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How to Manage Players on an ARK Server

A practical ARK server player-management guide covering edition-specific IDs, admin authorization, join-no-check and exclusive whitelists, moderation commands, the in-game admin manager and hosted panels.
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Use an authenticated server-admin account, the player’s correct platform identifier, and the control that matches your goal. AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck handles a join-no-check whitelist; an exclusive-join list makes the server private; BanPlayer, UnbanPlayer, KickPlayer and Broadcast handle moderation and communication. You can run these from the server console, use ShowMyAdminManager when your edition supports it, or manage lists in a hosting panel such as Nitrado.

ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA), Steam, Epic, Xbox and PlayStation do not use one universal identifier or command workflow. Confirm the edition and platform before changing a list, and keep administrator credentials limited to trusted operators.

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Know which player-management tool you need

Player administration has four separate jobs. Choosing the right one prevents a common mistake, such as banning someone when you only meant to stop new joins.

Goal Control What it changes Typical identifier
Let a named player bypass the normal maximum-player check AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck Adds the player to the join-no-check whitelist Integer account ID in the official command examples; confirm the value shown by your server
Make the server private Exclusive-join list Blocks anyone absent from PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt The identifier format required by the target edition and platform
Prevent a player from connecting BanPlayer Adds the player to the ban list The server’s accepted account identifier
Restore a banned player UnbanPlayer Removes the player from the ban list The same identifier used for the ban entry
End an active session immediately KickPlayer Disconnects the current connection The active player identifier required by your server version
Warn or inform everyone online Broadcast Sends a server-wide message A message rather than an account ID

Whitelist, ban and kick lists are different lists. A player can be kicked without being banned, and removing a player from a whitelist does not necessarily remove an existing ban. Check each list when access results do not match your intention.

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Prepare the server before editing players

1. Confirm the ARK edition and platform

First identify whether the server runs ARK: Survival Evolved or ARK: Survival Ascended. Then record how the affected player connects: Steam, Epic, Xbox or PlayStation. ASE documentation commonly refers to Steam IDs, while ASA administrator files use ARK/EOS IDs. The same person can therefore present a different value depending on the edition and account system.

Do not copy a value from a different server, an old character record or a different platform and assume it will work. Cross-play configurations may expose more than one identity, and commands that accept an integer account ID are not proof that every list file accepts that same format.

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2. Obtain the identifier from the server

Use the server’s player-list or identity command while the player is online, or copy the identifier displayed by the administration interface. The official whitelist and ban examples use integer account IDs. The in-game manager can copy a UE4 player ID for commands that specifically require one. Record the complete value, including every digit, and keep a note of which edition and platform produced it.

If the player is offline and you cannot obtain an identifier from the console, use the existing list entry or the hosting panel’s offline-player view. Never guess an ID from a display name: names can change and several players can use similar names.

3. Authenticate as an administrator

Console commands require administrator authorization. Authenticate with the server’s admin password, following the syntax used by your server interface, before issuing a command. On a self-hosted server, trusted identifiers can instead be placed in the edition-appropriate administrator whitelist file. ASE documentation names AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt; ASA uses the corresponding ARK ID administrator file.

Administrator authorization is separate from a player whitelist. A player on a join-no-check list is not automatically allowed to run admin commands. Conversely, adding someone as an administrator gives substantially more power than allowing them to join.

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4. Protect the credential and files

  • Give the admin password only to people who actually moderate the server.
  • Use the administrator identifier file or a hosting panel’s admin list when you need to authorize a named operator without distributing the password.
  • Back up list files and configuration before editing them.
  • After a sensitive change, test with a non-admin account and review the active lists.

Choose between a join-no-check whitelist and a private server

Join-no-check whitelist

AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID> adds a player to the join-no-check list. It is intended for a listed player who should be admitted even when the server’s normal maximum-player check would otherwise prevent the connection. It does not turn the entire server into an invite-only server, and it does not grant administrator privileges.

To remove that entry while the server is running, use DisallowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>. Both commands operate on the identifier accepted by your edition and platform; replace <ID> with the exact value obtained from the server.

Exclusive-join list

An exclusive-join list is the appropriate control when nobody outside a named group should connect. Add permitted identifiers to PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt and enable the documented exclusive-join setting through the server command line or GameUserSettings.ini. Players absent from the list cannot join.

File-based changes generally require a server restart before the running process reads them. Schedule the restart, stop the server cleanly, edit the file or setting, save a backup, and start the server again. Test with one permitted and one unlisted account before announcing that the server is private.

