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Godlike.Host offers hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
To join an ARK server by address, obtain the server’s public IP:PORT connection string and use the entry method for your PC edition. Steam uses the Steam client’s server Favorites list and normally needs the server’s query port; Epic Games Store players launch a single-player session and run open IP:PORT in ARK’s console. The server must be online, reachable through its firewall and router, and configured for your ARK edition and any intended crossplay.
What you need before entering an address
An IP address alone is not enough. Ask the server owner or hosting control panel for the complete public connection string, such as 203.0.113.25:27015. The number after the colon identifies a port, and the correct port depends on the connection method. Do not substitute a private address such as 192.168.x.x when connecting from another household; that address normally works only inside the host’s local network.
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- Public address: the internet-reachable IP supplied by the owner or host.
- Port: the exact port assigned to the server and the workflow you are using.
- Edition and build: your ARK edition must be compatible with the server’s edition and current build.
- Network access: the host’s firewall and router must permit the required traffic.
- Password: keep it available; some connections request it only after ARK has opened the server.
Server owners often change default ports when running more than one instance. Always use the owner’s supplied value rather than assuming the defaults.
Which ARK port should you use?
ARK servers use separate ports for game traffic and for server-list queries. The ARK Official Community Wiki documents these defaults:
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| Purpose | Default protocol and port | What it is used for |
|---|---|---|
| Game port | UDP 7777 | Player game traffic after a connection is established. |
| Peer port | UDP 7778 | The default peer port, normally one higher than the game port. |
| Steam query port | UDP 27015 | Server discovery and Favorites entries in Steam’s server browser. |
| RCON | TCP 27020 (optional) | Remote administration; it is not a player join port. |
For Steam Favorites, the address is commonly the server’s public IP plus its query port, for example 203.0.113.25:27015. A game port such as 7777 may be required by another workflow, but do not replace the query port with the game port unless the owner specifically tells you to. Hosts can assign non-default values, so the supplied connection string takes precedence over this table.
Join an ARK server by IP on Steam
Steam provides a direct server-browser workflow. This is usually more dependable than waiting for the in-game server list when a server is slow to appear.
Step 1: Open Steam’s server browser
- Start the Steam client and sign in to the account that owns your ARK installation.
- Open View > Servers from the Steam menu.
- Select the Favorites tab.
Step 2: Add the server
- Choose Add a Server to Favorites.
- Paste the exact public
IP:QUERYPORTsupplied by the server owner. Include the colon and do not add spaces. - Submit the address, then select Refresh so Steam queries it.
Step 3: Launch ARK from the result
When the server appears, select it and use the option to launch or join ARK. If the entry is listed but the game reports that it cannot connect, first remove and re-add the address exactly as supplied. A server can be reachable on its query port while its game port is blocked, so the owner should verify both sides of the configuration.
What to enter when the owner gives several ports
Use the query port for the Steam Favorites field. Owners may also provide a game port for troubleshooting or for a different launcher. Do not enter the optional RCON port; it is intended for administration and will not accept a player connection.
Join from the Epic Games Store version on PC
The Epic Games Store version does not provide a launcher-level direct-connect box. A support guide updated June 10, 2026 states that it “does not currently have a way to join a server directly via IP/port.” The practical workaround is an in-game console command after starting a single-player session.
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Step 1: Start a local session
- Launch ARK from the Epic Games Store.
- Start a Single Player game and wait until you are in the game world.
Step 2: Open the console
Press Tab to open the console. If Tab has been remapped, use the key assigned to the console in your controls. The command must be entered in ARK, not in the Epic launcher or a Windows command prompt.
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Type the following, replacing both placeholders with the server’s public address and its game port:
open <IP>:<PORT>For example, if the owner supplies 203.0.113.25:7777, enter:
open 203.0.113.25:7777Press Enter. ARK should attempt to leave the local session and connect to the remote server. If the server is password-protected, enter the password when ARK prompts you in-game. The Epic workflow uses the port supplied for joining; do not automatically paste Steam’s query port unless the owner confirms that it is also the game port for this server.
Steam and Epic connection methods compared
| Item | Steam (PC) | Epic Games Store (PC) |
|---|---|---|
| Where you begin | Steam client | ARK single-player session |
| Where the address is entered | View > Servers > Favorites > Add a Server to Favorites | ARK console opened in-game |
| Command or format | Paste IP:QUERYPORT |
open IP:PORT |
| Typical documented default | UDP 27015 query port | Use the supplied game-port address; the documented game default is UDP 7777 |
| Launcher-level direct connect | Server Favorites available | Not currently available; use the in-game workaround |
| Password handling | May be requested after ARK launches | Enter it in ARK if prompted |
Neither method can overcome an offline server, blocked ports, an incompatible build, or a platform configuration that excludes your client.
