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The symptoms can look different even when the cause is the same. A server may start as vanilla, show a mod as unavailable, fail to download a mod, crash while loading, or let players join and then reject them for a mismatch. Record the exact symptom and the startup log before changing files. That makes it easier to tell a missing package from a bad setting or a host-side override.
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1. Verify every Workshop ID before changing anything else
A mod’s Workshop ID is the number after id= in its Steam Workshop page URL. Copy that number exactly. A single missing digit, an ID from a different mod, or a map ID entered as a regular mod ID prevents the server from finding the package.
Check the list against the Workshop pages
- Open each mod’s Workshop page and copy the numeric value after
id=. - Remove names, quotation marks, spaces and other text. The server configuration takes IDs, not Workshop titles.
- Check that every ID belongs to a mod compatible with ARK: Survival Evolved, rather than a similarly named map or a version for another ARK edition.
- If a mod page specifies a required dependency or order, record that requirement before editing the server.
- Compare the ID in your client subscription, host panel and server configuration. A panel can retain an old ID after you replace a mod, so all three lists should agree.
Do not assume a mod that works in your local game is available to the server. The dedicated server must have its own copy of the package and its metadata. Also check whether the Workshop page has been removed, renamed or replaced; a title search can return a different item with a similar name.
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Separate maps from ordinary mods
A custom map has a Workshop ID too, but it is not configured in exactly the same way as a gameplay mod. The -MapModID= launch option selects a custom map by Workshop ID. It does not replace the normal ActiveMods list for structures, frameworks or other mods. Treat the map ID and the ordinary mod IDs as separate settings.
2. Set ActiveMods in the correct INI file
For the conventional configuration method, stop the server completely, then open GameUserSettings.ini. Put the entry under the [ServerSettings] section:
ActiveMods=485826143,481514565Use comma-separated numeric IDs with no spaces. The key is reported as case-sensitive, so write ActiveMods exactly as shown. Replace the example numbers with the IDs for your own mods.
Use the path for your operating system
| Server platform | Configuration path |
|---|---|
| Linux | ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
| Windows | ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini |
Hosting panels may expose this file through an editor rather than a file browser, but the setting and section are the same. If the panel generates an INI from separate fields, use its mod-ID field instead of creating a second, conflicting entry by hand.
Common INI mistakes
- Putting
ActiveModsinGame.iniinstead ofGameUserSettings.ini. - Placing the line above or outside
[ServerSettings]. - Using a semicolon, spaces or a second line with a different list.
- Typing
Activemods,ActiveModor another variation of the key. - Leaving an old ID in the panel while adding a new list in the file editor.
After saving, reopen the file and confirm that the line is still present exactly as entered. Some control panels rewrite the file from their own form when you click Save, which can remove hand-edited values.
Why the server must be stopped first
ARK can rewrite its INI files when it shuts down. An edit made while the process is running can therefore be overwritten by the server’s old in-memory configuration. Save the file only after the process has fully stopped, then start it again.
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Some installations load mods through the Steam launch parameter ?GameModIds=. The parameter is appended to the map name, for example:
TheIsland?GameModIds=485826143,481514565IDs in this parameter are comma-separated. One community report found that this method worked on its setup, while other setups also required the ActiveMods= line. The parameter is described for Steam servers; do not assume the same launch string is accepted by every platform or hosting panel.
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Because launch strings vary by host panel, test methodically:
- Stop the server and remove accidental duplicate or obsolete mod arguments.
- Test
ActiveMods=by itself. - If the server still starts without the mods, test
?GameModIds=by itself in the host’s map or launch field. - If your host’s documentation says both are supported, test both together only after each method has been checked separately.
- After each test, inspect the startup log and note whether the server attempted to load or download the listed IDs.
The older ModID parameter is reported as deprecated in favor of GameModIds. Do not confuse -MapModID= with either setting: -MapModID= selects a custom map by Workshop ID and still requires the regular mod list in GameUserSettings.ini for other mods.
Avoid competing sources of truth
If a panel has a dedicated “Mods” box, a command-line field and an INI editor, choose the method documented by that provider. Three different lists can make troubleshooting misleading: the panel may overwrite the INI at boot, while the command line may take precedence over the saved setting. Keep one documented list, or deliberately test one method at a time.
4. Confirm that the server has both the mod folder and its .mod file
A correct ID does not download a usable package by itself. Hosting guides report that the server needs the mod’s Workshop content folder and the matching file named <workshop_id>.mod. For example, an ID of 485826143 requires the corresponding 485826143.mod file as well as the content directory.
