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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 update a self-hosted ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server, stop it cleanly, back up its save and configuration files, run SteamCMD with app ID 2430930, restart with the same launch parameters, and verify that the server and client report matching builds. The repeatable command is steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit.
An update replaces server files; it does not normally require rebuilding your world when the save and configuration data are preserved. The safest process treats every update as a maintenance event with a dated backup and a connection test before you announce completion.
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What the update actually changes
ARK: Survival Ascended has separate client and dedicated-server software. SteamCMD downloads the server build into the installation directory; it does not update a running process in place. Your world, tribes, players, settings, logs, and cluster information live under ShooterGame/Saved, so those files must be protected independently of the executable files being replaced.
A successful file download is not the same as a completed maintenance window. The server must be stopped, the intended directory must be updated, the original launch parameters must be restored, and a client must connect to the restarted instance. A mismatch can persist when the client and server releases are different, when a provider deployment is still propagating, or when an update has been reverted.
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- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
Before you start: maintenance checklist
Use this checklist before every update, including small patches:
- Tell players when the server will be unavailable and allow time for a clean shutdown.
- Record the current server version, map, ports, cluster settings, enabled mods, and launch command.
- Prepare storage outside the live installation directory for a dated backup.
- Confirm that you can access the host account that runs SteamCMD and the account that starts the server.
- Have the existing launch script and both configuration files available:
Game.iniandGameUserSettings.ini. - Plan a post-update connection test with a client on the same intended build.
Do not run SteamCMD against a live server process. Open files can remain locked, and a save may be written while binaries are being replaced. Stop the server through the normal administrative method and wait until its process has fully exited before continuing.
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Files to copy
Create a folder named with the date and update, such as 2026-10-15-pre-update, somewhere outside the ASA installation directory. Copy the complete ShooterGame/Saved directory. The ARK Official Community Wiki identifies this tree as containing world, tribe, player, configuration, log, and cluster data.
Also copy the files that determine how the server starts and behaves:
Game.iniGameUserSettings.ini- Your launch script or service definition
- A record of the enabled mod list and its load order
Keep the directory structure intact in the backup. A partial copy of one character file or one map file is not an adequate rollback point because the saved world and its related player, tribe, and cluster data need to remain consistent.
Validate the backup
Check that the copy finished, that the backup is readable, and that its timestamp is before the update began. Do not store the only backup inside the directory SteamCMD will modify. If the update fails, an external copy is what lets you restore the previous state without reconstructing the world.
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- 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!)
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Update a self-hosted server with SteamCMD
1. Stop the server completely
Announce the maintenance start, stop the ASA process cleanly, and wait for it to disappear from the host’s process list or service manager. If SteamCMD reports locked files, return to this step rather than deleting files or repeatedly forcing the update.
2. Run the dedicated-server update command
Run SteamCMD with the absolute path to the server installation:
steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit
2430930 is the ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated-server Steam application ID identified by the ARK Official Community Wiki. Replace <install_dir> with the real path on your host; the angle-bracket text is a placeholder, not something to type literally. The validate argument asks SteamCMD to check the installed files while applying the update.
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Use the same command whenever a new server build is released. Do not point it at a backup directory or at a second test installation unless that is intentional. An incorrect path can produce a successful SteamCMD session while leaving the live server unchanged.
3. Read the SteamCMD result
Watch the output until SteamCMD exits. Confirm that it operated on the intended installation directory and completed the application update. If files are still locked, verify again that the server process and any wrapper service have stopped, then rerun the command. Avoid deleting executables or the Saved directory to “fix” a lock; those actions can remove the very data needed for recovery.
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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. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- 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!)
- Gather Resources, 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 style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- 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
4. Start with the existing launch parameters
Restart the server using the launch script and parameters recorded before maintenance. Preserve the map, query and game ports, cluster options, mods, and configuration paths. ASA server setup documentation specifies the port form -port=<port>. If you use ?port=<port> instead, the server defaults to port 7777, which can make an apparently healthy server unreachable on its normal port.
Do not use the update as an opportunity to change several unrelated settings. If a new map, port, or mod is needed, make that a separate, documented change so a connection problem can be attributed to one cause.
5. Verify the running instance
Wait for the server to finish starting, then check the displayed patch or build number and connect with a client. Confirm that the expected map loads, the server appears on the intended port, and a test character can see the expected world state. Only after this test should you tell players that maintenance is complete.
How to handle an “outdated server” or version mismatch
Compare exact build numbers first
An “outdated server” or version-mismatch message generally means that the client and server are not on the same recent build. Check the patch number shown by the client and the number reported by the running server. Do not repeatedly reinstall files without comparing those values; the numbers tell you which side is actually behind.
When the server is behind
- Stop the server and create the dated backup described above.
- Run the SteamCMD command against the live installation directory.
- Wait for SteamCMD to finish and resolve any file-lock issue.
- Restart with the unchanged launch parameters.
- Check the server build and test a connection.
If the number now matches the client, the mismatch was a normal delayed server update. If it does not, continue with the release-status checks rather than deleting saves or configuration files.
When the client is behind
Allow the client platform to finish its own game update, then restart the client before testing again. Updating only the server cannot make an older client connect to a newer server build.
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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
Separate releases and reverted deployments
Recent ASA patch-note postings show that server and client builds can be released separately and that a deployment can sometimes be reverted. If both sides have been updated but their exact numbers still differ, an official rollout may be propagating or may have been rolled back. In that situation, waiting for the matching build is safer than cycling through repeated reinstalls. Check the current client and server numbers again after the release state settles.