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- 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
Why the server does not appear or connect
The address is incomplete or incorrect
Re-copy the public IP and port from the owner’s message or control panel. Check for a missing digit, an extra space, a copied web address instead of an IP, or a port that changed after the server was restarted. If the owner supplied separate query and game ports, confirm which one belongs in your workflow.
You are using a private LAN address
An address beginning with a private-network range can work for someone connected to the same router but generally cannot be used by an internet friend. Ask the host for the public address and have the host confirm that the server is bound and advertised for external access.
The server is not running or is still starting
A Favorites query can return nothing while the instance is stopped or restarting. Ask the owner to verify that the ARK process is fully online, then refresh the Steam entry. For Epic, retry the open command only after the owner confirms that the server is ready.
Router forwarding or firewall rules are missing
For an internet-hosted dedicated server, the router may need to forward the server’s configured UDP ports to the machine running ARK, and the host firewall must allow the same traffic. The documented defaults are UDP 7777 for game traffic, UDP 7778 for the peer port, and UDP 27015 for Steam queries. If the owner changed the ports, the forwarding and firewall rules must use those changed values instead. Players cannot repair a host-side forwarding error from their own PC.
Steam’s in-game list is incomplete or slow
Use Steam’s View > Servers Favorites tab and refresh the saved entry. This bypasses the need to wait for a broad in-game listing and lets you verify the query address separately from the game connection.
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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
Epic players are looking for a direct-connect field
There is no current launcher-level IP/port field for the Epic version. Start a single-player game and use the in-game console command instead. If Tab does not open the console, check whether the key binding was changed.
The server and client editions do not match
Confirm that you and the server are running the same ARK edition and a compatible build. An accurate IP and open port cannot make incompatible editions joinable. Updates, platform versions, and server settings can all affect compatibility, so ask the owner which edition and build the instance currently expects.
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Crossplay is not configured for your platform
Crossplay is a server configuration choice, not an automatic property of an IP address. The configuration reference documents platform identifiers including PC, PS5, XSX, WINGDK, and ALL, along with crossplay-related settings and public-IP requirements for Epic clients. The owner must enable a target that includes the participating platforms and use settings compatible with the server’s edition. If crossplay is intended, ask the owner to verify those platform targets before troubleshooting your address again.
A password is rejected or never appears
Keep the password exactly as supplied, including capitalization if the server distinguishes it. Some browser-based joins do not pass the password cleanly; wait for ARK’s in-game prompt and enter it there. If the prompt never appears, disconnect, confirm the address and server status, and retry through the correct platform workflow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A host-side checklist for a server that friends cannot join
If you operate the server, work through these checks before asking players to retry:
- Copy the current public IP and the configured game and query ports from the server control panel or configuration.
- Tell Steam players the query address in
IP:QUERYPORTform, and tell Epic players the game address to use withopen IP:PORT. - Verify the ARK process is running and listening on the configured ports.
- Allow the required UDP traffic through the host firewall.
- Forward the required ports on the router to the server’s local machine when the server is behind a NAT router.
- Confirm that the public IP supplied to players is the current one and has not changed.
- Check that the server edition, build, password policy, and crossplay targets match the players you are inviting.
- Give players the exact port values if you run multiple instances; never assume that every instance uses 7777 or 27015.
RCON on TCP 27020 is optional remote administration and should not be distributed as a join address.
How to report a failed connection clearly
When support or the server owner is diagnosing a failure, provide details that distinguish an address problem from a compatibility problem:
- Your platform and ARK edition (Steam or Epic on PC, or another supported platform).
- The exact address format you entered, with sensitive passwords removed.
- Whether you used Steam Favorites or the in-game
opencommand. - The exact error text and whether the server appeared in a query result.
- Whether other players can join and whether your client recently updated.
Do not publish a server password in a public support post. The owner can use the information above to check query visibility, game-port reachability, firewall rules, and platform configuration in the right order.
Console-platform limitations
The available documentation establishes platform identifiers and crossplay settings, but it does not establish a current, universal procedure for manually typing an arbitrary IP:PORT on Xbox or PlayStation. Console interfaces and game editions can differ. Use the relevant official platform or game documentation for those clients rather than assuming that the Steam Favorites or Epic console workflow applies unchanged.
Quick decision path
- Steam PC: use View > Servers > Favorites and add the public IP with the server’s query port.
- Epic PC: start single-player, open the in-game console, and run
open IP:PORTwith the supplied game address. - No listing or timeout: re-copy the address, then have the owner check server status, firewall rules, router forwarding, and the distinction between query and game ports.
- Cross-platform attempt: verify the server’s platform and crossplay configuration before changing ports.
- Passworded server: enter the password in ARK when prompted, especially if the browser did not pass it.
The Bottom Line
Use the exact public IP:PORT supplied by the server owner: Steam enters the query address in Favorites, while Epic PC runs open IP:PORT from an in-game console. If that fails, the likely causes are a wrong port, blocked UDP traffic, an offline server, incompatible builds, or crossplay settings that do not include your platform.
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