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Set an ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) Message of the Day (MOTD) either in your hosting panel or directly in GameUserSettings.ini. On a Nitrado-hosted server, stop the server, open Settings > General, enter the text in Message Of The Day, choose the custom broadcast duration, save, and start the server. On a self-managed Linux or Windows server, stop the process, add a [MessageOfTheDay] section to GameUserSettings.ini, save it, and restart.
The MOTD is shown to a player once after login and is useful for rules, event times, coordinates, Discord details, support instructions, and other information new arrivals need immediately. The configuration reference documents Duration as an integer number of seconds, with a default of 20, and uses the literal two-character sequence n for line breaks in Message.
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MOTD means Message Of The Day. ASA displays the configured message to a player once after login. Nitrado describes it as a chat broadcast that everyone can view, while the ARK configuration reference describes it as a message shown once to a player after login.
Because it appears at the start of a session, the MOTD is best for information that is immediately actionable rather than for a long rulebook. Typical uses include server rules, a current wipe or event schedule, useful map locations, starter guidance, community information, and instructions for reporting exploits or contacting an administrator.
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What the setting controls
- Message: The text players see after logging in.
- Duration: How many seconds the message remains visible. The documented default is 20 seconds.
- Line breaks: The message accepts the literal sequence
nto start a new line.
The setting is part of the server configuration; the documented procedures do not require a mod or a client-side installation.
Which way should I set the MOTD?
Use the hosting-panel method when your provider exposes a Message Of The Day field. Use the INI method when you administer the dedicated server yourself or have direct access to its files. Both methods change the same server-side behavior, but the available labels and file permissions differ.
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| Workflow | Best for | Procedure | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting panel | Nitrado customers and administrators who want a guided interface | Stop the server, open Settings > General, edit Message Of The Day and duration, save, then start | Simple and low-risk, but labels depend on the host and its current interface |
| Direct INI edit | Self-managed Linux or Windows dedicated servers and hosts with file access | Stop the server, edit [MessageOfTheDay] in GameUserSettings.ini, save, and restart |
Works without a panel, but requires correct paths, syntax, and permissions |
Do not edit the file while the game server is running. The configuration reference warns that live changes can be removed, and the panel workflow also expects the server to be stopped before saving.
How do I set the MOTD in the Nitrado web interface?
For a Nitrado ASA instance, the complete path is Settings > General > Message Of The Day. Stop the correct server first, save the text and duration, and start that same instance again.
- Stop the server. Open the Nitrado web interface, select the ASA server you intend to change, and use its stop control. Wait until the status confirms that the server is offline before editing settings.
- Open the general settings. In the server navigation, choose Settings, then choose General. The exact appearance of the menu can change as the provider updates its panel, so verify that you are editing the intended ASA instance.
- Enter the message. Find the field labeled Message Of The Day and type the text players should see after login. Keep the most important rule, event time, or contact method near the beginning because the message is intended for quick reading.
- Set the custom broadcast duration. Enter the number of seconds the panel should keep the message visible. The configuration reference’s documented default is 20 seconds; choose a value that gives players enough time to read your content without making the login experience cumbersome.
- Save and start. Click Save Changes, then start the ASA server. Allow the server to finish loading before testing with a player connection.
What should I check before saving in the panel?
- Confirm the server name, instance, and map shown in the panel are the ones you intend to modify.
- Check that the duration is numeric rather than text or a formatted time such as “00:20.”
- Read the message once in the field to catch accidental line breaks, missing URLs, or a rule that has become outdated.
- Save before starting; restarting without saving can leave the previous MOTD active.
Nitrado’s 2023 guide describes this feature as “Message Of The Day” or MOTD and gives the stop, edit, duration, save, and start sequence. Panel labels may move in a later interface revision, but the underlying task remains the same.
How do I set the MOTD by editing GameUserSettings.ini?
On a self-managed dedicated server, place the setting in GameUserSettings.ini under a section named exactly [MessageOfTheDay]. Stop the server before opening the file and restart it after saving so the configuration is read cleanly.
