How to Set Your ARK Server Passwords

Published 8 June 2026 · By Host Havoc Technical Support Team

Your ARK: Survival Evolved server has two passwords: the join password players need to connect, and the admin password that unlocks admin commands. Both live in the GameUserSettings.ini file and take a restart to apply. After setting them, share the steps from our joining your ARK server guide with your players.

Set the passwords

  1. Log into the game panel and open your ARK service.
  2. Click Configuration Files.
  3. Open GameUserSettings.ini in the Config Editor.
  4. Set the values you need:
    • ServerPassword= for the join password.
    • ServerAdminPassword= for the admin password.
  5. Save the file.
  6. Start or restart the server.

Warning: Always set a ServerAdminPassword. Without one, admin powers are exposed on the server. The admin password is also what players use with admin commands.

Remove the join password

If you set the join password through a custom command line, clearing the GameUserSettings.ini value is not enough. Open the Commandline Manager, edit your custom command line, empty the password field, then save and click Select so it applies on the next restart.