PixARK Server Not Showing Up? Unofficial List and Port Fixes

When a PixARK server does not appear in the list, first switch the filter at the bottom of the Join Game screen to Unofficial and search for the exact name. If it is still missing, the server is probably still generating its world (the first start takes several minutes), its query port is not reachable, or it is on an older build than your game. If players can see it but the world never loads, the PixARK specific cube port is closed.

A voxel landscape with a tribe base in PixARK

Work out which problem you have

Symptom	Likely cause
Not in the list at all	Filter, server still starting, query port, version
In Steam favorites, not in the game list	Game list filters or a slow list refresh
Shows in the list, join fails or times out	Game port closed or wrong
Joins, then stuck loading or terrain missing	Cube port closed
Shows, but asks for a password you do not know	Server password set

Fix 1: Use the Unofficial filter

PixARK's Join Game list shows official servers by default. Your server is unofficial. At the bottom of the list, change the filter to Unofficial, then type part of your server name in the search box. Also tick the option to show password protected servers if your server has a password.

This one setting is behind most "my server is gone" messages. It is worth checking twice before changing anything on the server.

Fix 2: Give the first start time

The first time a PixARK server starts, it generates its voxel world, and that takes several minutes. Servers are often started with DelayRegisterServer=True on the launch line, which means the server does not register itself in the list until the world is ready. Until then, it is invisible by design.

Watch the server console. When it finishes loading and reports a full start, refresh the list. Later starts are much faster because the world already exists.

Fix 3: Check the server name

The server name passed with SessionName is what you search for. A few rules keep it simple:

No spaces if the same name is also used for the world with -cubeworld. A space can break the launch line, and changing the world name later makes the server create a brand new world. Use underscores, for example Cube_Tribe.
Search for a distinctive part. Names like "PixARK Server" match dozens of results.

Fix 4: Query port and Steam favorites

The list is built from Steam queries sent to the server's query port. To test it outside the game:

In Steam, open View, Game Servers, then Favorites.
Click + and add the server IP with the query port, for example 203.0.113.90:27016.
Refresh.

If Steam shows the server with a player count, it is online and answering. Join from there, or go back to the game list with the Unofficial filter. If Steam shows nothing, the query port is blocked, wrong, or the server is not running yet.

Fix 5: Open all four ports

PixARK uses one more port than ARK does. From the launch line:

Launch option	Purpose
`-Port`	Game traffic (UDP)
`-QueryPort`	Steam query and server list (UDP)
`-CubePort`	Terrain updates for the voxel world (UDP and TCP)
`RCONPort`	Remote console, only if RCON is enabled (TCP)

On a home server, every one of these must be forwarded to the server PC and allowed through the firewall, and the numbers must match the launch line exactly. The cube port is the one people forget. With it closed, players can find the server and even connect, but the world fails to load or loads without terrain. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side.

Fix 6: Version mismatch

PixARK updates rarely now, but when it does, a server on an older build disappears from the list for updated players or refuses them. Update the server through SteamCMD (the dedicated server is app 824360) and restart. Players should restart Steam so their game is current too.

Fix 7: The password

If the server has a password (ServerPassword on the launch line), players enter it when they join, and some filters hide password protected servers. The admin password is a different thing, used with enablecheats in the console; see our PixARK admin commands list. Do not hand out the admin password as a join password.

Fix 8: Home network limits

If none of the above helps and the server is at home, your connection may not allow inbound connections at all. Double NAT (a modem and a router both doing routing) and CGNAT (an ISP sharing one IP between customers) both break port forwarding. How to tell if you are behind CGNAT shows how to check.

Checklist

Check	Should be
Join Game filter	Unofficial, password protected shown
Server console	Full start reported
Steam favorites with query port	Server visible
Game, query and cube ports	Forwarded, matching the launch line
Server build	Same as players
Name	Distinctive, no spaces if used as the world name

A server that is simply there

A GamezServers PixARK server runs at its own address with the game, query and cube ports already assigned and open, so the port table above is handled for you. The panel sets the server name, server password, admin password and query port, and the live console shows when the first world generation finishes so you know when to start looking in the Unofficial list. Rates live in the .ini files in the file manager, and backups are one click.

FAQ

Why can't I find my PixARK server?

Switch the list filter to Unofficial and search for the name. If it is still missing, wait for the first world generation to finish and check the query port.

What is the cube port in PixARK?

A PixARK specific port that carries terrain updates for the voxel world. It must be open, or players cannot load the world properly.

How long does a new PixARK server take to start?

The first start generates the world and takes several minutes. Later starts are faster.

Can I join a PixARK server through Steam?

Yes. Add the IP and query port to Steam favorites under View, Game Servers, and join from there.