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Find the correct file
The ARK configuration reference lists these dedicated-server locations:
- Linux:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini - Windows:
ShooterGameSavedConfigWindowsServerGameUserSettings.ini
If your installation uses a custom root directory, locate the same relative path inside that installation. A control panel may provide a file browser instead of a normal operating-system path; in that case, open the server’s configuration directory and select the file for the ASA instance you stopped.
Enter a minimal valid section
[MessageOfTheDay]
Duration=20
Message=Welcome! Read the rules in Discord.nHave fun and report issues to an admin.The section header, key names, and equals signs must be preserved. Duration is an integer number of seconds. Message is unquoted text; use n where a new line should begin. The example’s 20-second value is the documented default, not a requirement that every server use 20 seconds.
Follow the file-edit sequence
- Stop ASA completely. Shut down the dedicated-server process or use the hosting panel’s stop command. Editing a live file can be overwritten when the server writes its current configuration.
- Back up the file. Make a copy of
GameUserSettings.inibefore changing it. A backup gives you a quick recovery path if another setting is accidentally removed or malformed. - Open the file in a plain-text editor. Use the file for the server instance you stopped, not a client configuration file or another map’s directory.
- Add or update the section. Create one
[MessageOfTheDay]header and putDurationandMessageon their own lines. If the section already exists, edit its values instead of creating a second copy. - Save as plain text. Keep the filename and the
.iniextension unchanged. Do not wrap the message in quotation marks. - Start or restart the server. Wait for the server to complete startup, then connect and verify the message and its display time.
How should I format the Message and Duration values?
Use conservative INI syntax: one key per line, an integer for the duration, and an unquoted message. Most MOTD failures come from a misspelled section, a non-numeric duration, or a line-break escape that was entered incorrectly.
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The header must be exactly [MessageOfTheDay], including capitalization and brackets. Put Duration and Message below that header, each on its own line. A header such as [Message of the Day] is a different section and will not match the documented setting.
Duration values
Duration represents seconds and must be an integer. The reference documents 20 seconds as the default. A value such as 30 means thirty seconds; values written as 30s, 00:30, or words are not the documented format. The reference does not define special behavior for zero or negative values, so use a positive whole number unless your current server documentation says otherwise.
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Message text and new lines
Leave the message unquoted. To split one MOTD into multiple lines, type a backslash followed by a lowercase n—the literal two-character sequence n. Do not press Enter in the middle of the value unless your editor or host explicitly documents multiline INI values; a physical line break can make the following text look like a separate, invalid setting.
A practical example
[MessageOfTheDay]
Duration=30
Message=Welcome to North Valley ASA!nNo offline raiding.nCommunity events: Saturday 19:00 UTC.nReport exploits to an admin in Discord.This example keeps each instruction short enough to scan during login. Replace the sample rules, time, and contact details with information that is true for your server; do not copy a policy that does not apply to your community.
What information belongs in an effective ASA MOTD?
A useful MOTD answers the questions a newly connected player has before they start playing: what rules apply, what is happening now, where to get help, and what to do if something goes wrong. Keep the message short, divide it into lines, and put time-sensitive information where you can update it easily.
Rules players must know immediately
- State the one or two rules whose violation causes the most disputes, such as raid restrictions or conduct standards.
- Use plain language and avoid abbreviations that new players may not understand.
- If the full rule set is elsewhere, name the location rather than pasting every clause into the MOTD.
Events, wipes, and updates
- Give the event name and a time zone when announcing an event.
- Identify a wipe, season change, or major update with its effective date or status.
- Remove expired announcements so returning players do not act on stale information.
Locations and starter guidance
- Share a useful landmark, starter area, or supply location when that information is safe to publish.
- Tell newcomers what to do first, such as where to read rules or how to request help.
- Include a community or Discord address only if it is current and your server permits external contact.
Support and exploit reporting
- Name the preferred support channel and the people or role that monitors it.
- Explain how to report an exploit without publishing details that could help someone reproduce it.
- Set expectations about what information an administrator needs, such as a player name, location, and approximate time.
