Automated Ark is a third-party, vanilla-styled automation mod for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA). Install it from ASA’s in-game CurseForge mod browser for a client or single-player game. On a dedicated server, add the mod’s CurseForge numeric ID to the server’s active-mod configuration, restart once, and let the server download it. The reported project ID is 928597, but confirm the current ID and compatibility on the live CurseForge listing before editing a server.
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What Automated Ark does
Automated Ark is presented as a lightweight automation mod that keeps ASA’s visual style close to vanilla. It is authored by blitzfire911 and is distributed through CurseForge rather than by Studio Wildcard. The mod listing and community wiki describe practical base-management functions such as storage sorting, egg collection, meat-spoil management and automatic pulling of items. The exact feature set can change as the author updates the project, so read the current in-game description and change notes before building a base around one particular device or behavior.
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“Automation” here means reducing repetitive inventory and resource chores; it does not turn ASA into a different game or provide an official Studio Wildcard system. Treat it like any other third-party mod: keep backups, check version compatibility after major ASA patches, and make sure every player who needs the content can connect to the server.
Why ASA installation differs from ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK: Survival Ascended uses CurseForge for its supported mod distribution. It does not use the Steam Workshop workflow associated with ARK: Survival Evolved and the older Steam application. Instructions that tell you to subscribe to a Workshop item, copy an ASE Workshop ID, or edit an ASE-specific mod folder are for a different game and can lead to a non-working installation.
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- ASA mod source: CurseForge, surfaced through ASA’s in-game Mods browser.
- Identifier: a CurseForge project ID, not an ASE Steam Workshop ID.
- Client behavior: a player can install and activate the mod from the game’s browser.
- Server behavior: the server advertises its active mod list and downloads the packages during startup.
The reported Automated Ark project ID is 928597. IDs can become invalid if a project is re-uploaded, renamed or replaced, so search for “Automated Ark” on the live CurseForge listing and confirm the number immediately before adding it to a production server.
Before you install
Confirm the platform and server type
Decide whether you are installing for a local single-player game, a non-dedicated session, a self-managed dedicated server or a managed hosting panel. The first two use the in-game browser. Dedicated servers require a configuration change or a host-panel entry.
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Console clients and PC-only mods are not interchangeable. Community guidance warns that a PC-only mod on a mixed or crossplay server can prevent console clients from loading correctly and may destabilize a cluster. If Xbox or PlayStation players must join, verify that Automated Ark is supported on the exact crossplay configuration you run. Do not assume that a mod visible to a PC client is available to consoles.
Plan for updates and backups
Major ASA patches can break a mod even when the mod itself has not changed. Back up the world and configuration files before the first installation and before each major game or mod update. If your host supports version pinning, record the working mod version and update it deliberately rather than allowing an untested update during an active season.
Use a test world first
Load the mod in a disposable single-player save or a staging server. Test the automation devices you intend to use, storage sorting, pulling behavior and any breeding or food workflow before placing them in a long-running tribe base. A test also confirms that the current ASA build and the mod’s current release are compatible.
Install Automated Ark in single-player or on a client
This is the simplest route and requires no configuration-file editing.
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- Launch ARK: Survival Ascended.
- Open the game’s Mods list or mod browser from the main menu.
- Search for Automated Ark. Check the author name, blitzfire911, and compare the displayed project details with the current CurseForge listing so you do not select a similarly named project.
- Choose Install and wait for the download to finish. Do not close the game while the installation is still processing.
- Activate the mod in the enabled or active-mods list. If the browser presents an activation prompt after installation, accept it.
- Start a new world or load the save you want to test. Give the game time to complete any first-load processing before judging performance.
For an existing save, avoid removing the mod after you have placed its structures or stored items in its containers. Removing content-bearing mods can leave missing assets or unusable inventories. If you need to test an uninstallation, use a copy of the save.
Install it on a self-managed dedicated server
A dedicated server needs the mod’s numeric CurseForge ID in its active list. The commonly reported ID for Automated Ark is 928597; verify it on the live listing first.
Option 1: GameUserSettings.ini
- Stop the server cleanly. Editing a live configuration while the server is writing files can overwrite your change.
- Open the server’s GameUserSettings.ini in the configuration folder used by your ASA installation.
- Find the
ActiveMods=entry. If it does not exist, add it in the appropriate server configuration section. - Enter the numeric ID. With one mod, the value is typically
ActiveMods=928597. For several mods, community guides commonly use comma-separated IDs with no spaces, for exampleActiveMods=123456,928597. Use the syntax accepted by your server build or hosting control panel. - Save the file and start the server.
