To use admin commands on a multiplayer ARK server, set a ServerAdminPassword in the server’s GameUserSettings.ini (or the equivalent host-panel field), restart the server, join it, and run enablecheats <password> in the in-game console. After authentication, run commands with the cheat or admincheat prefix, such as cheat SaveWorld or cheat god. The password is separate from the password players use to join.
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How ARK admin authentication works
ARK’s server administration uses a password-based privilege system. The password stored as ServerAdminPassword grants access to cheat-style commands; it does not control who can enter the server. Keep the two passwords different and give the admin password only to people who should be able to change the game world.
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- The server owner sets
ServerAdminPasswordunder the[ServerSettings]section ofGameUserSettings.ini, or enters it in a hosting control panel. - The server is restarted so the setting is loaded.
- An administrator joins the server, opens the console (normally Tab on PC), and runs
enablecheats <password>. - Commands are entered with a
cheatoradmincheatprefix.
Authentication is reported not to persist between sessions. Plan to run enablecheats again after reconnecting. This behavior is reported by a server-host guide and can vary with game version, platform, or host implementation.
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Set the ARK server admin password
Using GameUserSettings.ini
Use this method when you control the server files directly.
- Stop the ARK server completely. Editing a live configuration file can be overwritten when the process exits.
- Open
GameUserSettings.ini. - Find the
[ServerSettings]section. Add or edit this line:
ServerAdminPassword=Use-A-Long-Unique-Password- Save the file and start the server again.
- Keep a secure copy of the password for the administrators who need it. Do not use the server’s player-join password.
The setting is reported under [ServerSettings]. Capitalization and spelling should match the configuration key exactly.
Using a hosting control panel
Many game-server hosts expose the same setting as an “Admin password,” “Server admin password,” or similar field. Enter a strong, unique value, apply the change, and restart the instance from the panel. If the panel writes configuration files for you, do not add a second conflicting ServerAdminPassword line manually.
Choose a password that cannot be guessed
- Use a long random value that is not used for the server join password, operating-system accounts, RCON, or any other service.
- Do not place the password in public launch scripts, screenshots, chat, tickets, or shared configuration repositories.
- Change it immediately if an unauthorized person may have seen it, then restart the server and tell authorized administrators the new value through a private channel.
Enable admin commands in game
PC multiplayer procedure
- Join the multiplayer server after it has restarted with the password configured.
- Press Tab to open the console in the standard PC setup. Console keys can differ by platform, layout, or client configuration.
- Enter the authentication command, replacing the example value with the actual password:
enablecheats Use-A-Long-Unique-Password- Press Enter. Then run an administrative command with a prefix:
cheat SaveWorld
cheat god
cheat fly
cheat walkSome guides use admincheat instead of cheat. Both forms are commonly documented for multiplayer administration; if one form is rejected by your build or host, try the other after authenticating.
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What the common test commands do
| Command | Purpose | Important behavior |
|---|---|---|
cheat SaveWorld |
Requests a world save. | Use it before maintenance or any high-risk administrative change. It does not replace the host’s own backup system. |
cheat god |
Enables an invulnerability-style admin mode. | Run the command again to toggle it off where supported. Test on a non-production session if you are unsure of the toggle behavior in your build. |
cheat fly |
Allows the administrator to fly. | Use cheat walk to return to normal movement according to the command examples documented by server guides. |
cheat walk |
Returns the player to walking movement. | Useful after flying; movement state can otherwise remain confusing during troubleshooting. |
cheat GMSummon "Rex_Character_BP_C" 150 |
Attempts to summon a tamed creature at the specified level. | The blueprint path and level must be valid for the game version and map. The syntax is reported by guides and is not a guarantee that every current build accepts the same identifier. |
cheat GFI element 100 0 0 |
Attempts to add an item using a GFI identifier. | The item identifier, quantity, quality, and blueprint flags must match the command format supported by your build. |
Use these examples as syntax patterns rather than an exhaustive, version-independent command list. ARK patches and separate editions can change command names, parameters, or accepted identifiers.
