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ARK: Survival Evolved reads the name shown in the server browser from the SessionName setting. Change that value either in the server’s launch parameters or in GameUserSettings.ini, depending on how your server starts. Linux and Windows use different configuration folders, and a launch script, systemd unit, or hosting panel can override an INI edit.
For the most predictable result, identify the source that starts your server, change SessionName there, restart the server, and verify the new name in the browser or a direct connection.
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What controls the displayed ARK server name?
The browser-facing name is controlled by the SessionName value. It is not a separate hostname field in the game client. A server can therefore have a perfectly valid network address while still showing an old or generic name if SessionName was not changed in the active startup configuration.
There are two practical places to set it:
- Launch parameters: the value is supplied when the dedicated-server executable starts.
GameUserSettings.ini: the value is read from the server configuration file.
Use the method that matches your installation. If both are present, the startup command may take precedence or rewrite the value, so a file edit alone may not persist.
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Identify how your server is started
Before changing anything, determine which of these arrangements applies:
- Self-hosted Linux: you may launch the server from a shell script, a terminal command, or a systemd service.
- Self-hosted Windows: the server may start from a shortcut, batch file, scheduled task, or a management tool.
- Rented server with a control panel: the panel may expose a server-name field or provide an advanced file editor.
Look at the command or startup script that actually launches the server. If it contains SessionName=, change that occurrence first. If it does not, inspect the applicable GameUserSettings.ini file. Make a backup before editing so you can restore the previous configuration if the server fails to start.
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The dedicated-server documentation uses this pattern, with the map name followed by query-style options:
TheIsland?listen?SessionName=Your_Server_Name?ServerPassword=join_password?ServerAdminPassword=admin_passwordTheIsland is the map in this example. Replace it with the map your server uses. Replace the session name and password values with your own settings. The name is the part immediately following SessionName=.
Linux launch example
A Linux command commonly places the map and options after the server executable and adds server logging switches:
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./ShooterGameServer TheIsland?listen?SessionName=Coastal_Explorers?ServerPassword=join_password?ServerAdminPassword=admin_password -server -logThe exact executable path and wrapper script differ between installations. Keep the options in the same argument passed to the server process. If your existing command already includes Port, QueryPort, or MaxPlayers, append them with additional question-mark-separated options, for example:
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Windows startup files
On Windows, the same parameter string may be in a shortcut’s target field, a .bat file, a scheduled-task action, or a server manager. Edit the command that launches the dedicated server, save it, and start the server through that same mechanism. Editing a shortcut while a batch file or scheduled task is the real startup source will not change the active configuration.
Use a name that survives command-line parsing
Keep the value concise while testing. Underscores are safer than spaces in a complex command line. If you use spaces or punctuation, follow the quoting rules of the launcher or panel that runs your command. Some hosting panels have reported problems saving very long names or descriptions in custom command fields; shorten the name if the panel refuses to save it.
Method 2: Edit GameUserSettings.ini
The file location depends on the operating system:
| Operating system | Path beneath the ARK server directory |
|---|---|
| Linux | ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
| Windows | ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
Open the file with a plain-text editor. Search for SessionName before adding a new line. Keeping one active definition avoids confusion when a panel or script reads the file.
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Choose the section already used by your file
Published ARK guidance is not consistent about the section heading. The dedicated-server wiki describes server options under [ServerSettings], while another guide places SessionName under [SessionSettings]. Because this distinction can vary with the server build or management method, inspect the existing file and follow the section where your installation already stores session-related options.
The setting itself has this form:
SessionName=Coastal ExplorersIf spaces cause problems in your editor or launcher, use a simpler value such as SessionName=Coastal_Explorers. Do not put the setting outside a section, duplicate it in multiple sections, or add quotation marks unless your existing file uses them.
Save without changing the file type
Save the file as GameUserSettings.ini, not as a second extension such as .ini.txt. Preserve the surrounding settings and line endings. A missing section header, accidental rich-text formatting, or an extra character in the key can prevent the server from reading the value.
Method 3: Servers managed by systemd
For a systemd-managed server, the dedicated-server wiki recommends using GameUserSettings.ini for settings. This keeps configuration separate from the service definition and makes routine changes easier to audit.
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- Find the service unit used by your ARK server with your distribution’s service-listing tools.
- Stop the service using that unit name before editing, if your operating procedure allows a maintenance stop.
- Back up the active
GameUserSettings.inifile. - Edit
SessionNamein the appropriate section. - Start the same service again and inspect its status or log output for a startup error.
