How to connect to your ARK: Survival Evolved server

The ARK unofficial list is slow and often incomplete. This article gives you three ways in, starting with the one that always works.

1. Find your server address

1. Log in to the Client Area at https://playnhost.com/billing and open your ARK service.
2. Note the IP / Hostname and Port. ARK usually runs on game port 7777 with a query port on 27015, and your panel shows the ports allocated to your service.

2. Join with the open command, the reliable route

1. Launch ARK and stay on the main menu.
2. Press Tab to open the console.
3. Type open <ip>:<gameport>, for example open 123.45.67.89:7777, then press Enter.
4. If the server has a join password, use open <ip>:<gameport>?Password=yourpassword.

This uses the game port, not the query port. It bypasses the server list entirely.

3. Join through Steam favourites

1. Open the Steam client, click View, then Game Servers.
2. On the Favorites tab click Add a Server.
3. Enter IP:QueryPort, normally the port ending in 27015 shown in your panel.
4. Add it, select it, and click Connect.

4. Find it in the unofficial list

1. In game, choose Join ARK.
2. Set the session filter to Unofficial and clear every other filter, including the map filter and the ping filter.
3. Type your server name in the search box and refresh.

New servers can take several minutes to appear, and a full list refresh sometimes needs a game restart.

5. What to give your tribe

• The IP and game port for the open command.
• The query port for Steam favourites.
• The session name and the join password if you set one.

If a player is stuck on the loading screen for more than a few minutes on a modded server, they are still downloading mods. See the mods guide in this category.