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In ARK, a non-dedicated server is a multiplayer session hosted directly from one player’s game client. The host’s computer runs the world while the other players join it, so there is no separate server process or hosting bill. The trade-off is important: the host must remain in the game, and players are constrained by a tether distance around the host.
That makes a non-dedicated session a practical choice for a small group that explores together. It is a poor fit for players who want to split up across the map, use extensive customisation, or keep the world available when the host is offline.
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How a non-dedicated ARK session works
When you start a non-dedicated session, ARK runs the multiplayer world from the same client you use to play. Your machine supplies the processing, memory, storage and network connection for the session; every invited player connects to that host.
This differs from a dedicated server, which runs as a separate server process. A dedicated process does not belong to an individual player’s active game session, so it can continue running while nobody is playing and does not pull every player toward one host.
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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
The host is also the session owner
The player who launches the non-dedicated session is the host. If that player quits to the menu, closes the game, loses the connection or shuts down the computer, the session stops for everyone. Other players cannot keep the world running on their own.
It is a session, not a permanently available world
Players often call this arrangement a “non-dedicated server,” but some ARK community discussions distinguish it from a “non-dedicated session.” In practical terms, the game’s host-non-dedicated option creates a shared session whose lifetime depends on the host. The terminology debate does not change how the feature behaves.
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| Factor | Non-dedicated session | Dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Inside one player’s ARK game client | As a separate server process |
| Availability | Only while the host is online and in the session | Can remain online with no player connected |
| Player movement | Players are limited by a host tether | No host tether |
| Cost | No separate hosting payment; the host supplies the machine and connection | Uses a spare computer or a rented server, which may add hardware or hosting cost |
| Customisation | Basic shared-play setup; extensive changes can be awkward | Normally preferred for mods and detailed server settings |
| Save location | Uses the host’s local multiplayer save | Uses the dedicated instance’s own save; a local dedicated instance is separate from single-player |
Neither option is universally better. The right choice depends on whether your group values free, simple setup or independent movement and persistent uptime.
What the tether does
The defining limitation of a non-dedicated session is the tether. Players must stay within a certain distance of the host. If someone travels too far away, ARK pulls that player, nearby creatures and sometimes structures back toward the host rather than allowing the group to remain spread across the map.
The tether reduces the amount of world simulation the host machine must handle. It is therefore a performance safeguard as well as a gameplay restriction. A powerful host may tolerate more activity, but hardware alone does not turn a non-dedicated session into an untethered server.
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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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How far is the default tether?
Community hosting material commonly describes a default of roughly 200 to 250 metres, but that figure is not an official Studio Wildcard specification and may vary by game version, platform or configuration. Treat it as an approximate community observation, not a guaranteed distance.
ARK: Survival Ascended must not be used as a substitute for ARK: Survival Evolved when discussing this limit. A 2023 Survival Ascended community thread reports a value locked to 180 metres, while Survival Evolved reports differ. No single figure has been established for every edition and platform.
Can you increase or remove it?
On PC, community guides describe changing ListenServerTetherDistanceMultiplier in the [ServerSettings] section of GameUserSettings.ini. Increasing the multiplier can let players move farther apart, but it does not create the same operating model as a dedicated server. Forum reports warn that high values can increase lag or cause crashes on weaker hosts.
Console players report no equivalent workaround. Because settings and limits differ between Survival Evolved and Survival Ascended, identify the game, platform and current build before applying an instruction copied from a forum or guide. Keep a backup of the configuration file and test a change with a copy of the save when possible.
When a non-dedicated session is the right choice
A small group that plays together
Non-dedicated hosting works well when two or more friends normally travel as one expedition: gathering resources in the same area, taming creatures together and building a shared base. The tether is less disruptive when everyone stays near the host.
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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
Players trying ARK for the first time
If your group is still learning the survival, crafting and exploration systems, a non-dedicated session avoids server administration. You can begin without renting infrastructure or learning a separate server tool. The host starts the session, invites the group and can stop when the play session ends.
A zero-budget experiment
There is no separate paid hosting requirement. The real costs are the host’s existing computer, internet connection, electricity and the performance impact of running ARK and hosting at the same time. For an occasional weekend session, that trade-off can be worthwhile.
