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To restore an ARK: Survival Ascended server, stop the server first, preserve a copy of its current save, and then use either the host’s dated backup restore or a manual replacement of the files in arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. A complete recovery normally requires the map .ark file together with the matching player .arkprofile and tribe .arktribe files. Restoring replaces current progression, so keeping the pre-restore copy is what makes an unsuccessful rollback reversible.
What a restore does
A restore replaces the server’s present world state with an earlier set of save files. Anything created, changed, transferred or deleted after that save point can disappear. Nitrado’s ARK guide warns: “Keep in mind that this overwrites existing progression, meaning it’ll be lost.” Treat the operation as a rollback, not as an undo that merges old and new progress.
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- Tell players when maintenance will start and stop the server completely.
- Download or copy the current save before changing it.
- Choose the least disruptive recovery method that contains the state you need.
- Restore the snapshot or replace the files.
- Start the server, test the result, and keep the preserved copy until you are satisfied.
The menu names and path below are the documented Nitrado workflow. Other hosts can use different backup labels or file-manager layouts, but the save-file roles are the same.
Find the ASA save files
The default Nitrado path
On a Nitrado server, open the file browser or connect through FTP and navigate to:
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arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
Inside that location, the map directory and files identify the parts of the save:
| File or folder | What it contains | Why it matters during recovery |
|---|---|---|
Map directory, such as TheIsland_WP |
The save set for a particular map | Open the directory for the map configured on the server before replacing files. |
<MapName>.ark |
The world and map state | Contains the world that players load into; the filename must match the server’s expected map name. |
SteamID.arkprofile |
Individual player data | Preserves characters and player-specific progression when the matching files are restored. |
.arktribe |
Tribe data | Preserves tribe membership and ownership information when the matching files are included. |
Do not assume that a map file alone is a complete recovery. A world-only replacement can leave characters, tribe ownership, inventories or structures inconsistent with the intended point in time. For a full rollback, obtain the map, player and tribe files from the same backup or export.
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There are two practical restore routes on a Nitrado server. Use the first when the host already has the date you need; use the second when you have a specific save archive, an official save, or a single-player export.
| Situation | Preferred route | What it changes | Separate safety copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| The required point exists in the host’s dated snapshots | Tools > Restore Backup | Restores the server data represented by the selected snapshot | Still make a copy first; the restore overwrites current progression. |
| You received a save archive or need to upload an official or single-player save | Manual file replacement through the file browser or FTP | Replaces the selected map directory’s files with the files you upload | Copy the existing map directory before deleting or replacing anything. |
| You need to reverse a recent in-game change only | Game-internal backup, if available in the host controls | Targets the recent in-game state represented by that backup | Keep a downloaded copy because the operation can still overwrite files. |
| You need the entire server at a past date | Server backup | Rolls the whole server back to the selected date | Preserve the current files before selecting the date. |
Nitrado distinguishes game-internal backups, which are intended for reversing a recent in-game change, from server backups, which roll the whole server back to a chosen date. Select the smallest scope that fixes the problem: a whole-server rollback can remove unrelated progress made after the snapshot.
Prepare a safe rollback copy
Announce maintenance and stop the server
Tell players not to log in during the operation. In the host control panel, issue a normal stop and wait until the server is fully offline before opening or editing save files. Do not copy or delete files while the game process is still writing; an incomplete copy can be more difficult to recover than the original.
Download the current save
Use the host’s file browser download function or FTP to copy the entire relevant SavedArks folder, or at minimum the complete directory for the active map. Put the copy somewhere separate from the server, such as a local computer, external SSD or USB drive. Keep the original directory structure and filenames intact.
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Name the backup so that its purpose is obvious, for example by including the server name, map and the date you stopped the server. Do not edit this safety copy. It is the recovery path if the selected snapshot is wrong, a file is missing, or the server starts with a damaged state.
Check that the copy is complete
- There is a map
.arkfile for the configured map. - The archive includes the expected
.arkprofilefiles for players who must retain their characters. - The relevant
.arktribefiles are present when tribe ownership and membership must be preserved. - The map directory name and file names have not been changed by the download process.