Spawning creatures and items reliably
Creature summons
GMSummon requires the exact creature blueprint path. In the documented example, Rex_Character_BP_C is the identifier and 150 is the requested level:
cheat GMSummon "Rex_Character_BP_C" 150A typo, an identifier from another edition, or a blueprint removed by a patch can produce no creature or an error. Keep an identifier reference that matches your edition and server build. Confirm that you are standing in a safe location before spawning: large creatures can trap players, damage structures, or create an unexpected server load.
Items with GFI
The reported item example is:
cheat GFI element 100 0 0Here, element is the item token, 100 is the quantity, and the trailing values represent command options used by the GFI syntax. Exact meanings and accepted values can differ by build. If the command returns the wrong item or nothing at all, verify the token against a current identifier list for your edition instead of repeatedly changing random parameters.
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Permanent admin access without sharing the password
For a regular group of administrators, a whitelist file can grant command access based on an account ID. This avoids giving every administrator the shared server password, but it requires the correct identifier type for the edition.
| Edition | Whitelist file | Identifier required |
|---|---|---|
| ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) | AllowedCheaterAccountIDs.txt |
32-character EOS account IDs |
| ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) | AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt |
17-digit Steam IDs |
Adding an administrator
- Stop the server before editing the whitelist file.
- Open the file for the edition you run. Create it if your host does not provide one.
- Put one authorized account ID on each line, with no extra punctuation. Use the EOS ID for ASA or the 17-digit Steam ID for ASE.
- Save the file and restart the server.
- Have the administrator join and test a harmless command. A whitelist grants access; it does not make the person immune to server rules or protect against a compromised account.
Do not put a Steam ID in the ASA file or an EOS ID in the ASE file. If access fails after a restart, check the filename, location, line endings, identifier length, and whether the host panel replaces custom files during deployment.
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Use RCON for remote administration
RCON is a separate remote-console path. It is useful when you need to administer the server without joining the game, but it exposes a network service that must be protected.
Reported configuration
Under [ServerSettings], server-host guides report these settings:
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RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020RCON authenticates with ServerAdminPassword. The port number above is the reported default in the guides, not a promise that every host or build uses it.
RCON setup steps
- Stop the server and back up the configuration file.
- Set
RCONEnabled=Trueand choose the port required by your RCON client. If you use the reported default, setRCONPort=27020. - Restart the server.
- In the RCON client, enter the server address, port, and the same admin password configured in
ServerAdminPassword. - Send a low-risk command first, such as a save command supported by your client, and confirm that the server responds.
Only forward the RCON port when remote administration is genuinely required. Restrict firewall access to trusted administrator IP addresses where possible, use a strong password, and avoid exposing the port to the entire internet. RCON is not a replacement for backups or for the whitelist; it is another authenticated route to administrative commands.
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| Method | Where it works | Authentication | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-game console | While joined to the server | Run enablecheats <password> each session, according to host-guide reports |
Quick testing, emergency fixes, and commands tied to your player | Requires a game connection and a session-specific authentication step |
| RCON | From a remote RCON client | Uses ServerAdminPassword |
Scheduled or remote administration without joining the world | Needs network, firewall, and client configuration; an exposed port increases risk |
| Whitelist file | Server-side account authorization | ASA EOS IDs or ASE Steam IDs | Permanent access for named administrators without sharing one password | Edition-specific filenames and identifiers must be correct; file changes normally require a restart |
Troubleshoot commands that do not work
enablecheats is rejected
- Confirm that you edited the server’s active
GameUserSettings.ini, not a local client file or an unused profile. - Check that
ServerAdminPasswordis inside[ServerSettings]and that the server was restarted after the change. - Enter the password exactly, without angle brackets. The brackets in
enablecheats <password>indicate a replacement value. - Make sure you joined the intended server. A password configured on one instance does not authenticate you on another.
- If you rejoined after a disconnect, run
enablecheatsagain; authentication is reported as session-bound.