Also inspect the unit’s ExecStart line and any wrapper script. If it contains a second SessionName= option, that command-line value can override the file. In that case, change the unit or wrapper as well as the INI, or remove the duplicate so there is one intentional source of truth.
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Changing the name in a hosting control panel
Panel interfaces differ, so labels and menu locations are not universal. Some panels provide a basic server-settings form; others expose an advanced editor for GameUserSettings.ini or a custom command line.
Basic settings form
- Open the server’s configuration or startup-settings page.
- Look for a field labelled Server name, Session name, or similar.
- Enter the new value and save the settings.
- Restart the server from the panel, not merely the game client.
If the panel offers both a basic field and an advanced command editor, the advanced startup command may win when the server launches. Check that it does not still contain an older SessionName.
Advanced file editor
- Open the file manager or configuration editor.
- Navigate to the operating-system-specific
GameUserSettings.inipath. - Find the existing
SessionNameline, or add it to the section used by the rest of your session settings. - Save, then restart the server.
Panel documentation can lag behind interface changes. If a field is missing, use the panel’s file editor or startup-command view rather than assuming the setting is unavailable.
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An old name after a restart usually means another configuration source is active. Check these locations in order:
- The launch command or batch script for a second
SessionName=. - A systemd unit or wrapper script that constructs the startup command.
- A hosting panel’s custom command or generated configuration.
- Duplicate
SessionNamelines inGameUserSettings.ini. - The possibility that you edited a staging, backup, or different operating-system folder instead of the file used by the running instance.
Make one change at a time, restart, and record which source contains the final value. This prevents a panel regeneration or scripted launch from silently restoring the previous name.
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Restart and verify the new name
The server must load the changed setting during startup. Restart the dedicated server after saving the command or file. A client reconnecting to an already-running process can continue to see the old browser entry because it has not caused the server to reload its configuration.
Verify in two ways:
- Refresh the ARK server browser and search for the exact new name. Filtering by map, player count, or address can help distinguish the correct server from similarly named entries.
- Connect using the server’s direct address or saved favorite, then confirm the session details show the intended name.
Some server-management guides report that the browser can take a few minutes to display a name after a restart. Treat that as an approximation rather than a guaranteed delay; query and listing services can update at different times. If the direct connection works but the browser still shows the old entry, wait for the listing to refresh before changing the configuration again.
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| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The old name returns after every restart. | A launch script, service unit, or panel rewrites the value. | Search every startup source for SessionName= and remove or update the duplicate. |
| The server starts, but the name does not change. | The wrong configuration file or section was edited. | Confirm the LinuxServer/WindowsServer path and use the section already present in your file. |
| The server fails to start after editing. | A malformed command, missing separator, or damaged INI syntax. | Restore the backup, then reapply only the SessionName change and preserve existing punctuation. |
| The panel will not save the custom command. | The name or description is too long for that panel’s command-field limits. | Shorten the value and retry, or use the panel’s INI editor. |
| The browser shows two entries. | The old instance is still running, or the listing has not expired. | Confirm only one server process is active and allow the listing to refresh. |
| A setting such as player capacity behaves unexpectedly after an INI edit. | Some launch-type options may be applied only from the command line in particular setups. | Check whether the option is present in the active startup command; do not assume every launch parameter belongs in the INI. |
Naming and security considerations
SessionName is visible to people browsing or joining the server. Do not place private contact details, administrative notes, passwords, or API keys in the name. Keep passwords in their dedicated options or secure panel fields, and avoid pasting a complete command containing credentials into a public support forum or shared script repository.
Use a stable naming convention if you operate several maps or instances, such as a community name followed by the map or region. Changing the name does not change the server’s address, save data, player database, map, ports, or administrator password.
Cross-platform checklist
| Check | Linux self-hosted | Windows self-hosted | Panel-hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary location | Launch script, systemd unit, or LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
Shortcut, batch file, task, or WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
Panel field, custom command, or panel file editor |
| Value to change | SessionName |
SessionName |
Server/session-name field or SessionName |
| Section caution | Follow the section already used in the file | Follow the section already used in the file | Panel may generate its own section or command |
| After saving | Restart the service or launch script | Restart the dedicated-server process | Use the panel’s restart control |
| Verification | Browser listing, direct address, and service logs | Browser listing, direct address, and process output | Browser listing and panel status/logs |
Version and configuration caveat
ARK server guides do not always target the same game build or management stack. The exact INI section, panel labels, and generated startup syntax can change. If your installed version uses a different configuration layout, trust the existing file structure and the command that actually starts your server. The durable concept is that the displayed name comes from SessionName; the correct place to edit it is the source loaded by your particular server.
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