To enable ARK’s server admin log, add -servergamelog to the dedicated-server launch arguments and restart the server. ARK then writes dated log files in the server’s Logs directory and makes the game-log stream available through RCON, where the getgamelog command retrieves recent entries.
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Use the files for a persistent, searchable history and RCON for a fast view of the current log buffer. Do not confuse -servergamelog with AdminLogging=True: the former creates the server game log, while the latter displays administrator commands in in-game chat.
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What the ARK server admin log contains
The server game log is a chronological record generated by the dedicated server. It is useful when you need to establish what happened around a connection, save, kick, ban, command, or tribe event rather than relying on a player’s recollection.
There are two practical ways to read it:
- Dated files: files written under the server’s
Logsdirectory. They are the better choice for reconstructing older events, searching a complete period, or preserving evidence. - RCON: a remote administrative connection that exposes the log through
getgamelog. It is faster for checking recent activity while the server is running, but the amount available depends on the configured RCON buffer.
The exact field labels in a line are not universal. They can change with the ARK edition, patch, and logging context, so interpret the timestamp and surrounding sequence rather than assuming every line follows one fixed schema.
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Enable server game logging
1. Add the launch option
- Open the command or launch-argument configuration used to start the dedicated server.
- Add
-servergamelogas a separate launch option. Keep the hyphen and spelling exactly as shown. - Save the launch configuration.
- Fully restart the server. A change made only to the saved panel or script does not affect the already-running process.
The official ARK configuration documentation describes this switch as enabling server admin logs, including RCON support. It also causes dated output files to be written in the server’s Logs directory.
2. Include tribe events when RCON needs them
If your administrators must see tribe events in RCON output, add -servergamelogincludetribelogs as well. The official configuration notes that this option is required for tribe logs in RCON output when -ServerRCONOutputTribeLogs is being used.
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Configure RCON access
RCON is optional if you only need the local files, but it is the quickest way to inspect a live server remotely. In GameUserSettings.ini, under the [ServerSettings] section, configure the three values required for an RCON connection:
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| Setting | What it supplies | What to check |
|---|---|---|
RCONEnabled=True |
Turns the RCON service on. | Make sure the value is enabled in the active configuration file. |
RCONPort |
Defines the port on which the RCON endpoint listens. | Use the same port in the RCON client or hosting panel. |
ServerAdminPassword |
Supplies the administrator credential used for RCON and in-game administrative authentication. | Enter the exact password and avoid assuming a provider’s panel password is the same value. |
- Stop the server before editing the configuration so the running process cannot overwrite your changes.
- Open
GameUserSettings.iniand locate or create[ServerSettings]. - Set
RCONEnabled=True, choose anRCONPort, and setServerAdminPassword. - Save the file and restart the server.
- Connect to the server address and configured RCON port with an RCON-capable tool or the controls supplied by your host.
The launch option and the INI settings serve different purposes: -servergamelog creates the game-log stream, while the RCON settings provide a way to reach that stream remotely.
Read the persistent log files
Find the files
After the server has started with -servergamelog, look in its Logs directory. The server writes dated output files there. On a self-hosted installation, this means browsing the server’s own filesystem. On a managed installation, the provider’s file manager may expose the same directory through its control panel.
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Use files for historical or forensic work
Choose the file workflow when you need to:
- Reconstruct a timeline that extends beyond the currently available RCON buffer.
- Search older dates or compare activity before and after a restart.
- Keep an original copy for an incident record or an administrator hand-off.
- Review the complete sequence around a report instead of only the most recent returned entries.
When preserving evidence, copy the dated file without editing it. Make a separate working copy for filtering or annotation so the original remains available for verification.
Retrieve recent entries with RCON
Run getgamelog
Once connected to the configured RCON endpoint, run:
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getgamelogThe official documentation describes retrieval in batches of 100 entries. The command is therefore a view of the available game-log buffer, not a guarantee that every historical line is returned in one response.
Increase the available buffer when necessary
If the default response does not cover the operational window you need, increase RCONServerGameLogBuffer in the server configuration and restart the server so the new value is used. A larger buffer can make a live review more useful, but it does not replace dated files when you need a durable archive.
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Include tribe logs in the RCON result
For tribe events to appear in the RCON output, use the tribe-log launch option described earlier together with the server’s tribe-log RCON output setting. If those options are absent, a missing tribe event in getgamelog does not by itself prove that no tribe activity occurred.
Authenticate for in-game administration
RCON access and in-game administration are separate paths. To authenticate inside the game, enter:
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enablecheats <ServerAdminPassword>Replace the angle-bracketed text with the password configured in GameUserSettings.ini. In multiplayer, administrative commands may require the cheat or admincheat prefix. Authentication allows administrative commands; it is not a substitute for enabling the server game log.
How to interpret an entry
Start with time and sequence
Read the timestamp first, then inspect the event category and the named actor, player, tribe, or system component. A single line can be ambiguous when separated from the events around it, so read adjacent entries before deciding what occurred.