If a transfer reports an error, stop and repeat the download before proceeding. Do not delete the server copy merely because one file appears to have transferred successfully.
Restore a dated Nitrado backup
Use this method when the host already offers the desired point in time. It avoids manually identifying individual files, but it still replaces the current progression.
- Notify players that the server will be unavailable and stop the server completely.
- Download or copy the current save as described above.
- Open the Nitrado server control panel.
- Open Tools > Restore Backup.
- Review the available snapshots and select the date that contains the world state you need. Check whether the control identifies the backup as a game-internal or server backup.
- Confirm the restore. Do not start the server manually while the restore is running.
- Wait for the host to complete the operation and restart the server with the restored data.
- Join only after the server reports that it is online, then perform the validation checks in the next section.
If the listed dates do not reach far enough back, cancel rather than choosing an arbitrary snapshot. Use a manual replacement from a known archive instead. The host’s restore list cannot recover a save that was never captured there.
Replace save files manually
Manual replacement is appropriate for a supplied archive, an official save, or a single-player save. The file browser and FTP are two access methods; choose whichever your host supports and you can use reliably. The underlying operation is the same.
1. Open the active map directory
- Stop the server and wait for it to be fully offline.
- Open the file browser or connect with FTP.
- Go to
arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. - Open the directory for the configured map, such as
TheIsland_WP.
2. Preserve the existing directory
Download the directory or rename it to a clearly marked backup location if the host permits that operation. A local download is preferable because it remains available if a mistaken deletion prevents the server from starting. Confirm that the copy contains the existing map, profile and tribe files before continuing.
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3. Remove only the files you intend to replace
For a complete save replacement, remove the default world file and the corresponding old player and tribe files from the active map directory after the backup is secure. Do not delete unrelated configuration files or files belonging to another map. If your archive contains only a world file, replace only the world file and understand that the existing player and tribe state will remain; that is not the same as restoring a complete historical server state.
4. Upload the replacement set
Upload the replacement map .ark, the matching .arkprofile files and the matching .arktribe files into the active map directory. Transfer all files from the same save point when possible. Mixing a new map with old profile or tribe files can produce a world that does not match player ownership or progression.
5. Correct the map filename
The uploaded map file must use the name expected by the server’s configured map. Official saves often need to be renamed before or after upload. Examples include:
| Configured map | Expected world filename |
|---|---|
| The Island | TheIsland_WP.ark |
| The Center | TheCenter_WP.ark |
| Scorched Earth | ScorchedEarth_WP.ark |
Use the exact capitalization and extension shown by the server’s existing map file. If the archive uses a different filename, rename the file rather than uploading a second world file and hoping the server selects the right one.
6. Start and test
- Confirm that the replacement files are visible in the active map directory.
- Start the server from the host panel.
- Wait until it is fully online.
- Connect with an account represented in the restored files and run the validation checklist below.
Upload a single-player or official save
The same manual process applies when moving a save from single-player or an official server to a dedicated server, but the filenames and file set need particular attention.
Use the destination map’s naming convention
Place the world file in the destination map directory and rename it to the destination server’s expected map filename. For example, a world intended for The Island should be named TheIsland_WP.ark, while The Center uses TheCenter_WP.ark. A file with a source-specific name can be present on the server yet never be loaded if it does not match the configured map name.
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Bring the associated player and tribe data
Copy the player files named with the relevant Steam IDs and the tribe files from the same save. A world file without the matching profiles can make a character appear absent or force a new character. Omitting tribe files can remove expected tribe membership or ownership. If the source does not include those files, record that limitation before starting; the destination cannot recreate their historical state from the map file alone.
Keep the source untouched
Make a separate copy of the source save before renaming or uploading files. Perform any renaming on the copy, so you can repeat the transfer if the first attempt uses the wrong map directory or filename.
Validate the restored server before reopening it
A server can start successfully while still loading the wrong map or an incomplete set of player data. Test the state deliberately before announcing that the rollback is complete.
- Map and spawn: confirm that the intended map loads and that the landscape, structures and recent world changes correspond to the selected save point.
- Character: log in with an account that existed at that point and verify that the expected character appears rather than a new survivor.
- Tribe: check tribe membership, ownership and access to shared structures.