A temporary cooperative world
Use this model when the world only needs to exist while the group is actively playing. It is especially suitable for a planned co-op campaign where one person reliably hosts each session and everyone accepts that progress is unavailable when that person is away.
When you should choose a dedicated server instead
Your players want to split up
Mining, scouting and building in distant regions quickly exposes the tether. A dedicated server removes that host-centered movement restriction, allowing each player to work independently while remaining in the same persistent world.
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A dedicated instance can continue running when no one is connected. That matters when players have different schedules, want taming or resource processes to continue, or simply expect to join without waiting for the host to launch the game.
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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
You need mods or detailed rules
Dedicated hosting is normally the better foundation for mods, custom rates and other server-side settings. Administration still requires compatibility checks, updates and backups, but the configuration is designed around a separate server process rather than one player’s active client.
You have a spare computer
Dedicated does not automatically mean rented. A sufficiently capable spare PC can run the server process on your own network. ARK can also run a dedicated instance alongside single-player on the same computer, and that dedicated instance uses a separate save file from the single-player game. You still need to account for CPU, memory, storage, network bandwidth and the practical challenge of keeping the machine powered on.
How to start a non-dedicated session
Menu wording can differ between ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended and platforms, but the workflow is consistent:
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- Choose the local or single-player area. From ARK’s main menu, open the screen where you select a map and local game settings.
- Set the map and rules. Select the map, difficulty and gameplay multipliers before launching. These settings belong to the host’s session and affect everyone who joins.
- Select the host option. Choose the control labeled Host Non-Dedicated Session or the closest equivalent shown by your edition.
- Launch and invite players. Once the world loads, invite friends through the platform’s normal friends or multiplayer interface. Joining steps vary between Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and other platforms.
- Keep the host in the world. The host must remain connected for the session to exist. If the host exits, warn the group first so players can secure characters, creatures and inventory.
Before a long campaign, make a test session. Have one player travel toward the edge of the tether, disconnect and reconnect, and verify that everyone can join reliably. This exposes connection or performance problems before valuable progress is at risk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Performance and stability considerations
The host is doing two jobs
Running ARK and simulating a multiplayer world on one client can produce more load than playing alone. Stuttering, delayed creature reactions and connection drops may affect every participant because they all depend on the host’s machine and network.
- Close unnecessary applications on the host computer.
- Prefer a wired network connection when practical.
- Lower demanding graphics settings if the host’s frame rate or system resources are strained.
- Keep players close together instead of repeatedly testing the tether boundary.
- Save and exit cleanly rather than forcing the game closed.
Changing the tether is a risk trade-off
A larger multiplier may reduce the feeling of being pulled back, but it increases the area the host must simulate. On weaker hardware, that can mean lag or crashes. Make one small change at a time, record the original value, and revert immediately if stability worsens. Do not assume a setting documented for Survival Evolved applies to Survival Ascended.
Common problems and practical fixes
“My friend was teleported back”
That is normally the tether working as designed. Move the host toward the activity, keep the group within the allowed radius, or use a dedicated server if independent travel is central to your play style.
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“The world disappeared when the host left”
A non-dedicated session is host-dependent. Have the host restart the same session and allow players to reconnect. If the group needs access while that person is unavailable, migrate to a dedicated instance rather than expecting the non-dedicated session to remain online.
“The session is laggy for everyone”
Check the host’s CPU, memory, game settings and network connection first. Reduce simultaneous activity, lower graphics load and remove an aggressive tether multiplier if one was configured. Persistent problems indicate that the host machine is not a good server and game client at the same time.
“A configuration guide does not match my game”
Confirm whether you are running Survival Evolved or Survival Ascended, identify your platform and check the game’s current version. Community instructions often mix editions, and reports about a 180-metre lock in Ascended should not be presented as a universal Evolved rule.
A decision checklist
- Choose non-dedicated if the group is small, usually stays together, wants no hosting bill and is comfortable with the host being present.
- Choose dedicated if players spread out, need mods or custom settings, require an always-on world or want to avoid tying the session to one person’s game client.
- Test first if you are unsure: run a short non-dedicated session, measure how the tether affects your normal activities and watch the host’s performance before committing to a long save.
The simplest rule is practical rather than technical: if the host’s presence and the tether never interfere with your group, non-dedicated hosting delivers inexpensive co-op with little administration. If either limitation regularly interrupts play, a dedicated server is the more suitable architecture.
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