How to Install Mods on an ARK Survival Ascended Server

To install mods on an ARK: Survival Ascended server, copy each mod's Project ID from its CurseForge page and add them to the server's start line as -mods=ID1,ID2,ID3, comma separated with no spaces. On the next start the server downloads the mods itself, and players get them automatically when they join. There is no Steam Workshop and no manual upload of mod files.

That is the whole process for most mods. The rest of this guide covers mod maps, console players, load order, updates and the mistakes that stop a server from starting.

How do ARK Survival Ascended mods work on a server?

Survival Ascended mods live on CurseForge, and the game has CurseForge built in. That changes how modding works compared with the old ARK:

• The server downloads mods by ID. You never copy mod folders around. The server fetches every ID in its list when it starts.
• Players do not install anything by hand. When someone joins, the game pulls the server's mods for them. The first join with a big list takes a while.
• Console players can use mods too, but only mods the author marked as cross platform. A PC only mod blocks Xbox and PlayStation players from joining.

Step 1: Find the CurseForge project ID

1. Open the mod on CurseForge.
2. Look at the About Project box on the right side of the page.
3. Copy the number next to Project ID.

The project ID is a number, usually six digits. It is not the mod's name, not the file ID of one version, and not the number in a download link. Using the wrong number is the most common reason a mod "does nothing".

Step 2: Add the IDs to the start line

On a self hosted server, add the flag to your launch line after the map and ? options:

ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyServer -mods=123456,234567,345678 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=10

Rules for the list:

• Commas between IDs, no spaces anywhere in the list.
• One -mods= flag only. A second one replaces the first.
• Order matters when two mods change the same thing: the mod listed first wins.

There is also an ActiveMods= line for GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings], which takes the same comma separated list. We stick with -mods= on the start line because it is the documented way for Survival Ascended, the server downloads and updates everything in it on start, and you never end up with two lists that disagree.

Step 3: Restart and check the log

Start the server and watch the console. You should see each mod being downloaded and mounted before the world loads. The first start with new mods is slower than usual.

When it is up, join from the game. Your client downloads the mods, then loads in. If anything went wrong, the log is at:

ShooterGame/Saved/Logs/ShooterGame.log

Search it for the mod ID. A mod that failed to download or mount is named there.

Installing mods on a GamezServers ARK server

On a GamezServers ARK server you do not touch the start line. Open Settings, find CurseForge mod IDs, and paste your IDs as a comma separated list, like 928708,929420. Press Restart. The panel adds the -mods= flag for you, and the server downloads everything on start.

Press Backup before adding or removing mods. It takes one click and it is the fastest way back if a mod breaks your world.

How to run a mod map

A mod map is two changes, not one:

1. Add the map's project ID to your mod list like any other mod.
2. Set the map name to the exact name the author gives on the CurseForge page, which usually ends in _WP.

On our panel that means adding the ID under CurseForge mod IDs and typing the map name in Map. If you only add the ID, the server keeps loading your old map. If you only change the map name, the server cannot find it and fails to start.

Each map keeps its own save, so switching to a mod map does not delete your old world.

Can console players join a modded ARK server?

Yes, if every mod in your list supports console. CurseForge shows which platforms a mod supports. One PC only mod in the list locks Xbox and PlayStation players out of the whole server.

If your group mixes PC and console, check every mod before you add it. It is much easier than finding out which of fifteen mods is the problem later.

What happens when a mod updates?

Survival Ascended mods update on CurseForge independently of the game. When a mod author pushes an update:

• The server picks up the new version on its next start. A running server keeps the version it loaded.
• Players whose game already has the newer version may fail to join a server still running the old one, or the other way around.
• The fix is nearly always: restart the server, and have players restart their game so it checks for mod updates.

Game patches are the bigger risk. When Studio Wildcard ships an update, mods that are not updated for it can stop the server loading. Our servers update the game on every restart, so after a big patch, if the server suddenly will not start, take your newest mods out of the list one at a time until it does. The Update on restart setting can be turned off to hold a game version while you wait for a mod author, but players on the newer game version then cannot join, so treat it as a short term fix.

Removing a mod safely

Removing a mod is not the same as never having it. Anything in your world that came from the mod, such as structures, dinos, items or engrams, disappears when the mod is gone. A mod that added a new creature takes every one of those tames with it.

Before removing a mod:

1. Take a backup.
2. Let players know what will vanish.
3. Remove the ID, restart, and check the world.

Mods that stop the server starting

If the server hangs or crashes on start right after you changed the mod list:

For crashes that are not about mods, see ARK server crashing fixes.

How many mods can an ARK server run?

There is no fixed limit, but every mod costs memory and adds to everyone's load time. A handful of quality of life mods barely moves the needle. A big list with new creatures, structures and a mod map can add several GB. We size our plans so 16 GB handles a few mods comfortably and 24 GB suits heavy mod lists. If memory sits near the top of your plan, upgrade in Settings, prorated.

FAQ

Where do I find the mod ID for an ARK Ascended mod?

On the mod's CurseForge page, in the About Project box on the right. Use the Project ID, not a file ID.

Do my friends need to download mods before joining?

No. The game downloads the server's mods automatically when they join. They just need to be on a platform the mods support.

Can I use old ARK Survival Evolved mods?

No. Survival Ascended runs on a different engine, so Steam Workshop mods from Survival Evolved do not work. Many popular mods have been rebuilt for Survival Ascended on CurseForge.

Does adding a mod wipe my server?

Adding a mod does not. Removing one deletes whatever that mod added to the world, so back up first.

Why did my mods stop working after an ARK update?

The game patch broke them until the authors update. Restart once the mod has an update on CurseForge, or remove it until then.

Mod without the start line

On GamezServers you paste mod IDs into a box, press Restart, and keep 3 one click backups for when a mod misbehaves. See ARK: Survival Ascended hosting or the quick start guide, and our best ARK server settings once your mods are in.