Welcome to our step-by-step guide on how to host a local Ark server on your PC. If you’re an avid Ark Survival Evolved player, you know how important it is to have a reliable server with minimal lag and downtime. By hosting your own local server, you can customize your settings, invite friends, and have complete control over your gameplay experience. In this article, we’ll take you through the entire process of setting up and running a local Ark server on your PC. Let’s get started!
Before You Start: System Requirements
Before we dive into the process of hosting a local Ark server, it’s important to ensure that your computer meets the system requirements. Here are the minimum system requirements for running an Ark server on your PC:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 (or better) |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Hard Drive Space | 60GB free space |
If your PC meets these requirements, you’re good to go. Now, let’s move on to the steps involved in hosting a local Ark server on your PC.
Step 1: Downloading and Installing SteamCMD
The first step in hosting a local Ark server on your PC is to download and install SteamCMD (Steam Console Client). SteamCMD is a command-line tool that allows you to install and update game servers, including Ark. Here’s how to download and install SteamCMD:
Step 1.1: Download SteamCMD
Visit the official SteamCMD website (https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD) and click on the “Windows” link to download the SteamCMD installer for Windows. Save the installer to your PC.
Step 1.2: Install SteamCMD
Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install SteamCMD on your PC. By default, SteamCMD will be installed in the C:\SteamCMD directory. Remember this location as we’ll be using it in the next steps.
Step 2: Creating a SteamCMD Script
Now that we have SteamCMD installed on our PC, we need to create a script that will download and install the Ark server files. Here’s how to create a SteamCMD script:
Step 2.1: Create a New Text Document
Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select “New” > “Text Document”. Name the file “arkserver.txt”.
Step 2.2: Edit the Text Document
Right-click on the “arkserver.txt” file and select “Edit” from the context menu. This will open the file in Notepad.
Copy and paste the following code into the text document:
@echo off steamcmd +login anonymous +force_install_dir C:\ArkServer +app_update 376030 validate +quit
Replace “C:\ArkServer” with the directory where you want to install the Ark server files. For example, if you want to install the server files in “C:\Games\ArkServer”, replace “C:\ArkServer” with “C:\Games\ArkServer”.
Step 2.3: Save and Close the Text Document
Save the “arkserver.txt” file and close Notepad.
Step 3: Running the SteamCMD Script
Now that we have the SteamCMD script ready, it’s time to run it and download the Ark server files. Here’s how:
Step 3.1: Open Command Prompt
Click on the “Start” button and type “cmd” in the search bar. Click on the “Command Prompt” app to open it.
Type “cd C:\SteamCMD” (without the quotes) and press Enter to navigate to the SteamCMD directory.
Step 3.3: Run the SteamCMD Script
Type “steamcmd +runscript C:\Users\your_username\Desktop\arkserver.txt” (without the quotes) and press Enter to run the SteamCMD script. Replace “your_username” with your PC’s username.
SteamCMD will now download and install the Ark server files. This may take some time depending on your internet speed.
Step 4: Configuring the Ark Server
Now that we have the Ark server files installed, it’s time to configure the server to your liking. Here’s how:
Open File Explorer and navigate to the directory where you installed the Ark server files (e.g. “C:\ArkServer”).
Step 4.2: Edit GameUserSettings.ini
Open the “ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\GameUserSettings.ini” file in Notepad. This file contains all the settings for your Ark server.
Here are some of the important settings you can change:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| ServerName | The name of your Ark server |
| ServerPassword | The password required to join your Ark server |
| MaxPlayers | The maximum number of players allowed on your Ark server |
| DifficultyOffset | The difficulty level of your Ark server (0.0-1.0) |
| TamingSpeedMultiplier | The speed at which creatures are tamed on your Ark server (default: 1.0) |
Make the necessary changes to the settings and save the file.
Step 4.3: Edit Game.ini and GameUser.ini
Open the “ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\Game.ini” and “ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\GameUser.ini” files in Notepad. These files contain advanced settings for your Ark server.
Here are some of the important advanced settings you can change:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| bAllowUnlimitedRespecs | Allows players to redistribute their stat points without limit (true/false) |
| bDisableFriendlyFire | Disables friendly fire on your Ark server (true/false) |
| bAllowPlatformSaddleMultiFloors | Allows structures to be built on multiple floors of platform saddles (true/false) |
| GlobalSpoilingTimeMultiplier | The speed at which items in inventories spoil (default: 1.0) |
| bPvEDisableFriendlyFire | Disables friendly fire on PvE servers (true/false) |
Make the necessary changes to the settings and save the files.
Step 5: Starting the Ark Server
Now that we have the Ark server configured, it’s time to start it up and invite players. Here’s how:
Step 5.1: Open Command Prompt
Click on the “Start” button and type “cmd” in the search bar. Click on the “Command Prompt” app to open it.
Type “cd C:\ArkServer” (without the quotes) and press Enter to navigate to the Ark server directory.
Step 5.3: Start the Server
Type “ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?listen?SessionName=your_session_name?ServerPassword=your_password?ServerAdminPassword=your_admin_password -server -log” (without the quotes) and press Enter to start the Ark server. Replace “your_session_name” with the name of your Ark server, “your_password” with the password required to join your Ark server, and “your_admin_password” with the password required to log in as an admin.
Your Ark server is now up and running! You can now invite players to join your server and start playing. Congratulations!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I run a local Ark server on a laptop?
A1: Yes, you can run a local Ark server on a laptop as long as it meets the minimum system requirements.
Q2: Can I play on my own local Ark server?
A2: Yes, you can play on your own local Ark server by joining it through the game’s multiplayer menu.
Q3: Can I run mods on my local Ark server?
A3: Yes, you can run mods on your local Ark server by adding them to the “ShooterGame\Content\Mods” directory and editing the “GameUserSettings.ini” file to include them.
Q4: Can I adjust the server settings after the server has been started?
A4: Yes, you can adjust the server settings by editing the “GameUserSettings.ini” file and restarting the server.
Q5: Can I backup my local Ark server?
A5: Yes, you can backup your local Ark server by copying the server files to a backup location.
Q6: How do I update my local Ark server?
A6: To update your local Ark server, run the SteamCMD script again to download and install the latest server files.
Q7: How many players can join my local Ark server?
A7: The maximum number of players that can join your local Ark server depends on the “MaxPlayers” setting in the “GameUserSettings.ini” file.
Q8: How do I set up a dedicated Ark server?
A8: Setting up a dedicated Ark server requires a different set of steps. Check out our other article for a step-by-step guide on how to set up a dedicated Ark server.
Q9: Is it possible to run a local Ark server without SteamCMD?
A9: No, SteamCMD is required to download and install the Ark server files.
Q10: Can I run multiple local Ark servers on one PC?
A10: Yes, you can run multiple local Ark servers on one PC by installing each server in a different directory and running each server with a different set of command line arguments.