ARK Server Mods: Everything You Need To Know

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What are mods, why is it a good thing to use them?

Mods, in other words, addons, are content which is added to the game, usually made by the players, by modifying the base game. Mods can vary on a lot of things, such as how big they are, whether they add new content or enhance the basic experience, and many other criteria.

Now with the first part out of the way, let’s talk about why it’s a good thing to use them? The main idea here is that every game, no matter how big it is, can get boring. For a variety of different reasons: too hard, too long, or because you’ve explored all the content already. When that happens, mods are here to help you. As I said earlier, mods can vary in how big and game-changing they are. From simple mods to make the UI look better, to some adding a lot more content to discover.

ark server mod

How and Where to Choose Mods

When selecting mods for your game, there are a few key factors to consider:

1. Gameplay Enhancement & Personal Preference

  • Decide what kind of mods you want. Are you looking for Quality of Life (QoL) mods that make small improvements, new content mods that add fresh mechanics, or balancing mods to fine-tune the gameplay? With so many options available, you can customize your experience to fit your needs.

2. Compatibility

  • Ensure that mods work well together, especially those that modify core mechanics. Also, check for game version compatibility—some mods may not function properly if they are outdated or haven’t been updated for the latest game patch.

3. Performance Impact & Community Choices

  • Some mods are large and resource-intensive, affecting game performance. Always check reviews and optimization details to ensure smooth gameplay. Generally, mods with higher ratings and larger player bases tend to be more stable and reliable.

4. Mod Requirements

  • Mods may have different installation requirements. For example, in ARK, some mods only need to be installed on the server, while others require installation on both the server and client (player’s PC). If you’re playing online, ensure you’re using the correct mod type for your setup.

5. Server Hosting & Online Play

  • If you plan to play online, consider server hosting solutions rather than relying on one person to host the game. Dedicated servers provide 24/7 uptime and a stable experience. If you’re interested, you can explore game servers to find the best hosting options for ARK or other multiplayer games.

Where to Find Mods

Some of the best places to discover and download mods include:

  • Steam Workshop (ideal for easy installation)
  • Nexus Mods
  • ARK Forums
  • Reddit (r/playark)
  • ARK-related Discord servers

Using these sources, you can find high-quality mods that enhance your gaming experience while ensuring compatibility and smooth performance!

How to add mods to ARK server / Single-player?

After choosing mods, you need to install them. Here is some common scenarios and instruction on how to add mods in them:

Add mods to ARK single-player:

  • The first method is through  Steam Workshop. Open it, look up a mod you want to download, then click the “Subscribe button”. Then all the mod files will be automatically installed. Launch ARK, in the main menu click “Host/Local” to see the mod list. In the mod list, select mod by clicking an arrow and move them to the “Active mods” list(Arrange load order if required). Now you are good to go!
  • The second method – external sources, like Nexus mods. On the web page, find the mod you like, download it on your PC(usually they come in .zip / .rar formats). Now find the archive in the file folder, extract files from it. You should be able to see a folder named with a different number and a .mod file, with the same name. Now move them to the following path – “SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Content/Mods”(Before “SteamLibrary”, find the disk you used to download games from Steam, specifically the one with ARK on it, if you have multiple.). Then launch the game, and activate mods, as mentioned above in the Steam Workshop guide.

Add mods to ARK server:

  • Prepare files: Download mods files, either from external sources, or subscribe to mod via Steam Workshop. Extract files, like we did earlier, or find them in the mods folder of ARK(the path should be the same as mentioned above.).
  • Upload mods: Using FTP client, like FileZilla transfer files to the server. To do that, log into the server’s control panel, find FTP details(host, port, username, password), open FileZilla and enter the details there. Click “Quickconnect”, navigate to “/ShooterGame/Content/Mods” and drag mod files(file folder and .mod file) there.
  • Activate mods: Go to the server control panel again, open this file following this path – “/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini”. Then find the [ServerSettings] section and activate mods via their IDs(Those numbers on the folder and .mod file) like this: “ActiveMods=731604991,880871931”. Save changes in the control panel. Important: the order of IDs does matter!
  • Restart the server. If done correctly it should start without any errors in the server console.

Conclusion:

Mods are an important part of a lot of games, and knowing key things like “Why would I need them?”, “How and where do I find them?”, “How to download and install them?” is very important. Today I tried my best to answer all of these questions. I hope this was helpful to you, good luck gamers!