A command appears to do nothing
- Use the
cheatoradmincheatprefix on multiplayer servers. - Test with a harmless command such as
cheat SaveWorldbefore attempting a summon or inventory change. - Check console spelling and capitalization. Commands and blueprint identifiers are not interchangeable.
- Verify that the command is available in your edition and current patch. Guides can describe syntax that a later build changes.
A summon or item command fails
- Confirm the exact blueprint path or GFI token for ASA versus ASE and for the current map or mod set.
- Remove accidental smart quotes or extra punctuation when copying a command.
- Try a known-valid, low-quantity item before requesting a large amount or a high-level creature.
- Check server logs and console output for an identifier or permission error. Do not assume a silent result means the password is wrong.
RCON cannot connect
- Verify that
RCONEnabled=Trueis under[ServerSettings]and that the server was restarted. - Check the client port against
RCONPort; the commonly reported value is27020, but hosts can change it. - Allow the port through the server firewall and any provider-level firewall, while restricting source addresses where possible.
- Use
ServerAdminPassword, not the player-join password, when the client asks for credentials. - If local RCON works but remote RCON does not, investigate port forwarding or provider networking rather than changing command syntax.
Launch-argument password problems
One community report warns that when ?ServerAdminPassword=<password> is used in a batch-file launch line, it may need to be the final question-mark argument before dash-prefixed arguments. Otherwise, the remaining text can be swallowed as part of the password. This behavior is not verified against current builds. Prefer the configuration file or host-panel field when available; if you must use a launch argument, test the resulting authentication after every server update.
Dedicated-server issues
A Steam community discussion titled “Can’t use admincheats in dedicated server” documents reported problems, but the discussion content was not reviewed here. Treat dedicated-server failures as a host- or build-specific issue: verify the active configuration, restart sequence, prefixes, and logs, then ask the server provider for the exact command and build combination they support.
Single-player and multiplayer differences
Guides disagree about whether single-player requires enablecheats and whether command prefixes are needed. Some say cheats are already enabled in single-player; others instruct players to authenticate first. The community wiki’s authentication description is specifically framed around multiplayer servers. Therefore, do not assume that a multiplayer procedure maps exactly to single-player. Try the command format documented for your game version, and avoid changing a multiplayer server configuration merely to solve a local single-player issue.
Safe operating practices for administrators
- Run
cheat SaveWorldbefore destructive edits, mass spawns, or maintenance, and keep independent server backups. - Test unfamiliar commands on a copy or temporary server. A syntactically valid command can still destroy structures, alter progression, or overload a busy map.
- Record who made a change and why, especially when several administrators share access.
- Use the whitelist for named staff where possible, and rotate the shared password when staff changes.
- Keep RCON disabled when it is not needed. If enabled, firewall the port and never publish the credentials.
- After a game patch, recheck command names, blueprint paths, whitelist filenames, and RCON behavior before relying on old automation.
A practical first-time workflow
For a new server, the least complicated path is:
- Stop the server and set a unique
ServerAdminPasswordunder[ServerSettings]. - Restart and join the server.
- Open the console and run
enablecheats <password>. - Run
cheat SaveWorldas a permission test. - Use
cheat flyandcheat walkonly when you need movement assistance. - For recurring staff access, add the correct ASA EOS IDs or ASE Steam IDs to the edition’s whitelist file.
- Add RCON only if remote operation is required, and protect the configured port with firewall rules.
This workflow separates one-time server configuration, per-session authentication, permanent account authorization, and remote access, making it easier to identify which layer is failing when a command does not work.
Version and evidence caveats
Command names, configuration keys, RCON defaults, whitelist filenames, and console behavior can change with ARK patches. The procedures above reflect server-host guides and the ARK Official Community Wiki, a community-maintained source rather than official developer documentation. The command examples are reported syntax and have not been verified against every current build. Recheck them after updates and qualify instructions for the exact edition—ASA or ASE—your server runs.
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