How to install or update an ARK Survival Ascended server on a Windows VPS

ARK Survival Ascended dedicated servers are installed with SteamCMD on a Windows VPS. The dedicated server tool is 2430930, named ARK: Survival Ascended Dedicated Server in Steam, and installs the Windows server executable at ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe.

Before starting, install SteamCMD first: Installing SteamCMD on your Windows VPS.

The same SteamCMD command is used for both first installs and future updates. On a fresh VPS it downloads the server files; on an existing server it checks the install, downloads changed files, and validates anything missing or damaged.

Install the server

1. Connect to your Windows VPS.
2. Open PowerShell.
3. Run this command to install the server to C:\ark-asa:

   & "C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe" +force_install_dir "C:\ark-asa" +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

4. SteamCMD will open, log in anonymously, download app 2430930, validate the server files, and close when finished.

   

5. Wait for SteamCMD to finish downloading and validating the server files. The first install is large, so leave the window open until it says the app is fully installed.

   

6. After the install finishes, check the server folder and executable.

   dir C:\ark-asa
   dir C:\ark-asa\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64\ArkAscendedServer.exe

   

   

Update the server

1. Tell players the server is going offline.
2. Stop the ARK Survival Ascended server process.
3. Open PowerShell.
4. Run the same SteamCMD command against the existing install folder:

   & "C:\steamcmd\steamcmd.exe" +force_install_dir "C:\ark-asa" +login anonymous +app_update 2430930 validate +quit

5. Wait for SteamCMD to finish. Do not close the window while it is downloading, validating, or installing files.

   

6. Start the server again from your batch file.

The validate option checks the installed files and replaces anything missing or damaged. That is useful after a failed update, but it can make updates take longer than a normal file check. If SteamCMD reports a disk space error, expand the VPS disk or choose a larger plan before retrying. If it reports a network or content server error, run the same command again; SteamCMD will continue validating the existing files.