Option 2: launch parameter
Some server setups accept a launch argument in the form -mods=928597. Multiple IDs are commonly separated by commas, such as -mods=123456,928597. Use either the launch parameter or the configuration-file method according to your server manager’s documentation; defining conflicting lists in two places can make troubleshooting harder.
What happens on first boot
On the first startup, the server normally downloads and installs the listed mod automatically. The initial boot can be much slower than usual. Leave the process running and do not repeatedly restart the server while downloads are in progress. A restart during installation can produce a partial download, an apparently missing mod or a loop in which the server begins the same installation again.
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Read the startup log after the server becomes available. You want to see the mod identified by its current project ID and no download or mount errors. If the server manager has a separate mod cache, allow that cache to finish populating before inviting players.
Install it through a managed hosting panel
Managed hosts expose the same underlying setting with different labels. Depending on the provider, you may see a field named Mod IDs, Active Mods, Mods or a Startup variable.
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- Stop the server from the host panel.
- Open the ASA configuration or startup settings.
- Locate the field for CurseForge or active mod IDs.
- Enter
928597, or the currently verified Automated Ark project ID, without adding the project name. For multiple mods, use the comma-separated format required by that panel. - Save the setting and restart the server.
- Watch the live console or log page until the download and installation finish. The first boot may take considerably longer.
- Only after the server reaches its normal ready state should you connect and test the mod.
If the panel offers both a graphical mod picker and a raw ID field, use one method consistently. A picker may translate a project into an ID automatically, while a raw field gives you more control but makes typographical errors easier.
How players connect after a server installs it
Players normally do not need to edit GameUserSettings.ini or manually copy files when joining a server that advertises its active ASA mods. On connection, the client can download and activate the server’s required mods. The player should accept the download, allow it to complete, and restart the game if ASA requests one.
Players should still verify that they are running the current ASA build and have enough free storage for mod downloads. A client with a stale or interrupted package can fail to join even when the server is configured correctly. If one player repeatedly receives a mod mismatch, have that player exit the game fully, retry the server connection and, if necessary, remove the incomplete local download through ASA’s mod-management screen before downloading again.
Verify that Automated Ark loaded
Client or single-player check
- Return to the Mods browser and confirm Automated Ark appears in the enabled list.
- Load the test world and check that the mod’s structures or automation entries are available through the normal engram, crafting or placement interfaces described by the current mod page.
- Perform a small sorting, pulling, egg-collection or spoil-management test rather than placing a complete production system immediately.
Dedicated-server check
- Confirm the ID is present in the server’s active list after restart.
- Check the startup log for a successful download and mount, with no repeated retry or checksum errors.
- Join with a test character and verify that the client downloads the same mod.
- Test the mod in a safe area before allowing tribe members to move valuable inventories into automated containers.
Troubleshooting installation failures
The mod does not appear in the browser
Search by the complete name and verify the author. ASA’s browser can show similarly named projects, and a listing can be temporarily unavailable while it is being updated. Confirm that you are browsing ASA’s CurseForge catalogue rather than following an ASE Workshop guide. If the project is still absent, check the live listing later and do not substitute an unverified ID.
The server starts without the mod
Stop the server and recheck the numeric ID, spelling of ActiveMods, punctuation and the exact configuration file being used by the running instance. Some hosts expose several configuration files or profiles; editing an unused profile has no effect. If you used -mods=, inspect the final launch command generated by the panel. Remove accidental spaces, quotation marks or line breaks if the manager does not support them.
The first restart is extremely slow
A slow first boot is expected while the server downloads and installs the package. Check the console for forward progress and allow the process to finish. Repeated forced restarts can leave an incomplete cache and make the next startup slower.
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Players receive a mod mismatch
Make sure the server and client are using the same current project version. Restart the server after an update, then let the client complete its download before reconnecting. If only one player is affected, that player may have an interrupted local package; retry the download from the in-game mod manager. If every player is affected, inspect the server’s installed version and active list first.
Console players cannot join
Assume a compatibility problem until proven otherwise. PC-only mods may not load for console clients and can break a mixed or crossplay cluster. Temporarily remove Automated Ark on a backup configuration and test the server without it. If the crossplay requirement is non-negotiable, use only mods whose current listing explicitly supports the platforms in your cluster.
