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Disaster Recovery for Your ARK

If your Ark: Survival Evolved (ASE) server crashes on startup with a LowLevelFatalError or a Serialization Error, it is a strong indication that your primary world save file has become corrupted. This often happens during unexpected server power losses or if the disk fills up. Fortunately, Ark is designed with an automatic backup system that keeps several snapshots of your world state.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Time

10 Minutes

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Understanding the Save Directory

All critical world data is stored within the /ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ folder. Understanding the different file types is essential for a successful restoration.
TheIsland.ark - This is the live save file that the server attempts to load on boot. If this file is corrupt, the server will crash.

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Restoration Workflow

Follow these steps precisely to roll back your server to a functional state.
1

Stop the Server

Navigate to your Game Panel Console and Stop the server. Never attempt to modify save files while the server is active.
2

Archive the Corrupt Save

In the File Manager, rename TheIsland.ark to TheIsland_CORRUPT.ark. This removes it from the loading sequence but keeps it as a reference.
3

Select a Backup

Identify the most recent timestamped backup.
Always check the file size. If a backup file is 0KB or significantly smaller than your usual save size, it is incomplete and should not be used.
4

Activate the Backup

Rename your chosen backup file (e.g., TheIsland_timestamp.ark) to exactly TheIsland.ark.
5

Start the Server

Return to the Console and click Start. Monitor the logs to ensure the world loads successfully without errors.

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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: January 2026 | Data: Protecting your legacy.