Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo whitelist an ARK server, enable exclusive join, add each approved player’s SteamID64 to the server’s exclusivity list, and restart the server. On a rented server this is usually a control-panel checkbox; on a self-run server you add the -exclusivejoin launch parameter and edit a text file. ARK whitelists use permanent Steam account IDs, not display names.
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File names and folders differ between server builds and hosting guides. Confirm the exact list file already present in your installation before creating a new one, and keep the .txt extension. The procedure below covers both Windows and Linux installations and explains how to recover when the list is ignored.
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Exclusive join changes the server from open access to an allow-list model. When it is enabled, only Steam accounts whose SteamID64 appears in the server’s exclusivity list can complete the join process. Everyone else is refused, even if they know the server address, password, or an administrator’s in-game name.
The whitelist is an access control, not an administrator system. A listed player can join but does not receive console commands, spectator access, or other elevated privileges unless you separately grant those permissions. Conversely, an administrator account is not automatically allowed to join an exclusive server unless its SteamID64 is also on the access list.
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Choose the setup method
| Server type | Where to enable exclusive join | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Rented server with a game panel | A setting labelled Whitelist, Exclusive Join, or similar | Fastest option; the panel normally writes the launch parameter for you |
| Self-hosted Windows server | Add -exclusivejoin to the command or shortcut that starts the server |
Full control over startup arguments and files |
| Self-hosted Linux server | Add -exclusivejoin to the service, shell script, or startup command |
Useful when running through systemd, a container, or a custom script |
Hosting documentation from survivalservers.com and hosthavoc.com describes the panel-checkbox route. Panel labels and menus can change, so use the wording shown by your provider rather than looking for an identical screen.
Before you change anything
- Stop the server cleanly or schedule a maintenance window. Editing while the process is writing configuration files can overwrite your change.
- Make a backup of the server’s startup command and the entire
ShooterGameconfiguration area. - Collect the SteamID64 for every account that should be allowed to play. Do not rely on a player’s current nickname.
- Confirm whether your installation is Windows or Linux and locate the server’s own
ShooterGamedirectory. - Check whether the host panel has a documented whitelist field. If it does, prefer that field over manually creating a file in an assumed folder.
Method 1: enable the whitelist in a hosting panel
Turn on the panel’s exclusive-join setting
- Open the server control panel and stop the ARK instance.
- Open the server settings, launch parameters, or configuration page.
- Enable the option labelled Whitelist, Exclusive Join, or Enable Exclusive Join. Some panels place it under an advanced startup-arguments section.
- Save the setting. If the panel shows the generated command line, verify that it contains
-exclusivejoin.
Do not enable a similarly named password or private-server option by mistake. A password limits entry to people who know the password; exclusive join checks each account against the SteamID64 list.
Add the approved SteamID64 values
- Open the panel’s file manager, FTP area, or whitelist editor.
- Find the file the panel identifies as the exclusive-join list. If the panel provides an editor, use it; this avoids guessing the provider’s storage path.
- Enter one SteamID64 per line, with no commas, quotation marks, labels, or extra text.
- Save the file and start the server. If the provider applies file changes only during startup, a stop-and-start cycle is required rather than a soft reload.
Provider help pages from help.bisecthosting.com, help.dathost.net, and primaservers.com use different labels and paths, which is why the panel’s own file reference is more reliable than copying a path from another host.
Method 2: enable exclusive join on a self-run server
Windows startup command or shortcut
- Stop the server.
- Locate the batch file, shortcut, scheduled task, or service that launches
ShooterGameServer.exe. - Add a space followed by
-exclusivejointo the launch arguments. Keep the existing map name, port, query port, and other parameters unchanged. - Save the command and start the server from that same launcher. Starting the executable through a different shortcut will not use the edited parameter.
- Review the startup log or console output and confirm that the server started with the intended arguments.
A typical argument fragment looks like -exclusivejoin; it is a flag, not a value assignment. Do not write -exclusivejoin=true unless your particular server wrapper explicitly documents that syntax.
Linux service or shell script
- Stop the ARK service or process.
- Open the script, systemd unit, container command, or supervisor configuration that starts the server.