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Access model Use it when Who can connect Operational note
Join-no-check A few players need an exception to the normal maximum-player check Normal server audience plus listed entries, subject to other restrictions Can be added or removed with a live command
Exclusive join The server is intended for a closed community Only identifiers in the exclusive list List or setting edits generally need a restart

Run the moderation commands

Add or remove a join-no-check entry

  1. Authenticate as an administrator.
  2. Confirm the player’s identifier from the server’s identity output.
  3. Run cheat AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>.
  4. Have the player reconnect, or retry the join if the original attempt was blocked by the player limit.
  5. When the exception is no longer needed, run cheat DisallowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>.

The cheat prefix shown above is the console form documented for these commands. A host panel may remove the prefix and provide a button instead; follow that panel’s command field rules.

Ban a player

  1. Capture the correct account identifier before the player leaves, if possible.
  2. Authenticate and run cheat BanPlayer <ID>.
  3. Verify that the identifier appears in the ban list.
  4. If the player is still connected, use cheat KickPlayer <identifier> to end the current session.

A ban prevents later connections according to the server’s ban system; kicking alone only disconnects the current session. If the command accepts a different identifier format for an active connection, use the value shown for that command rather than substituting a display name.

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Unban a player

  1. Locate the exact identifier in the ban list or server identity output.
  2. Run cheat UnbanPlayer <ID>.
  3. Confirm that the entry has disappeared from the ban list.
  4. Ask the player to reconnect and check the server log if access is still refused.

Removing a ban does not add the person to a whitelist or exclusive-join list. If the server is private, the player must also satisfy the exclusive-list rule.

Kick an active player

Use cheat KickPlayer <identifier> for an immediate disconnect when a player is disrupting play, needs to reload after a configuration change, or must leave during an incident. A kick is reversible by the player simply reconnecting unless another control, such as a ban or exclusive list, prevents it.

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Broadcast a message

Use cheat Broadcast <message> to notify everyone online. Announce planned restarts, rule changes, or the reason for a temporary kick before taking action when circumstances allow. Keep messages specific enough that players know whether they need to reconnect, update a mod, or wait for maintenance.

Use the in-game admin manager

On supported versions, ShowMyAdminManager opens an in-game management interface. It can display the current position, server information, connected players, banned players and whitelisted players, and it exposes many administrative commands from a graphical interface. The manager can also copy a UE4 player ID for commands that require that identifier.

  1. Authenticate with administrator rights.
  2. Enter ShowMyAdminManager in the appropriate admin console.
  3. Open the connected-player list to inspect an online user, or the banned and whitelisted sections to review list entries.
  4. Copy the identifier offered by the manager before issuing a command that needs a UE4 ID.
  5. Apply the action and verify the resulting list or connection state.

The manager is not guaranteed to look or behave identically on every ARK edition, platform or server build. If the command is unavailable, a panel or the server console remains the authoritative control surface for that installation.

Manage players from a hosted server panel

Nitrado Player Control

Nitrado’s web interface places player controls under Tools → Player Control. The documented interface lets an owner add or remove players from administrator, whitelist and ban lists, and view offline entries. This is useful when the owner is away from the game or when a moderator needs a visual list rather than a console.

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  1. Sign in to the hosting account that owns the ARK server.
  2. Select the target server and open Tools → Player Control.
  3. Choose the administrator, whitelist or ban section.
  4. Search for the player or enter the identifier required by the panel.
  5. Add or remove the entry, save the change, and check the resulting list.
  6. If the panel reports that a restart is required, schedule one and verify the player’s next connection.

The panel can also show offline players, which avoids waiting for someone to reconnect merely to discover an identifier. Provider labels and supported editions can change, so confirm that the selected server type exposes the control before relying on it for an urgent moderation action.

API automation

Nitrado’s API documentation exposes authenticated add and remove operations for whitelist and ban lists. An automation script can therefore apply a standard join or ban workflow without opening the game, provided it uses the provider’s current authentication method, server identifier and required player-ID format. Restrict API tokens as carefully as admin passwords, log every change, and test against a non-production server when possible.

