ARK server not showing up? how to fix it (2023)

Every ARK server owner or even gamer knows the difficulty of connecting to a server that doesn't show up in the server browser. Sometimes even company-operated hosted servers are not listed, although this is the easiest way to list an unofficial server.

However, there are fixes available to both server owners and players to help them enumerate the server or find another way to connect to it.

Why doesn't my ARK server show up?

How to fix ARK server not showing up

The reasons why your server may not display depends on whether you are a player, a server host, or the owner of a server hosted by a third party.

A server owner should try to make the fixes that a hosted server owner should, but the person paying for a host doesn't need to fix problems in the same way as someone running their own server at home.

However, the best way to find out why your server is not showing up is to start from the player's perspective. Do whatever it takes to make it appear as a player to make sure none of these issues bother you. If not, it could fix a lot of server issues if the problem was the launcher.

Fixes for players

Understanding how the server browser and filters work is beneficial to anyone trying to find an elusive ARK server. Start with the name filter at the top left.

• The name filter looks for specific words that you type in the field. When searching for a server named "Dinosaurs and Axes", you can use the word "Axes" so that the server's browser will only show sessions with the word "Axes" in the title.
• You can also choose onespecific cardPlease use the drop down menu on the map. You can only select one at a time unless you are searching for all cards. Choosing who your server is on can help narrow down a long list of results.
• In the Game Mode dropdown, you can choose between PvP, PvE, or both.
• You can also choose how to order the servers. It's usually pinged when you start. Choose one of the other options to see a different type and possibly help you find your server.
• Make sure sessions autoplay as favorites to make it easier to find servers in the future.
• Make sure Hide Full Sessions is not checked unless you are sure the server you are trying to find is not full.
• Use the session filter to choose what type of server you are looking for. This one stumbles upon a lot of new players. If you search for a server that hosts but you selected Official Servers, your server will not appear no matter what other filters you use.
• At the top right you can also sort by ascending or descending order of the results.

Knowing that all of your filters are correct is the first step in making sure that ARK is up to date. Then make sure your game and mods are up to date. Often the game or a mod is updated and your computer does not follow it automatically. It also helps ensure that the server shows up, since your configuration supports it.

This setup will completely remove and then reinstall all your mods. If you know a specific mod will be updated, just unsubscribe from that one. If no mods have been updated but the game has been updated, you can skip the sets with the mod workshop.

1. Open Steam.
2. Hover over itcommunity.
3. clicktaller.
4. Scribe "ARCO' in the Find workshop field.
5. click"ARK: Survival Evolved" of the list.
6. Hover over "your files' and click 'Subscribed articles.”
7. clickLog out everyoneand confirm.
8. Fencevapor.
9. Open Steam again. It will automatically check for an ARK update. No other games should be opened or run during the update.
10. OpenARCO.
11. Try to find the server again.
12. Click on it to join when it appears. Required mods are automatically subscribed and downloaded as part of the registration process.

Fixes for people running servers

If you're running your own server, you'll need to manually update the game, forward specific ports, and make sure your mod files are the latest version. These can prevent the server from being listed in the server browser.

1. Run SteamCMD.
2. Scribe "login user password', but replace the username and password with your Steam User ID and Password.
3. press enter.
4. Scribe "force_install_dir C:\ArkServer\' without quotes, but replace C: with the drive where you keep your ArkServer files.
5. PressGet into.
6. Scribe "Validar app_update 346110"without quotation marks.
7. Open the file folder of your ARK server.
8. open thatmod folder.
9. Replace outdated mods with the newer files downloaded from the Steam Workshop. Many ARK server owners use programs to manage their mods, so update them when you need to.
10. Close your files.
11. PressWindows-Sabor + R.
12. Scribe "wf.msc"without quotation marks.
13. PressCtrl + Shift + Enter. This will start your firewall with administrative privileges.
14. In the left pane, highlight Inbound Rules.
15. clicknew rule.
    
16. clickPuertoand then clicknext.
17. To chooseTCP.
18. Scribe "27015, 27016, 27020, 7777” without quotes in the Specific local ports field.
    
19. clicknext.
20. To chooseallow connectionand then clicknext.
21. Check each box and then clicknext.
22. Scribe "ARCA-TCP' without the quotes as a name.
    
23. clickFinish.
24. Repeat steps 14-23, but in step 17 choose UDP instead of TCP and name this rule "ARK-UDP.”
25. press theWindows + Likeand choosesettings.
26. To chooseupdates and security.
27. clickwindows securityin the left pane.
28. To chooseFirewall and network protection.
    
29. clickAllow an app through the firewall.
30. Find ARK in the list and check the box next to it.
    
31. clickOK.
32. Start the server.

The server should now be configured to appear in the server browser. Note that it takes a while for the server to start up and register with the browser, so don't expect it to show up right away.

Bug fixes for games hosted on dedicated servers

If you pay for a dedicated server, it's easy to manage and update files for ARK. Most server hosts should offer to do this automatically and restart the server afterwards.

However, that doesn't always happen. My last server host would often not update the game automatically and would lag on restart until the server came to a complete stop.

The steps vary depending on the server hosting company. However, these general fixes should be available regardless of who hosts your ARK server.

1. Log in to your server's control panel.
2. Stop the server if it is currently running. (If it's not running, it probably won't show up. Simply starting it may fix the problem.)
3. press thesteam updateButton to update the version of ARK you are running.
4. Select theUpdate and validateOption if available.
5. update your mods. Most server hosts have a way to manage it through a mod manager or include mod updates in the steam server update option. If you manage them via FTP, connect to FTP and replace the old mod files with the new mod files in the Content/Modifications section.
6. Wait at least 30 minutes for the process to complete and the server to reboot. Some server hosts may require you to manually reboot them once you're done. So check if it starts in the server status area.
7. Verify that the server appears in the ARK server browser.

other tips

• Sometimes the use of strange characters or spaces in a server name makes it less likely to appear. If you are using an unusual hostname, try changing to common words without characters. It may appear clearer once the update has been processed.
• Steam has a server browser that you can useconnect to ARK serversinstead of using the ones from the game client. If you're having connection issues, check to see if it shows up on Steam.
  If so, then it's just an ARK client issue and you may have to wait to see it later. If it doesn't show up for you on multiple machines on ARK or via Steam, it's most likely a server issue.
• Some people had trouble getting the servers to show up specifically on an internet connection. If they switch to using a hotspot or other connection, it will appear. This is just an ISP quirk and something you should talk to your ISP about if it happens repeatedly.
• Always check your server's IP if you have trouble seeing it. Sometimes your ISP can change it. In this case, it won't appear for people trying to connect to the old address.