Why is my MOTD not appearing?
Check the configuration in a fixed order: file or panel instance, server state during editing, exact syntax, save operation, and login timing. The following checks address the documented failure modes without changing unrelated server settings.
The wrong server or map was edited
Hosting panels can contain several servers or maps. Confirm the instance name before editing and again before starting it. For a self-managed installation, verify that the path belongs to the ASA dedicated server you actually launch; a correctly formatted section in another installation will have no effect.
The section header is wrong
Open the file and compare the header character for character with [MessageOfTheDay]. Remove duplicate or misspelled headers, then keep one section containing one Duration and one Message entry.
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The value format is invalid
Replace a duration containing letters, punctuation, or a time format with a positive whole number. Remove quotation marks around the message and replace any intended line breaks with the literal n sequence.
The edit was made while the server was running
Stop the server, make the change again, save it, and start the server. If the server writes its configuration during shutdown or startup, a live edit may have been replaced by the older values.
The panel change was not saved
Return to Settings > General, confirm that the message and duration are still present, and click Save Changes before starting. If the field reverted, check that you selected the intended server instance and that your account has permission to change its settings.
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The message was tested without a fresh login
The feature is described as displaying once after login. Connect with a player account after the server has restarted rather than expecting the message to remain continuously visible in an existing session.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I update or remove an existing MOTD?
Use the same workflow that created it. Stop the server, replace the text or duration in the panel or INI section, save, and restart; then test with a new login.
Updating a panel-managed MOTD
- Stop the correct ASA instance.
- Open Settings > General.
- Edit Message Of The Day and the custom broadcast duration.
- Click Save Changes.
- Start the server and connect after startup completes.
Updating an INI-managed MOTD
- Stop the dedicated-server process.
- Open the existing
[MessageOfTheDay]section in the appropriate Linux or Windows path. - Change only the
DurationorMessagelines you intend to change. - Save the file without changing its name or extension.
- Restart and test with a fresh login.
Removing the message
If you no longer want an announcement, remove the contents of the Message value or remove the entire MOTD section only when you understand how your host handles an empty setting. Keep a backup and verify the result after restart; the configuration reference does not specify a separate “disable” switch or the behavior of an empty message.
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What limitations should server administrators keep in mind?
The available references document the setting and its editing procedures, not an independent performance test or a success-rate measurement. There is no published evidence here that changing the MOTD affects server performance, tick rate, or player retention.
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Panel labels and ASA behavior can change with game or host updates. If a future Nitrado interface no longer uses the exact Settings > General path, look for the server’s general configuration and a Message Of The Day field, or use the documented INI location when you have direct file access. Before maintaining a production server, compare the current interface and configuration reference with the version you run.
The MOTD is a short login announcement, not a replacement for persistent rules, moderation tools, or an in-game help system. Put durable policies in a location players can revisit and reserve the MOTD for the small set of facts that must be seen when a session begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the MOTD appear only for brand-new players?
The configuration reference describes it as appearing once to a player after login, not explicitly as a first-join-only notice. It does not define the exact reconnect or relog behavior, so test with a normal player account on the ASA version and host you operate.
What should I do if my hosting panel has no Message Of The Day field?
Panel labels and feature placement vary by provider and can change after interface updates. If your host gives you file access, use the server’s GameUserSettings.ini and add the documented [MessageOfTheDay] section; otherwise ask the host which configuration screen replaces the general-settings field.
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The reference specifies that Duration is an integer number of seconds but does not document special handling for zero or negative values. Use a positive value for predictable behavior, or remove the announcement through your panel or configuration after keeping a backup.
Why does a physical line break in my INI value cause problems?
The documented format uses the literal n sequence inside the unquoted Message value. A physical newline can make the following text look like another INI entry, so keep the value on one line and insert n where the display should break.
Where can I keep the full rules if the MOTD is too short?
Use the MOTD to point players to a durable rules page, Discord channel, or other support location, then keep the announcement itself focused on the rules and contacts that matter at login. Update that destination when your policies change so the short message does not become stale.
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