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Compare the three administration approaches

Option Best for Main control surface Online or offline work Restart and automation considerations Trade-off
Self-hosted files and console Owners comfortable with server files and commands Console, GameUserSettings.ini and list files Both, provided you have the identifier Live commands usually apply immediately; file edits generally need a restart; scripts can be built around your own console and files Maximum control, but you maintain backups, permissions and syntax yourself
In-game admin manager Moderators who are online ShowMyAdminManager GUI Primarily live-player work, with list views for offline entries Support varies by edition and platform; no separate hosting API is required Fast and visual, but unavailable or different on unsupported builds
Hosted panel Owners who want remote visual administration Player Control web interface and provider API Online and offline management Panel may apply changes live or request a restart; authenticated API supports automation Convenient, but depends on the hosting provider and its current edition support

Choose based on identifier support first, then whether you need offline access, restart-free changes, remote access or API automation. A visually convenient control is not useful if it accepts a different account-ID format from the server you run.

Practical procedures for common situations

Allow one friend to join a full server

  1. Identify the server as ASE or ASA and note the player’s connection platform.
  2. Obtain the account ID from the server’s player or identity output.
  3. Authenticate as an administrator.
  4. Run cheat AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>.
  5. Ask the player to reconnect and confirm the active player list.
  6. Remove the exception with cheat DisallowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID> when it is no longer justified.

Make a private community server

  1. Create or edit PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt with the permitted identifiers.
  2. Enable the documented exclusive-join setting in the command-line configuration or GameUserSettings.ini.
  3. Back up the files and stop the server cleanly.
  4. Restart the server so it loads the list and setting.
  5. Test one listed account and one unlisted account.
  6. Keep the list updated when members change platforms or accounts.

Give a moderator admin access without sharing the password

  1. Verify that the person needs command access rather than simple join permission.
  2. Use the administrator whitelist file appropriate to the edition: AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt for ASE or the corresponding ARK ID administrator file for ASA.
  3. Add only the trusted identifier, preserving the file’s existing formatting.
  4. Restart if the server build requires a reload for administrator-file changes.
  5. Test with that moderator’s account and remove the entry when the role ends.

This approach narrows access to named accounts, but it still grants powerful rights. A join-no-check entry is safer for a regular player who does not moderate.

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Remove someone who is causing an incident

  1. Record the identifier and a brief reason for the action.
  2. Use cheat Broadcast <message> if the wider community needs an explanation.
  3. Run cheat KickPlayer <identifier> to end the current session.
  4. Run cheat BanPlayer <ID> only when a continuing connection block is warranted.
  5. Review all three lists afterward so an old whitelist entry does not conflict with your policy.

Troubleshoot failed player-management changes

The command says the player was not found

Check the edition, platform and identifier type. A display name is not a reliable substitute for an account ID, Steam ID, ARK/EOS ID or UE4 player ID. Copy the value again from the server or manager, and do not add spaces or punctuation that are not part of the identifier.

The command is rejected or has no effect

Re-authenticate as an administrator and confirm that the command is being entered in the server’s admin console rather than ordinary chat. Some interfaces require the cheat prefix, while a hosting panel may provide a separate command field. If a live command still fails, use the list file or panel and restart as required.

A player remains able to join after removal

Determine which control is allowing access. Removing a join-no-check entry does not remove an exclusive-list entry, and removing a whitelist entry does not clear a ban. Inspect the active whitelist, exclusive-join file and ban list, then restart if a file-based change has not been loaded.

A banned player can still connect

Verify that you banned the account identifier used by that edition and platform, not a character name or a different linked account. Check for duplicate entries in the panel and server files. If the player is currently connected, kick the active session after applying the ban.

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The admin manager is missing

ShowMyAdminManager is supported only on some versions and platforms. Use the authenticated console or the hosting panel instead, and avoid assuming that a menu documented for one edition exists in the other.

Panel and console show different lists

Allow time for the panel to synchronize, verify that both interfaces point to the same server instance, and check whether one change is waiting for a restart. Export or copy the current list before reconciling conflicting entries so that a valid member is not accidentally removed.

Keep administration safe and auditable

  • Maintain a dated backup of GameUserSettings.ini, administrator files, whitelist files and ban lists.
  • Use least privilege: ordinary members receive join permission, while only moderators receive administrator authorization.
  • Record who made each ban, kick, unban or administrator change and why.
  • Announce planned restarts with Broadcast so players can leave safely.
  • Review inactive administrators and old join-no-check exceptions regularly.
  • Rotate the admin password or revoke a file-based administrator entry when a moderator leaves.
  • After updates or a move between ASE and ASA, recheck identifier formats and test every management path before reopening the server.

The Bottom Line

For a single-player exception, use AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck; for a truly private server, use the exclusive-join list; for moderation, use the ban, unban, kick and broadcast commands. Authenticate first, verify the edition-specific identifier, and choose the console, in-game manager or hosted panel that your server actually supports.

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