# How to use ARK server commands

ARK: Survival Evolved is a multiplayer survival game. ARK server commands are essential when configuring your ARK server. These set the game and server rules, determine in-game communication and change game settings. We’ll show you which server commands you should know and how to save your configurations.

## What are server commands in ARK: Survival Evolved?

You determine the rules for the multiplayer game ARK: Survival Evolved when you have your own ARK Dedicated Server. As a server administrator, you can configure your ARK server to your liking and choose the **settings for game worlds and players**. For example, you can decide to allow or disallow [ARK cheats](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/configuration/ark-cheats/), if players are whitelisted, and which game features are used. The ARK server commands are useful if you’re setting up a new server, or performing reconfiguration and server migration.

## How to use and save ARK server commands

It can take a lot of time and effort to configure your own server for ARK: Survival Evolved. Ensure your settings aren’t lost when shutting down your PC. Simply apply the server commands, and store and automate them in the ***GameUserSettings.ini*** file.

The *GameUserSettings.ini* file stores the server commands and reads them when the server starts. The file executes the **configurations** after restarting. Open the path `ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini` with a text editor to access the file.

Look for **ServerSettings**. You can enter one or several commands. Each command must be on a separate line. Save the file to execute the command(s) automatically every time you start the server.

## Important server commands for ARK: Survival Evolved

The following overview presents the most important ARK server commands and their functions.