Classify the event
Common investigations involve:
- Commands: identify the administrator or player context and check nearby lines for the command’s result.
- Connections: compare join, disconnect, and reconnect activity with the player’s report.
- Saves and restarts: correlate the event with the server process being stopped, started, or reconfigured.
- Kicks and bans: read the surrounding lines to distinguish an administrative action from a connection failure.
- Tribe events: confirm that tribe logging was enabled for the output path you are examining, especially when reviewing RCON.
Correlate instead of guessing
Match the log sequence against restart times, configuration changes, and player reports. For example, a report of a missing structure should be compared with the relevant time window, nearby tribe events, and any restart or save activity rather than attributed to the first line that mentions the player.
Because the documentation does not define one universal field-by-field schema, avoid treating an unfamiliar label as proof of a specific cause. Record the exact line, its timestamp, and the neighboring entries, then explain what the sequence establishes and what remains uncertain.
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| Comparison point | Dated files | RCON with getgamelog |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Stored as dated files in Logs; suitable for historical review and retention. |
Returns the available game-log buffer; intended for a quick live view. |
| Location | Requires access to the server filesystem or a host file manager. | Requires a reachable RCON endpoint, port, and administrator password. |
| Completeness | Lets you search the retained dated output. | Limited by the configured RCONServerGameLogBuffer and documented batch retrieval. |
| Operational speed | Best for detailed or forensic examination. | Best for checking recent activity without opening files. |
| Typical use | Incident timelines, older events, evidence preservation. | Live moderation and a rapid check during an active session. |
Use both when possible: RCON for an immediate indication, then the dated file to verify the complete sequence and preserve it.
Do not confuse AdminLogging with -servergamelog
AdminLogging=True is a [ServerSettings] option that logs administrator commands to in-game chat. It answers the question, “Which admin commands should players see in chat?”
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Troubleshoot missing or incomplete logs
No dated files appear
- Confirm that
-servergamelogis present in the launch arguments actually used by the server process. - Restart the server after changing the launch configuration.
- Check the server’s
Logsdirectory rather than an unrelated game or client log folder. - If the server is managed, verify that your account can browse or download server files through the host panel.
getgamelog returns nothing or too little
- Verify that
RCONEnabled=True,RCONPort, andServerAdminPasswordare set in the active[ServerSettings]section. - Confirm that the RCON connection is using the configured port and password.
- Check that the server was restarted after changing either launch arguments or INI settings.
- Increase
RCONServerGameLogBufferif the operational window exceeds the current buffer. - For missing tribe events, check the tribe-log launch and RCON output settings rather than assuming the entire log is empty.
In-game commands are rejected
Authenticate with enablecheats <ServerAdminPassword>. For multiplayer commands, try the required cheat or admincheat prefix. This issue concerns in-game command authentication; it does not indicate that the server game log is disabled.
A line seems to contradict a player report
Check the timestamp, read the adjacent entries, and compare the sequence with restarts, saves, configuration changes, and other reports. The log documents recorded server events, but interpreting an event still requires its context and the edition or patch that produced the labels.
Choose a workflow for your hosting arrangement
Self-hosted server
You normally control the launch arguments, GameUserSettings.ini, the Logs directory, and backup permissions. This gives you the most direct route to retaining dated files and adjusting the RCON buffer, but you are responsible for protecting the administrator password, restricting file access, and preserving copies of important logs.
Managed server
A managed host may expose the same information through a web panel, a downloadable server-log file, or an RCON console. The practical questions to ask are whether the panel permits launch-argument changes, whether it exposes GameUserSettings.ini, whether RCON is supported, and where downloaded logs are retained. If the panel does not expose the filesystem, RCON can provide a quick operational view, but historical access depends on the host’s file and retention controls.
Quick Recap
A repeatable incident-review procedure
- Write down the reported time, player or tribe, server name, and the claimed action.
- Use RCON and
getgamelogfor a quick check of recent entries. - Open the matching dated file in the
Logsdirectory for the full time window. - Read several entries before and after the suspected event.
- Correlate the sequence with restarts, saves, configuration changes, and player reports.
- Copy the original dated file to protected storage if the result may be needed later.
- Document what the log directly shows and keep uncertain inferences labeled as uncertain.
Operational checklist
-servergamelogis present in the real dedicated-server launch command.- The server has been restarted after launch or INI changes.
- Dated files are appearing under
Logs. RCONEnabled=True,RCONPort, andServerAdminPasswordare configured under[ServerSettings]when RCON is required.getgamelogis used for recent entries, withRCONServerGameLogBufferincreased when the default window is insufficient.-servergamelogincludetribelogsand the relevant tribe-log RCON setting are enabled when tribe events must appear remotely.AdminLogging=Trueis treated as chat visibility for admin commands, not as the server game-log switch.- Original dated files are retained when an incident requires an auditable timeline.
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