How to Fix an ARK Server That Won't Start

Published 8 June 2026 · By Host Havoc Technical Support Team

An ARK: Survival Evolved server that will not come online is almost always fixable in a few minutes. Work through the checks below in order before you open a support ticket, because most failures come down to a mod conflict, a corrupt save, or an incomplete update. Start by confirming the server is truly offline rather than just slow to boot.

Before you start: Give the server 5 to 15 minutes after any boot or update. ARK can take a long time to load large maps and mod sets, and a server that looks offline is often still starting.

Confirm the server is actually offline

  1. Open the game panel and check whether the status shows the server as running.
  2. Try to find the server in your Steam favorites. If you are not sure how, follow our guide on joining your ARK server.
  3. If it appears after a few minutes, it was still starting and no further action is needed.

Note: If the server runs but will not show in the in-game session browser, set the session filter to show unofficial servers and search by name. A missing listing is usually a browser filter, not a down server.

Rule out mods

Mods are the most common cause of a server that will not start.

  1. Disable your mods in the Commandline Manager.
  2. Delete the Mods folder at ShooterGame/Content/Mods to clear leftover files.
  3. Start the server and check whether it comes online.

Warning: Mods leave files behind even when disabled, which can keep a server from starting. Always clear the Mods folder after disabling, then reintroduce mods one at a time to find the culprit. See how to add mods when you add them back.

Reset the save folder

A corrupt world save can stop the server from loading.

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Rename ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks to something like SavedArks_old. The server generates a fresh folder on the next start.
  3. Start the server. If it boots, the original save was the problem, and you can rename the folder back later to recover it.

Update and validate the server files

  1. Run Update Server Files from the game panel. A log window opens; note that it does not refresh in real time.
  2. If the update does not help, force a full file validation to repair any missing or damaged files.
  3. Start the server once the validation finishes.

Still not starting

If the server is still down after every step above, open a support ticket from the billing panel and list the steps you have already tried. Tickets get a faster, tracked response than live chat or social messages.