How To Join Your ARK: Survival Evolved Server

Taming creatures and exploring the caves is one thing alone, but playing ARK: Survival Evolved with friends turns the same map into a shared fight to survive. Whether you’re joining someone else’s server or connecting to your own, there are a few ways in: by IP address, through the Epic Games Launcher, or directly in Steam. In this Nitrado guide, we’ll show you how to use each method to get your friends into the game.

Find Your ARK Server IP Address

Every method of joining starts with your server’s IP address, which you’ll find in your Nitrado Web Interface.

1. Log into your Nitrado Web Interface and select your ARK: Survival Evolved server.
2. Look at the server info sidebar on the left side of the panel. It lists your User ID, IP address, Game port, and Query port.

Note the IP address and port. You’ll need them whether you connect through the Epic Games Launcher or directly in Steam.

Join Through the Epic Games Launcher

The Epic Games Launcher doesn’t support connecting by IP address directly, but you can still join from inside the game.

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and start ARK: Survival Evolved.
2. Load into a single-player game.
3. Press Tab to open the in-game console.
4. Type open SERVERIP:PORT and press Enter.

You’ll connect to your server as soon as the command runs.

Join Directly Through Steam

Connecting directly in Steam launches you straight onto your server when the game starts.

1. Open Steam and select the Library tab.
2. Locate ARK: Survival Evolved, then right-click the game.
3. Select Properties to open the game’s settings.
4. Open the General tab and find the Launch Options field.
5. Enter +connect SERVERIP:PORT. If the server has a password, use +connect SERVERIP:PORT +password YOURPASSWORD instead.
6. Close the window and start ARK: Survival Evolved to connect automatically.

Back to the Island!

You now have three ways onto your ARK: Survival Evolved server: by IP address, through the Epic Games Launcher, or directly in Steam. Pick whichever fits how you and your friends play, and get back to taming, building, and surviving together. 🦖