A batch file lets you start your ARK Survival Ascended server with the same map, name, ports, and passwords every time.
Create it after the dedicated server files have been installed with SteamCMD.
- Open Notepad on the Windows VPS.
- Paste this example, then change the server name and passwords before saving:
@echo off cd /d C:\ark-asa\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64 ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyASAServer?ServerPassword=JoinPassword?ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword?Port=7777?QueryPort=27015 -WinLiveMaxPlayers=70 -server -log
- Click File > Save As.
- Set Save as type to All Files.
- Save the file as
start-asa.bat, for example on the desktop or inC:\ark-asa. - Double-click
start-asa.batto start the server.
What the start options mean
The first part changes into the server executable folder.
The second part starts the server and passes launch options to ARK Survival Ascended.
Options that start with a ? are chained directly after the map name with no spaces between them.
Options that start with a - are separate launch flags and must be separated with spaces after the map/options section.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
cd /d C:\ark-asa\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64 | Moves the batch file into the folder that contains ArkAscendedServer.exe. The /d part lets Windows change drive as well as folder. |
ArkAscendedServer.exe | Starts the ARK Survival Ascended dedicated server executable. |
TheIsland_WP | Sets the map to The Island. Change this when you want the server to boot a different supported ASA map. |
?listen | The first ? option after the map. It tells the server to listen for player connections. Keep it directly after the map name with no space. |
?SessionName=MyASAServer | A ? server option that sets the public server name players see in the server browser. For more detail, use How to change your ARK Survival Ascended server name and passwords. |
?ServerPassword=JoinPassword | A ? server option that sets the password players need to join. Remove this option if you want an open public server. |
?ServerAdminPassword=AdminPassword | A ? server option that sets the admin password used for server administration commands. Keep this private. |
?Port=7777 | A ? server option that sets the main game port. If you change it, update your firewall rule too. |
?QueryPort=27015 | A ? server option that sets the Steam query port used for server browser queries. If you change it, update your firewall rule too. |
-WinLiveMaxPlayers=70 | A - launch flag that sets the maximum player count used by the Windows dedicated server launch. Put a space before this and between each later - flag. |
-server | A - launch flag that runs the game executable in dedicated server mode. It must be separated from the previous option with a space. |
-log | A - launch flag that opens a server log window so you can see startup output and errors. It must be separated from -server with a space. |
Keep the first test simple: use TheIsland_WP.
Avoid spaces in the server name, and confirm the server starts before adding extra launch options.
After the server starts, open the required Windows Firewall ports for your chosen game, query, and RCON ports: How to open Windows Firewall ports for an ARK Survival Ascended server.
