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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Launch ARK from the Epic Games Store, select Join Game, and look in the Unofficial server list. If the server is not listed, start a single-player session, open the console with Tab, and enter open IP:PORT using the server’s game port, not its query port. The server must permit crossplay; an Epic-only setting also exists on some hosted panels.
Godlike.Host offers hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
These steps reflect third-party host guidance and community reports rather than an official Epic or Studio Wildcard manual. Menu names can change between ARK: Survival Ascended builds, and some older ARK: Survival Evolved advice does not carry over unchanged.
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Choose the connection method
Use the browser when you want ARK to find a publicly listed server. Use a direct IP connection when the administrator has supplied an address and port, or when the browser list is incomplete. Both methods still depend on the server allowing Epic crossplay.
| Method | What you need | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game server browser | Server name and a server that is visible to Epic clients | Fastest option for listed unofficial servers | Listings can be delayed, filtered out, or absent |
| Direct IP | Public IP address and game port; access to the console | Connecting to a known server that does not appear in search | Requires the correct game port and a reachable server |
Join through ARK’s server browser
Host instructions for the Epic version of ARK: Survival Ascended describe the following route. The exact tab or button text may differ in another build.
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- Open the Epic Games Store launcher and start ARK from your library.
- Wait for the game’s main menu, then select Join Game.
- Open the Unofficial server category. If the game offers search, enter part of the server name supplied by its administrator.
- Select the matching server and choose Join.
- If ARK displays a password prompt, enter the password supplied by the administrator. Password behavior for Epic clients is not consistent across the available reports, so treat a failed password attempt as a compatibility issue rather than proof that the password is wrong.
- Allow the connection attempt to finish. A first connection can take longer while ARK downloads or prepares server data.
If the server is absent, do not assume that the address is invalid. Browser visibility depends on the server being advertised correctly, crossplay being enabled, your filters, and the network path between your client and the server. Work through the troubleshooting section before changing server settings.
Connect directly with an IP address
A direct connection bypasses the need to find the server in the public list, but it does not bypass crossplay or network requirements. You need the server’s public IP address and its game port.
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- From ARK’s main menu, open Host / Local.
- Choose Play Single Player and start the session. The single-player world is only being used to reach the in-game console.
- Press Tab to open the console. On a layout where Tab is intercepted by another application, bring ARK into focus and try again.
- Type
open IP:PORT, replacingIPwith the server’s public address andPORTwith its game port. For example, the format isopen 203.0.113.10:7777; use the actual values given by the administrator, not this example address. - Press Enter and wait for ARK to attempt the connection. If the server uses a password, follow the administrator’s tested procedure. One host guide describes adding the password after the address, while another report says Epic clients could not join password-protected servers directly; the syntax and support are therefore unverified.
Do not substitute the query port for the game port. A query port is used for server information and listing; it is not the endpoint used by the game client for the session. Some host documentation describes the game port as the one ending in 5, but port numbering is configurable, so confirm the value in the hosting panel or with the administrator.
Server settings that Epic players require
Crossplay must be enabled
Epic clients can join only servers configured to allow crossplay. If a server is Steam-only, it can remain online and visible to other players while rejecting an Epic connection. Ask the administrator to confirm the crossplay setting before changing anything on your computer.
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Epic-only access is a separate choice
Some hosted control panels expose an Epic Only option. That setting limits access to Epic Games Store players; it is not the same as enabling general crossplay. A server intended for both Steam and Epic users needs crossplay enabled without restricting the population to Epic only.
Command-line arguments require version checking
A 2020 Steam community post for ARK: Survival Evolved lists -crossplay to enable crossplay on a dedicated server and -epiconly to permit only Epic Games Store players. Those arguments belong to Evolved-era guidance. They are useful clues for an administrator running Evolved, but they are not confirmation that the same switches work on ARK: Survival Ascended. The administrator should check the current server build and hosting panel before adding either argument.
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|---|---|---|
| Crossplay option | Allows Epic clients to connect alongside supported platforms | Required for Epic access; the exact control depends on the server software or panel |
-crossplay |
Enables crossplay on a dedicated Evolved server | Reported in a 2020 Evolved community post; verify before using on Ascended |
-epiconly |
Restricts a dedicated Evolved server to Epic players | Reported for Evolved; not confirmed for Ascended |
| Epic Only panel option | Restricts access to Epic Games Store players | Available on some hosted panels, not necessarily every host |
Ports, firewalls, and remote access
If you are connecting to a server outside your home network, the server operator must make the game port reachable from the internet. That normally means forwarding the game port from the router to the server machine and allowing it through the machine’s firewall. A server can appear to be configured correctly locally yet remain unreachable to remote players when either step is missing.