- Structures: inspect a few important bases, storage containers and defenses.
- Inventories: check the player inventory, equipped items and representative storage.
- Recent world state: verify that the mistake or wipe you intended to undo is gone, without assuming every later change should also be present.
- Connection: have a second affected player connect if the rollback involved multiple characters or tribes.
Do not discard the pre-restore copy immediately. Keep it until the administrator and affected players have confirmed that the world, characters and tribe data are correct.
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The server loads a new or empty world
Stop the server and inspect the active map directory. The usual checks are the directory name and the world filename. Confirm that the uploaded file is in the configured map directory, has the .ark extension and uses the expected name, such as TheIsland_WP.ark. If the file was uploaded into the parent SavedArks directory or into a different map directory, move it to the correct location before restarting.
The map is correct but a character is missing
Check that the matching SteamID.arkprofile was uploaded from the same save point. A world-only upload does not carry player profiles. If the profile is present but the character is still absent, stop the server, restore the preserved pre-change copy, and verify that the archive was not mixed with files from another date.
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Tribe ownership or membership is wrong
Confirm that the relevant .arktribe files accompanied the map and profile files. Mixing a restored world with newer tribe files, or omitting the tribe files entirely, can explain ownership differences. Restore the complete matching set rather than repeatedly replacing only the map file.
The server will not start after replacement
Stop attempting new changes and return to the preserved copy. Re-upload the original directory or use the host’s backup restore to return to the known working state. Then check for an incomplete transfer, an incorrect map directory or an unintended filename change. Make one controlled change at a time and start the server after each verified file set.
The selected backup does not contain the mistake-free state
Stop the server, preserve the current result, and choose another dated snapshot or a manual archive. A restore cannot recover a point that was never included in the selected backup. Keep both the failed restore and the original pre-restore copy until you know which one is authoritative.
File browser or FTP: which should you use?
| Access method | Best use | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Host file browser | Small, deliberate replacements when the panel provides download, upload and rename controls | Confirm each operation and preserve the existing directory before deleting files. |
| FTP | Transferring a complete map directory or a larger archive when the host supports FTP access | Verify that every file finished transferring and that names and extensions were not altered. |
Neither method creates a backup automatically. The important distinction is whether you have a verified copy outside the active save directory, not which transfer interface you use.
Prevent the next destructive rollback
Keep independent copies
The host’s snapshots and your downloaded copy serve different purposes. A host snapshot is convenient for a quick rollback; a local copy remains available if the wrong snapshot is selected or the host-side files are overwritten. Keep at least one copy separate from the server and do not edit it during an emergency restore.
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Record what each copy contains
For every downloaded save, record the map, the date represented, whether it includes player and tribe files, and the reason it was captured. This prevents an administrator from mistaking a world-only export for a complete server backup.
Use the narrowest rollback
Use a game-internal backup for a recent in-game change when it contains the needed state. Use a whole-server backup when the server’s broader configuration and progression must return to a chosen date. Use manual replacement when the authoritative files exist outside the host’s snapshot list.
Communicate the point in time
Tell players exactly which rollback date was selected and ask them to report missing characters, tribe access or inventories before the safety copy is archived. A successful login alone does not prove that every affected player’s data was restored.
Operational checklist
- Maintenance announcement sent.
- Server stopped and confirmed offline.
- Current
SavedArksor active map directory downloaded separately. - Recovery route selected: dated restore or manual replacement.
- Correct map directory opened, such as
TheIsland_WP. - Map filename matches the configured map.
- Matching
.arkprofileand.arktribefiles included for a complete rollback. - Replacement completed before the server was started.
- Login, character, tribe, structures, inventories and world state tested.
- Pre-restore copy retained until players confirm the result.
Bottom line
Stop first, make a separate copy, and then choose the host snapshot or manual file set that matches the recovery you actually need. On Nitrado, the documented snapshot path is Tools > Restore Backup; manual saves live under arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. A reliable full restore uses the correctly named map .ark plus the matching Steam ID profile and tribe files, followed by a real login and ownership test. Keeping the pre-restore copy is the safeguard that turns a risky overwrite into a reversible operation.
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