Mods after a version change
Once the base client and server numbers match, check the enabled mod list and load order. A mod that has not yet caught up to the new build can prevent a start or block a connection even when the core versions agree. Restore the recorded mod configuration first; change or disable one mod at a time only when its compatibility is the specific issue you are diagnosing.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
The update mechanics differ depending on who controls the machine. Self-hosting uses the SteamCMD workflow above. A managed provider operates the update process for you, so you normally wait for its deployment and use its panel or support process when the versions do not match.
| Decision point | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Update timing | You choose when to stop the process, run SteamCMD, and restart. | The provider pushes the update; Nitrado says ASA updates are typically pushed within three hours of release. |
| File and launch control | Direct control over the installation directory, launch parameters, configuration, and mod files. | Control depends on the provider’s panel and policies. |
| Backup responsibility | You create and verify dated copies of ShooterGame/Saved and configuration files. |
The provider may offer backup features, but you must confirm what is retained and how it is restored. |
| Troubleshooting access | You can inspect SteamCMD output, file locks, scripts, and processes directly. | You generally diagnose from the panel’s version information and provider guidance. |
| Mod-management control | You maintain the enabled list, order, and compatibility checks. | Mod controls are exposed through the provider’s tools and may be more limited. |
The trade-off is operational control versus administration. A self-hosted administrator can schedule an update around players and keep an immediate local rollback copy, but must perform every stop, backup, update, and verification step. Managed hosting removes the manual SteamCMD task, while the server may remain on a mismatched build until the provider’s deployment window completes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Rollback when an update fails
Recognize a failed update
Rollback is appropriate when the server will not start after the update, the world fails to load, critical settings have changed unexpectedly, or a confirmed build problem leaves players unable to connect. First record the SteamCMD output, server error, current build number, and time of failure. That information helps distinguish a bad file update from a mod or launch-parameter problem.
Return to the pre-update state
- Stop the server again and prevent an automatic restart while you restore files.
- Keep the failed installation directory intact or rename it so it can be inspected later.
- Restore the dated backup’s complete
ShooterGame/Savedtree and the backed-up configuration files to the live location, preserving their directory structure. - Restore the recorded launch script and mod list.
- Start the server with the same map, ports, cluster settings, and other parameters used before the update.
- Check the running version and test a client connection before reopening the server.
A backup restores your data and settings; it does not by itself select an older server executable. If the failure is caused by a bad or reverted official build, monitor the client and server release numbers and apply the matching release when it becomes available. Do not claim a rollback is complete until both the files and the connection test are successful.
Common failure modes and precise fixes
SteamCMD says files are locked
The usual cause is a still-running ASA process or wrapper service. Stop the server, wait for the process to exit fully, and rerun SteamCMD. Check scheduled tasks or service managers that may immediately relaunch the process.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe update completed but players still see “outdated server”
Compare the exact client and server build numbers. Restart the server after SteamCMD finishes, then check whether a separate client release, delayed provider deployment, or reverted build explains the difference.
The server starts on the wrong port
Review the launch script for the documented -port=<port> syntax. The alternative ?port=<port> causes a default of 7777, so a server can be running while clients continue to target the old port.
The world appears reset
Stop the server before making further changes. Confirm that the launch script points to the intended installation and that the complete backed-up ShooterGame/Saved directory is present. Do not overwrite the only backup with files from the apparently empty session.
A mod prevents startup after the update
Confirm that the base server and client builds match, then compare the enabled mod list with the pre-update record. Test changes one at a time so you know which mod or load-order change caused the failure.
Post-update verification checklist
Use these checks in order:
- SteamCMD completed against the intended absolute installation path.
- The server process is running from the updated installation.
- The displayed server build matches the client build.
- The expected map and world state load.
- The configured game and query ports are active; the launch script uses
-port=<port>where required. - Cluster settings and transfer behavior remain as expected.
- The recorded mods are enabled in the intended order and do not produce startup errors.
- A test client can connect, load a character, and observe the preserved world.
Keep the pre-update backup until the server has passed these checks and remained stable through normal play. Then make the next dated backup before the next update rather than replacing the old copy immediately.
Key facts to keep with your server notes
- The dedicated-server Steam app ID is 2430930.
- The repeatable update operation is
app_update 2430930 validaterun against the server installation directory. ShooterGame/Savedis the critical data tree for world, tribe, player, configuration, logs, and cluster information.- Managed ASA updates may take up to about three hours after release according to Nitrado’s guidance.
- Client and server builds can be released separately or reverted, making exact version comparison more reliable than repeated reinstalls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating wipe my ARK: Survival Ascended server?
The update replaces server files, while the world and player data are stored in ShooterGame/Saved. Stop the server and back up that complete directory, both configuration files, the launch script, and the mod list before updating so you can restore the pre-update state if necessary.
What SteamCMD command updates an ASA dedicated server?
Run steamcmd +force_install_dir <install_dir> +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit, replacing the placeholder with the server’s absolute installation path and ensuring the server process is stopped first.
Why does my server still show as outdated after SteamCMD finishes?
Compare the exact client and server build numbers, restart the server after SteamCMD completes, and check whether the client and server were released separately, a provider update is still propagating, or an official deployment was reverted.
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