- Append
-exclusivejointo the ARK server arguments, preserving the existing quoting around the map and options. - Reload the service definition if your process manager requires it, then start the server.
- Check the process command line or startup log to make sure the flag was not dropped by a wrapper script.
If a hosting daemon regenerates the command at every restart, edit the daemon’s template or panel setting instead of the generated command itself.
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Find each player’s SteamID64
ARK does not match whitelist entries against a display name. Names can be changed, duplicated, or contain characters that are easy to mistype. A SteamID64 is the long numeric identifier tied to the Steam account.
- Ask the player to provide their Steam profile URL or exact profile name.
- Resolve that profile to its SteamID64 with a lookup service such as steamid.io. Verify that the returned profile is the intended account before copying the number.
- Copy the complete 17-digit value without spaces or punctuation.
- Have the player launch ARK through that same Steam account. Adding a family member’s or alternate account’s ID will not authorize the account that actually connects.
For accounts using aliases or custom profile URLs, compare the avatar and profile details with the player rather than trusting a name search alone. A single wrong digit can block the intended person or authorize a different account.
Locate and edit the exclusivity list
Third-party instructions disagree about the filename, so do not blindly create every similarly named file. Search the server installation for existing text files containing “Exclusive,” “Join,” or “NoCheck,” and inspect your host’s documentation or panel label.
| Filename reported by guides | What can be established | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt |
Reported by multiple hosting guides and a community forum post as the exclusive-join list | Use when your build or host already provides this file |
PlayersJoinNoCheckList.txt |
Described by one guide as a join-check bypass list, not the normal exclusive-join list | Do not substitute it unless your host explicitly identifies it as the access file |
AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck.txt |
Reported by one guide with no consistent confirmation across sources | Treat as build- or host-specific; verify locally before relying on it |
The file must be plain text, and the community guidance that relays a developer answer specifically says to retain the .txt extension. A file accidentally saved as PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt.txt, rich text, or UTF-16 with unexpected characters may be ignored.
Enter the IDs
Put one SteamID64 on each line. For example:
76561198000000001
76561198000000002
76561198000000003- Do not add commas, brackets, comments, display names, or the word “SteamID.”
- Remove leading and trailing spaces.
- Use a normal newline between entries. A final newline at the end of the file is harmless.
- Save as plain text and preserve the exact capitalization of the filename shown by your installation, even though the numeric entries themselves are unaffected by case.
Where the file is commonly stored
Several guides place the list in a server binary directory, but the reported locations are not consistent. Common examples are:
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| Platform | Path reported by guides | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ShooterGameBinariesWin64 |
Reported location; your provider or build may use a different server root |
| Linux | ark/ShooterGame/Binaries/Linux/ |
Reported location; containerized and managed installs often mount another path |
Start at the directory containing the running server executable and search downward for the existing list file. On Linux, use the service’s working directory or container volume rather than assuming the shell’s current directory. On Windows, check the actual installation selected by the shortcut or service; multiple ARK copies are a common reason an edited file appears to have no effect.
Restart and verify the result
- Stop the server completely and wait for the process to exit.
- Confirm that
-exclusivejoinis still present in the startup command or that the panel checkbox remains enabled. - Confirm that the list file is in the directory used by the running instance and still contains one correct SteamID64 per line.
- Start the server and wait until it is fully online.
- Test with one approved account. Then test with an account whose ID is deliberately absent, using a maintenance window so a failed connection does not disrupt players.
The approved account should connect normally. The unlisted account should be refused at the join stage. If both accounts can connect, exclusive join is not active or the server is reading a different list file. If neither can connect, check the IDs, the startup flag, and whether the list file was saved in plain text.
Whitelist access is separate from administrator access
ARK administrators are commonly assigned through AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt. That file grants admin privileges; it does not replace the exclusive-join list. Maintain the two files independently:
- Put every permitted player, including administrators, in the exclusive-join list.
- Put only trusted operators in
AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt. - Remove a person from the access list when they should no longer join, even if you leave their administrative entry for audit purposes.
Giving someone admin rights because they can join, or assuming an admin entry automatically bypasses the whitelist, creates avoidable access mistakes.