What to inspect
- Look in the server’s Workshop or mod-content directory for a folder matching each ID.
- Look for a same-numbered
.modfile in the location used by your server installation. - Check ownership and permissions on Linux so the account running the server can read both the folder and the metadata file.
- Read the startup log after a clean boot. A message indicating that there is “no such mod” generally means the package or metadata file is absent, misplaced or unreadable.
- Check timestamps on the folder and
.modfile. A newly updated folder paired with an older metadata file can indicate an interrupted download.
Copying only a Workshop folder, or only the .mod file, leaves the installation incomplete. If you transfer files from another machine, copy the matching pair and preserve the filenames. Do not rename an ID-based file to the mod’s display name.
Let the server manage downloads when the host supports it
The -automanagedmods launch option is intended to download and update mod files during startup. Whether it is enabled, permitted or exposed in a panel depends on the host. If automatic management is available, use it consistently instead of mixing panel downloads with manually copied files; otherwise an update can leave the folder and metadata out of sync.
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Allow the first managed download to finish before players connect. A server that is stopped during that process can have a directory without a complete package. If the host reports a download failure, save the error text and ask whether SteamCMD access, disk space, permissions or a provider-side cache is involved rather than repeatedly restarting.
5. Put dependent mods in the required order
Mod priority is commonly interpreted from left to right, with the left-most ID receiving the highest priority. A dependency should therefore appear before the mod that depends on it:
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ActiveMods=DEPENDENCY_ID,DEPENDENT_MOD_IDUse the order stated on each Workshop page when one is provided. A mod can be installed correctly and still fail to behave, disappear from menus or produce errors when a required library or framework loads after it. Do not reorder a working list merely to make it alphabetical; priority is functional, not cosmetic.
Diagnose order-related symptoms
If every mod is absent, check IDs and files first. If one framework loads but a companion mod does not, or if the server boots and then reports class or asset errors, compare the list with the dependency instructions. Change only the order for that test and keep the previous list so you can restore it. A dependency statement on the Workshop page takes priority over a generic left-to-right assumption.
6. Perform a real stop and start, not a soft restart
A panel’s “restart” button may stop and relaunch the process, or it may preserve a running service and reuse old state. For configuration changes, perform a full shutdown:
- Use the panel’s stop command or the server console’s normal shutdown.
- Wait until the process, log stream and server status all show that it has exited.
- Make the INI or launch-string changes while the process is stopped.
- Start the server and wait for a complete boot before connecting.
This sequence matters because ARK writes configuration during shutdown. Starting immediately after a soft restart can leave the old mod list in memory and make a correct edit appear ineffective. If the panel shows “stopping” for an unusually long time, wait for it to finish or ask the provider to terminate the process safely; editing files while the old process still runs can undo the change.
7. Treat stale saved data as a controlled test
Old saved data is identified by hosting guidance as another reason a server may reject newly enabled mods. There is no single, universally verified “clear stale data” procedure in the available guidance, and deleting a save can destroy progress.
Use a reversible approach
- Back up the entire
ShooterGame/Saveddirectory before changing it. - Record the current map, mod list and server settings so you can restore them.
- Ask the host whether it provides a save backup, clone or temporary test instance.
- Only after a backup, test with the host’s documented method for moving or renaming the saved data. Do not permanently delete files as a first attempt.
- If a clean test instance loads the mods, the problem is associated with the old save or its references; restore the backup and involve the host before attempting a migration.
If the clean instance fails in exactly the same way, restore the save and return to ID, configuration and file checks instead of repeatedly altering player data. A save test is useful for isolating the cause, not as a routine fix for every missing mod.
8. Check for provider updates, reinstalls and panel-specific mod tools
Users have reported mods disappearing after a hosting provider updated or reinstalled a server. Such an event can leave the INI intact while removing the Workshop folders and .mod files, or it can regenerate the configuration with an empty mod list.
After an update or reinstall
- Compare the current
ActiveModsentry with your backup or deployment record. - Verify that every listed ID has both required file components on the new installation.
- Check whether the provider’s panel has a separate mod installer, updater or “managed mods” switch that must be enabled.
- Run one full stop/start after the provider finishes its update.
- Check the provider’s change notice for a new server image, SteamCMD path or control-panel syntax.
