Set up an ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server on Windows

What HaruHost does for you

• SteamCMD: not needed. HaruHost downloads the ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated server, without a Steam account, and updates it with one button.
• What the server needs: the DirectX runtime, Visual C++ 2013 and an Amazon certificate the server uses to reach ARK's online services. When one is missing, HaruHost offers to install it when you start the server.
• Start file and launch options: no batch file to write. The map, server name, mods and options are set in the manager, and HaruHost builds the start line.
• GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini: the Server Config page shows them as searchable cards, from rates and breeding to structures, items and tames. Its Files tab shows the same files as text, and the two stay in sync.
• Port forwarding: friends join through the Tunnel with no router setup. If you forward ports instead, HaruHost opens them on your router and in Windows Firewall once Auto-manage UPnP and Auto-manage Firewall are on.
• An existing server: import it with its world and settings instead of starting over.

Step by step

1. Download HaruHost for Windows and sign in.
2. Choose Add → New game server, pick this PC, then ARK: Survival Ascended. Give the server a name.
3. Choose Create New Server, or Import Existing Server and point HaruHost at the server's folder.
4. Set the server name, the map and the passwords on the Base Config and Passwords cards, and change any other card you want.
5. On the Connection step, choose Tunnel, or Ports to use your own address.
6. Create the server, wait for the download and start it. If something the server needs is missing, install it when HaruHost asks.
7. Send friends the server's name, and the password if you set one.

Only on Windows

• Transfers between maps in a cluster.
• The ARK Server API and its plugins.
• The Server Config page with the raw files and Cloud Config to share cards between maps.

Questions