- Request the public IP address and the game port, not only the server’s query-port number.
- Have the administrator confirm that the forwarded port points to the current server computer.
- Check the operating system firewall and any router security rule that could block inbound traffic.
- If the server’s public address changes, obtain the new address before attempting another direct connection.
Do not open random ports on your own router to compensate for a server-side problem. Port forwarding is required on the network hosting the server, not on the ordinary player’s network for a normal outbound connection.
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Password joining is not settled for Epic clients
The available guidance conflicts. One host article says that, when it was written, the Epic Games version could not join password-protected servers directly. Another description of the in-game browser says ARK presents a password prompt when the server has one, and a separate direct-connect guide suggests appending the password after the address. None of these reports establishes current behavior for every ARK build.
For a private server, test the exact build and connection route with its administrator. If the browser accepts the password but the console route does not, use the browser. If neither route works, ask the administrator to verify the password setting and whether the server software supports Epic authentication; do not repeatedly guess passwords, because some servers may rate-limit or block failed attempts.
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Troubleshoot a server that does not appear
1. Confirm the category and filters
Start in Join Game and select Unofficial when following host guidance for Ascended. Clear name, map, region, and other filters, then search again using a distinctive part of the server name. A restrictive filter can hide a healthy server without producing an error.
2. Verify the server is actually advertising
Ask another player or the administrator whether the server is visible to them. If nobody can see it, the problem is likely server advertising, a stopped process, or a listing service delay rather than an Epic client setting. If other players can see it but you cannot, continue with the crossplay and client checks.
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3. Check crossplay before reinstalling
Have the administrator confirm that crossplay is enabled for the running server instance, not merely selected in an unused template. A restart may be required after changing the option. Evolved command-line advice should not be copied to Ascended without checking the current build.
4. Try a direct connection
Obtain the public IP and game port from the administrator and use the console sequence under Connect directly with an IP address. If direct connection succeeds while the browser fails, the server is reachable and the issue is probably listing or filtering. If direct connection times out too, investigate the port, firewall, and server process.
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5. Investigate BattlEye and client display options
A community thread recommends checking whether the server runs BattlEye and notes that the client’s protected-server and password-display options may be off by default. These are community-reported checks, not universal fixes. Compare the server’s anti-cheat requirement with the options enabled in your Epic installation and use the same setting the administrator requires.
6. Treat a timeout as a network symptom
A timeout commonly indicates the wrong port, a stopped server, missing port forwarding, or a firewall rule. Reconfirm the game port character by character. The query port may return server information in a hosting panel while still failing as a playable connection.
7. Update only after configuration checks
If the client and server are on incompatible game builds, the connection can fail even with correct networking. Confirm that ARK has finished its Epic update and ask the administrator whether the server restarted after its own update. Do not infer a version mismatch solely from a missing browser listing; check the port and crossplay settings first.
Ascended and Evolved: what you can safely carry over
The browser and console concepts are common to ARK versions, but the evidence for their exact labels and arguments is not equally strong. Host guidance describes the Unofficial tab and the Host / Local route for Ascended. The documented -crossplay and -epiconly switches come from an older Evolved community post. That distinction matters because a switch accepted by an Evolved server manager may be ignored or handled differently by Ascended.
When asking for help, state the game edition explicitly, whether you launched through Epic, the server’s game port, and whether the server is dedicated or hosted through a panel. “ARK server” alone is not enough information to determine which menu labels or launch arguments apply.
Pre-connection checklist
- ARK was launched from the Epic Games Store version, not a different installation.
- You know whether the server is running Survival Ascended or Survival Evolved.
- The server administrator has enabled crossplay for that edition and current build.
- You have the game port, not only the query port.
- The server is listed under the expected unofficial category, or you have its public IP for direct connection.
- For a remote server, the game port is forwarded to the server machine and allowed through its firewall.
- You know whether BattlEye is required and have checked the client’s related options.
- If the server is password-protected, you have a tested Epic-compatible joining method rather than relying on an unverified password syntax.
What to report when asking the server administrator for help
Provide enough detail for the administrator to distinguish a listing problem from a network problem:
- Your game edition: Ascended or Evolved.
- That you are using the Epic Games Store version.
- Whether you tried the browser, direct IP, or both.
- The exact server name, public IP, and game port you used; do not post a private password publicly.
- The symptom: missing listing, immediate rejection, password failure, or timeout.
- Whether another Epic player can connect and whether Steam players can connect.
- Whether BattlEye is enabled on the server.
This information lets the administrator verify crossplay, the active game port, forwarding, firewall rules, and password support in the correct order.
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