How to Transfer Saves Between ARK: Survival Ascended Servers

How to Transfer Saves Between ARK: Survival Ascended Servers

On an ARK: Survival Ascended game server, you and friends can experience many wondrous adventures and create magnificent bases. Sometimes, you may need to switch servers, which means needing to transfer a saved game between servers to keep progress, resources and builds. These transfers ensure you’ll save time and effort, and enjoy the game without having to start from scratch. In this guide, we will cover how you can transfer your ARK game saves to a new Nitrado server!

How to Transfer ARK Server Saves with Local Backups

Create a Local Backup:

First, we will need to create a local backup of the save we want to transfer, we will start by accessing the web interface of our server. 

1. Firstly, we must stop the server completely.
2. Then, connect to the FTP of your server via FileZilla.
3. Now, navigate to your game save folder on the right side. You can find this by going to this location:  /arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/TheIsland_WP
   
4. You’ll want to proceed to download/transfer those files to a safe folder on your PC.
5. Additionally, you’ll find your .ini files at /arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer, to ensure you can also back those up in your local save.
   
6. Once that is done, the local save is ready to be uploaded to your new Nitrado server!

Restore the local backup on the new server:

1. Once you have created the local save, stop your game server.
2. Next, connect to the new ARK server’s FTP.
   
3. On the right side in your server files, locate your game save folder. Rename the “SavedArks” folder by adding “-old” at the end of the name.
   
4. Navigate to the left side where your local files are and drag the local backup you created at the beginning to the right side in the “saved” folder.
   
5. If you decided to keep your previous configuration, select the folder config > windows server and delete the existing .ini files. After, upload the .ini files you backed up in the first steps.
   
6. Then, you must go to the web interface of the new server and under “General Settings”, find the “Backups” section and select “Start with the current save game.” This will load your local save and configuration onto the new server.
   
7. Afterward, press “Save changes” and start the server to load that.

So far, we have learned how to load a save between two nitrado servers, but what happens if the save we want to load is a custom map? We’ll cover custom maps below!

How to Upload a Custom Map Save

Uploading a custom map save is not too different from the steps we have done previously, there are only some small differences that we must perform to upload the save.

Create a Local Backup:

In addition to the files mentioned in the previous steps you will have to create or have a local backup file first of the “saved arks” of the custom map. In this case, we will download an Amissa save.

Upload the custom map to the new server:

1. Stop the new server and add the custom map mod from CurseForge mods.
2. Once installed, you must go to general settings and change the map name to custom, in custom map name you must add the custom name of the map. For Amissa, that is Amissa_WP.
• There are certain maps that have exceptions, such as Insaluna (“insaluna_WP”), which requires it being written in all lowercase. You can check the CurseForge page of the custom map to see the correct custom map name.
  

3. Start the server and after a few minutes, the map will be loaded onto the server.

Upload saved information:

1. Now, it’s time to connect via FTP to the new server and upload the local save.
2. Locate the “SavedArks” folder from the server side and rename the Amissa folder by adding “_old” at the end of the name.
3. Drag the local save we previously created from your backups to the server “SavedArks”.
   
4. Next, from the new server’s web interface, go to “General Settings,” find the “Backups” section, and select “Start with current saved game.” This will load your save on the new server.
   
5. Afterward, press “Save changes” and start the server to load that custom map save.

Experiencing Your Existing Saves on Your Own ASA Server

By following these steps, you can easily back up your data, transfer it to a new server, and configure it the way you want. Whether you’re moving to a standard or custom map, these instructions help protect your time and effort invested in the game. Enjoy a seamless gaming experience by keeping your saves and configurations intact on your new Nitrado ARK: Survival Ascended server!

Useful ASA guides

• ARK: Survival Ascended Optimization Tips
• ARK: Survival Ascended Player Stats Per Level
• ARK Primal Chaos Mod for ARK: Survival Ascended

 

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