name alone. |
Security and operational practices
- Use a strong, unique administrator password for the server and RCON.
- Share RCON access only with administrators who need it.
- Prefer a host allow-list or firewall restriction when the provider supports one.
- Close RCON clients and browser sessions when you finish administrative work.
- Rotate the administrator password immediately if it appears in a screenshot, log, script or public chat.
- Test announcements on the correct server before an event or restart window.
- Record the message schedule and time zone so recurring notices do not surprise players.
- Use
serverchatfor low-priority information and reservebroadcastfor messages where the visual interruption is justified.
Evolved versus Ascended: avoid mixing instructions
Search results and server-manager cheat sheets often combine ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Survival Ascended. The two games share familiar command names, including broadcast and serverchat, but server managers, mods and configuration details can differ. Before applying a tutorial, check its game title, server software and publication date. If it describes an Ascended-only manager or mod, do not assume its installation steps or panel requirements apply to an Evolved server.
For an Evolved server, the reliable workflow is still the same: enable RCON in the server configuration, restart so the change takes effect, authenticate with ServerAdminPassword, send the bare command and verify the result with a harmless test.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
- Large overlay to everyone:
broadcast Your message - Chat line to everyone:
serverchat Your message - Private message:
serverchatto "Steam64ID" Your message - Authentication: RCON uses the server’s
ServerAdminPassword - Configuration file:
GameUserSettings.ini, under[ServerSettings] - Prefix: Do not add
admincheatwhen sending through RCON - After editing: Restart the server before testing
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