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Server Command</th>
      <th>Function</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>ServerPVE</td>
      <td>Enables PVE and disables PVP, prevents players from killing each other.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ServerHardcore</td>
      <td>Activates hardcore mode, players drop to level 1 after each death.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ServerCrosshair</td>
      <td>Activates the crosshair function for targeting creatures and players.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ServerForceNoHUD</td>
      <td>Player names are no longer displayed above characters.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AltSaveDirectoryName</td>
      <td>Saves the server files in another folder.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>GlobalVoiceChat</td>
      <td>Enables the global voice chat, so all participating players can hear each other.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ProximityChat</td>
      <td>Makes text chat possible for game players who are in close proximity to each other only.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>NoTributeDownloads</td>
      <td>Prevents external downloads of game characters or dinos.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AllowThirdPartyPlayer</td>
      <td>Activates the third person view for players.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AlwaysNotifyPlayerLeft</td>
      <td>Enables notification when player leaves the server.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DontAlwaysNotifyPlayerJoined</td>
      <td>Disables notification when player joins the server.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MapPlayerLocation</td>
      <td>Activates the position indicator for your character on the map.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DifficultyOffset=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Adjusts the server’s difficulty level to the ‘value’ entered, for example 0 for normal or 1 for a difficulty level three times more difficult.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>bDisableStructureDecayPVE</td>
      <td>Disables the automatic destruction timer for structures in PVE mode.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>bAllowFlyerCarryPVE</td>
      <td>Flying creatures can also carry loads in PVE mode.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MaxStructuresInRange=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the default minimum distance to the opponents’ structures can be defined in ‘value’.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>EnablePVPGamma</td>
      <td>Adjusts gamma settings in PVP mode.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DisablePvEGamma=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Allows or disallows gamma settings from being adjusted in PVE mode with the values ‘true’ and ‘false’.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DayCycleSpeedScale=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the speed of change in day/night.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>NightTimeSpeedScale=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the length of the night.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DayTimeSpeedScale=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the length of the day.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoDamageMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the amount of damage to dinosaurs.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerDamageMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the amount of damage to players.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>StructureDamageMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the amount of damage to structures.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerResistanceMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the game characters’ level of resistance values.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoResistanceMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the dinos’ level of resistance values.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>StructureResistanceMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the structures’ level of resistance values.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>TamingSpeedMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the time it takes for players to tame creatures.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>XPMultiplier=\[value\]\]</td>
      <td>Configures the multiplier of characters’ experience points.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>HarvestAmountMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the harvest’s yield in the game.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Increases or decreases the characters’ water consumption.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Increases or decreases the characters’ food consumption.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Increases or decreases the dinos’ food consumption.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the characters’ stamina.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Configures the dinos’ endurance.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PlayerCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the time characters need to regenerate their health.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the time dinos need to regenerate their health.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DinoCountMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the number of dinosaurs in the game.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>HarvestHealthMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the amount of yield from a specific harvest.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PvEStructureDecayDestructionPeriod=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the period after which decay occurs in PVE mode.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ClampResourceHarvestDamager=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Determines whether a creature’s damage in close combat affects its yield as a percentage when collecting items and resources.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the respawn of resources’ duration.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ResourceNoReplenishRadiusPlayers=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the radius of the respawn of resources around characters.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ResourceNoReplenishRadiusStructures=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the radius of the respawn of resources around structures.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>KickIdlePlayersPeriod=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the players’ permitted inactivity time before they are automatically disconnected from the ARK server. The default value for inactivity is 2400.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AutoSavePeriodMinutes=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines how often the sever status is automatically saved. The default interval is 15.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PvPZoneStructureDamageMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Sets the amount of damage inflicted on structures and buildings near caves or at heights.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>ActiveMods=\[Mod-IDs\]</td>
      <td>Allows the use of multiple mods on one server using Mod-ID.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MapModID=\[MapModID\]</td>
      <td>Defines the map that the server should use for the game using MapMod-ID.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>GameModIds=\[GameMod-IDs\]</td>
      <td>Determines which mods should be active on which server using GameMod-ID.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MaxTamedDinos=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the maximum number of dinos that can be tamed on the server. The default value is 4000.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>SpectatorPassword=\[password\]</td>
      <td>Sets the password for spectator mode in the game.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AllowCaveBuildingPvE=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Determines whether structures can be built in caves with ‘true’ or ‘false’.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>RCONEnabled=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Enables or disables the remote console on the server.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>RCONPort=\[port number\]</td>
      <td>Defines the specific port through which the remote console can be reached.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>BanListURL=\[URL\]</td>
      <td>Provides the unofficial ban list for the server.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>bPvEDisableFriendlyFire=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Enables or disables the friendly fire function as needed. You can add the command in the *Game.ini* file in `/script/shootergame.shootergamemode`.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PvPStructureDecay=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Determines when structures and buildings start to decay after not being used.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DisableDinoDecayPvE=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Enables or disables the decay of dinosaurs after a certain time.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PvEDinoDecayPeriodMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Sets the rate at which dinos decay.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AdminLogging=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Determines whether admin commands are recorded in a log file.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the maximum number of structures allowed for each dynamic platform.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>MaxPlatformSaddleStructureLimit=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Determines the maximum number of saddle platforms.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>bRawSockets</td>
      <td>Enables ‘direct UDP sockets mode’ on a private ARK server.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>IncreasePvPRespawnInterval=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Determines whether the respawn cooldown keeps increasing after dying multiple times in PVP battles. The value ‘true’ activates the increasing respawn cooldown.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalCheckPeriod=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the time and interval for respawn cooldowns. You can define the waiting time in seconds in ‘value’. The default setting is 300.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalMultiplier=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Sets how much the respawn cooldown increases when a character dies multiple times. You can enter the multiplier for the length of time until a character is resurrected in ‘value’. The default value is 2.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalBaseAmount=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the duration for the start of the respawn cooldown in ‘value’. 60 is the default setting.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AutoPvETimer=\[true/false\]</td>
      <td>Activates and deactivates the PVE/PVP switching system.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AutoPvEStartTimeSeconds=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Enables and disables the system time of a PVE/PVP switch system instead of the server time.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AutoPvEStopTimeSeconds=\[value\]</td>
      <td>Defines the PVP period duration in a PVE/PVP change system. You can define the duration in seconds from 0 to 86400 in ‘value’.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Tip If you’re an administrator on your own server in the Minecraft universe, check out our list of the most important [Minecraft Server Commands](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/know-how/minecraft-server-commands/) as well as how to manage a Minecraft server. We also have an overview of other games with dedicated servers, which offer practically unlimited game worlds like ARK: Survival Evolved.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/configuration/ark-server-commands/](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/configuration/ark-server-commands/) for AI/LLM consumption.