The mod broke after an ASA update
Major ASA patches can invalidate a previously working mod. Stop automated updates if your host supports version pinning, record the last known-good mod and game versions, and consult the current project notes for a compatible release. Restore the pre-update backup if structures or inventories are missing. Do not keep loading the only copy of a valuable world while testing an unconfirmed combination.
The project ID no longer works
A mod ID can change if the project is re-uploaded. Search the current CurseForge listing, verify the displayed ID and replace the old value in the server configuration. An old ID that silently points to nothing can look like a configuration failure even when the rest of the server is healthy.
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Keep a written mod inventory
Record each project name, numeric ID, working version, installation date and the ASA build tested with it. Keep the list with your server backup notes. This makes it possible to rebuild a host or compare a working and failing configuration without guessing.
Change one variable at a time
When diagnosing a problem, do not update ASA, Automated Ark and several unrelated mods simultaneously. Test the game update first, then the mod update, and restart between changes. A single-variable process identifies the cause faster and reduces the chance of compounding a broken save.
Use staged rollouts
Install updates on a test server or copied save before the production cluster. Have a player perform the real tasks your tribe depends on, including joining from each supported platform, opening automated storage, moving items and restarting the server.
Remove the mod only with a recovery plan
Before disabling it, move or document items and structures that depend on the mod and create a restorable backup. Removing a content mod from an active save can leave missing structures or inventories. Test the removal on a copy first; never use your only live save as the experiment.
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| Route | Best for | What you change | Main advantage | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-game Mods browser | Single-player, client or non-dedicated play | Install and activate Automated Ark in ASA | No configuration-file editing | Browser availability and client download issues |
ActiveMods= in GameUserSettings.ini |
Self-managed dedicated servers | Add the verified CurseForge ID, then restart | Direct control over the server list | Wrong file, syntax or ID can leave the mod inactive |
-mods= launch parameter |
Launch scripts and server managers that support it | Add comma-separated IDs to startup arguments | Convenient for scripted deployments | Managers may overwrite or format arguments differently |
| Managed-host Mod IDs field | Servers operated through a hosting panel | Enter the ID in the provider’s mod/startup field | No direct file access required | Labels, validation and restart behavior vary by host |
What to expect from the mod
Automated Ark is intended to reduce routine base work while retaining a vanilla-themed presentation. The commonly described functions include organizing items in storage, collecting eggs, handling meat as it spoils and pulling resources automatically. The practical value depends on your base layout, tribe size and tolerance for configuring automation devices. A small solo base may benefit mainly from sorting and pulling; a breeding or food operation may get more value from collection and spoil-management tools.
Do not treat the presence of a feature in an older wiki entry as a guarantee that the current release behaves identically. Names, recipes, range rules, power requirements and supported structures can change. Use the live mod description and in-game tooltips as the authority for the version you actually install.
Quick installation checklist
- Confirm you are installing the ASA version, not an ASE Workshop mod.
- Find Automated Ark by name and verify author blitzfire911.
- Verify the current CurseForge project ID; 928597 is the reported ID, not a permanent guarantee.
- For a client, install and activate it in ASA’s Mods browser.
- For a server, add the ID to
ActiveMods=, a supported-mods=argument or the host’s Mod IDs field. - Restart once and allow the first download to finish without interruption.
- Test on a backup or staging world before using valuable inventories.
- Check crossplay support before allowing console players onto a modded cluster.
- Record the working game and mod versions and back up before updates.
Final recommendation
For single-player or client use, the in-game browser is the correct and least error-prone installation path. For a dedicated server, verify the live CurseForge ID, place it in the active-mod list or your host’s equivalent field, restart and wait for the first download to complete. The two decisions that prevent most trouble are confirming console compatibility before enabling the mod on a crossplay cluster and testing every update on a recoverable copy of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Automated Ark an official ARK: Survival Ascended mod?
No. It is a third-party ASA mod authored by blitzfire911 and distributed through CurseForge, not a Studio Wildcard mod.
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The project ID reported for the listing is 928597. Verify the current number on the live CurseForge page before entering it because IDs can change after a re-upload.
Do players need to install the mod manually when joining my server?
Normally no. ASA advertises the server’s active mods and the connecting client downloads and activates the required package, although the player must allow the download to finish.
Can I use Automated Ark on a console crossplay server?
Do not assume so. PC-only mods may prevent console clients from loading and can break a mixed cluster. Confirm current platform support before enabling it.
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