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This ARK: Survival Evolved server guide lists every FREAKHOSTING help page for ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE). Your server runs the official ASE dedicated server on Linux. In the Game Panel, the Game settings page under GAME SETTINGS holds the server name, passwords, map, mods, rates, breeding and rules, and writes GameUserSettings.ini, Game.ini and your Startup values for you. New here? Start with getting started.

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Most asked

  1. Event colours: turn on an event with -ActiveEvent= and respawn wild creatures.
  2. Steam and Epic crossplay: -crossplay and why mods block Epic players.
  3. Restore a corrupt world save: roll back from a backup.
  4. ARK Server API: why it does not run on our servers and what to use instead.
  5. Rates and multipliers: taming, harvesting, XP and presets.
  6. Install mods: Steam Workshop ids in the Mods field.
  7. Breeding settings: egg hatch, maturation and imprinting.

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Start here

Getting started

Admin password, name, map, first start and joining.

Log in to the Game Panel

Open your server.

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Game Panel guides

Rates and multipliers

Game settings, presets and extra multipliers.

Install mods

Steam Workshop ids and load order.

Change the map

Official ASE maps and mod maps.

Server password

Lock or open your server.

Become admin

Admin password and AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt.

Restore a corrupt save

Backups and the SavedArks folder.

Upload a save

Bring a single-player world to the server.

Steam and Epic crossplay

The -crossplay argument.

ARK cluster

Cross-ARK transfers between servers.

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Commands and settings

Admin commands

enablecheats and the most used commands.

Config files explained

GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini.

Breeding and mutations

Hatching, maturing, imprinting.

Custom level ramp

Max level, XP per level and engram points.

Event colours

ActiveEvent names and wild dino respawn.

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Guides and tips

Custom drops with Beacon

Supply crate loot in Game.ini.

Genesis Hexagon shop

Hexagons, missions and admin tools.

Summon bosses

Boss summon commands by difficulty.

ARK Server API

Plugins and our Linux servers.

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Troubleshooting

Not showing in the list

Find and join your server.

Server not starting

Normal start messages and real errors.

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Frequently asked questions

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Is this ARK: Survival Evolved or ARK: Survival Ascended?

These pages are for ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE). Settings, map names and mods from ARK: Survival Ascended do not work on an ASE server.

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Where do I change taming and harvesting rates?

On Game settings > Rates and day cycle, or with a preset such as Boosted x3. Stop the server before you save. See rates and multipliers.

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Why does my ARK server take so long to start?

ASE loads the whole map before it accepts players. The first start on The Island takes about 10 minutes. Wait for Waiting commands for 127.0.0.1:27020 in the console before you join.

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How many players can join?

Player slots is fixed by your hosting plan and shown on Game settings.

Start, stop and restart

Control your server’s power.

Backups

Make and restore backups.

Startup variables

Map, mods and Additional Arguments.

File Manager

Edit and upload files.
Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on our Game Panel on 2 November 2026 (ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server). Steps may differ slightly if the game changes.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: November 2026