If the files and settings are correct but the server still boots vanilla, open a support ticket and include the server ID, map, exact mod IDs, the relevant startup log lines and the time of the last update. Support can determine whether the panel is overriding your launch string or whether its image lacks the mod files.
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Platform-specific and unusual cases
Linux SteamAPI initialization failures
A single Linux report described a SteamAPI initialization failure and a crash only when mods were enabled; the base server ran normally. The available account did not document a confirmed resolution, so treat this as an unverified platform-specific symptom rather than proof that all Linux servers need a particular fix. Preserve the crash log and ask the host to check its Steam runtime, server account and library files.
Client and server copies can differ
Another report fixed a mismatch by using mod files from the client’s own content directory instead of copies downloaded through SteamCMD. This is a troubleshooting lead, not a universal requirement. Before replacing files, compare versions and timestamps, back up the server’s current files and ensure that the source copy belongs to the same ARK edition and mod ID. Do not overwrite a host-managed installation without checking its update policy.
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Clusters require separate validation
The steps above describe a standalone dedicated server. The available guidance does not establish how cluster transfers, shared configuration or cross-server mod updates affect loading. For a cluster, validate each node’s INI, launch parameters and mod files independently and follow the cluster host’s documented deployment process. A mod working on one node does not prove that the destination node has the same package and order.
Read the startup evidence before trying another fix
Change one variable at a time and keep a short record of the result. The most useful evidence is:
- The exact IDs in
ActiveModsand anyGameModIdslaunch argument. - The server platform and the full configuration path used.
- Whether each ID has a matching folder and
.modfile. - The order of IDs and any dependency instructions from the mod pages.
- The timestamp of the last full stop/start.
- Log lines showing “no such mod,” download failures, permission errors, SteamAPI errors or a crash.
For example, a “no such mod” message after a correct ID list points to deployment or permissions, while a clean boot with no mods despite present files points back to the launch parameter, INI section or a panel override. Keeping those cases separate prevents destructive save-file changes from becoming the first response.
Quick symptom-to-check map
| Observed symptom | First checks |
|---|---|
| Server starts completely vanilla | ActiveMods section, launch arguments, panel override and a full stop/start. |
| “No such mod” or missing package | Workshop ID, matching folder, matching .mod file and read permissions. |
| Download never completes | Managed-mod setting, provider update status and the download error in the log. |
| One mod fails while others load | Dependency order, that mod’s files and compatibility note. |
| Crash only with mods enabled | SteamAPI or runtime errors, recent file changes and host support. |
What the available guidance does not establish
Most published fixes for this problem come from hosting guides and community discussions, some of them dating to around 2015. They are useful operational clues but are not official statements from Studio Wildcard. Game versions, hosting images and control-panel labels change, so verify that your host still supports the syntax before applying it to a production server.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my ARK mods not showing on the server?
Check that every Workshop ID is correct, that each ID appears under [ServerSettings] as ActiveMods with comma-separated numbers, and that the server contains both the matching content folder and .mod file. Then perform a complete stop and start.
Should ActiveMods have spaces after commas?
Use numeric IDs separated by commas with no spaces, for example ActiveMods=123456789,987654321. Keep the key spelled exactly ActiveMods and place it in GameUserSettings.ini under [ServerSettings].
What is the difference between GameModIds and MapModID?
GameModIds is a Steam launch parameter for loading ordinary mods. MapModID selects a custom map by Workshop ID and does not replace the regular ActiveMods list for other mods.
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Only if the restart truly stops the process. Stop the server, wait until its process and status show it has exited, edit the files, and then start it again. ARK can rewrite INI files during shutdown.
Why does the log say there is no such mod?
The ID may be wrong, or the server may be missing the matching Workshop folder or .mod metadata file. An unreadable file, wrong location or incomplete download can produce the same symptom.
Can I delete the saved data to fix mods?
Treat that only as a controlled test. Back up ShooterGame/Saved first and use the host’s documented method for moving or renaming saves. Deleting a save can destroy progress, and a clean test instance is safer.
What should I send my hosting provider?
Include the server ID, map, exact mod IDs, configuration path, relevant startup-log lines, whether both file components exist, and the time of any update or reinstall. This lets support check panel overrides and missing packages.
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The Bottom Line
Fix ARK server mods in a controlled order: verify Workshop IDs, set ActiveMods correctly, test GameModIds only as your host supports it, confirm every folder and .mod file, check dependency order, and perform a genuine stop/start. Back up saves before testing stale data, and involve the host when an update, reinstall or panel override is suspected.
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