Do not confuse exclusive join with the no-check list
PlayersJoinNoCheckList.txt and AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck.txt are described in some guides as mechanisms that bypass particular join checks, such as slot or capacity checks. A bypass list is not necessarily an allow-list. It may let a named account skip a check while leaving the server open to everyone else.
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Use the exclusive-join launch flag and the file your installation identifies as the exclusive list when the requirement is “only these accounts may enter.” Use a no-check file only when you specifically need the behavior documented for that file by your server build or host.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting: why an approved player is rejected
Exclusive join was never enabled
Check the active startup command, not the command you intended to use. A panel update, service file, or alternate shortcut may have removed -exclusivejoin. Re-enable the panel option or edit the launcher that actually starts the process, then restart.
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Ask the player to compare the Steam account currently running ARK with the account whose SteamID64 you entered. Shared computers, family accounts, and alternate Steam accounts frequently cause this mismatch.
The ID contains a typo or extra character
Copy the value again from the player’s profile and compare every digit. Remove spaces, commas, quotation marks, and invisible formatting. One incorrect digit is enough to deny access.
The filename or extension is wrong
Enable file extensions in Windows Explorer and verify that the name ends in exactly .txt. On Linux, inspect the name with a directory listing so a hidden suffix or capitalization difference is visible. Do not leave both a suspected filename and a confirmed filename with conflicting entries; the server may read only one.
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The file is in a different server root
Find the executable or service working directory for the running instance and search from there. If several maps or clusters are installed, each instance may have its own ShooterGame tree and list file.
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Re-save as plain text using a basic editor. Avoid word processors, rich-text format, unusual Unicode encodings, and smart quotation marks. Keep only numeric lines and restart after saving.
Troubleshooting: an unlisted player can still join
- Confirm that the server was restarted after both the launch-parameter and file changes.
- Verify that the process command line contains
-exclusivejoin; a password or private setting is not a substitute. - Check that you edited the list belonging to the active map or cluster instance, not a backup or an unused installation.
- Inspect the file for a wildcard, an accidental display name, or an ID that belongs to the test account.
- If a panel has both a whitelist editor and custom launch arguments, make sure they are not writing different files or overriding each other.
Maintaining the list over time
Adding a player
- Verify the player’s SteamID64 against their profile.
- Append it as a new line without altering existing entries.
- Save the plain-text file and restart the server during a planned window.
- Test the new account before announcing that access is available.
Removing a player
- Stop the server or use the panel’s documented maintenance workflow.
- Delete only the matching SteamID64 line.
- Save, restart, and test that the removed account is rejected.
Keep a dated backup of list changes so you can restore an accidentally removed entry without guessing which account a number belonged to. Do not publish the list publicly: SteamID64 values are identifiers, and exposing them makes account administration easier for outsiders even though the numbers are not passwords.
Operational checklist
- Access mode: exclusive join is enabled through the panel or the active launch command.
- Identity: every approved person supplied the SteamID64 of the Steam account they actually use.
- File: the server’s confirmed exclusivity-list filename is used, with a real
.txtextension. - Formatting: one numeric ID per line, no labels or punctuation.
- Location: the file is in the directory read by the running server instance.
- Permissions: administrative IDs remain separate in
AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt. - Activation: the server was fully restarted after edits.
- Validation: one approved and one unlisted account were tested.
What to do when documentation conflicts
There is no single consistently documented filename or path across the third-party guides available for ARK servers. Treat the server’s existing files, your host’s panel, and the startup command as authoritative for that installation. If none identifies the file, make a backup, create only the filename your host or build specifies, restart, and test with an approved and an unlisted account. Do not assume that a path or filename from another ARK version, operating system, or hosting company applies to yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I whitelist an ARK player by their in-game name?
No. The access list matches the player’s SteamID64. Display names can change and are not the identifier used for exclusive join.
Does adding someone to AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt let them join an exclusive server?
Not by itself. That file controls administrator privileges; the player’s SteamID64 must also be present in the exclusive-join list.
Do whitelist edits apply without restarting the server?
Plan on a full restart. The launch parameter and list are read during startup, and a restart is required to verify that the new values are active.
Which file should I use: PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt or PlayersJoinNoCheckList.txt?
Use the file identified by your server build or host as the exclusive-join list. Guides disagree, and the no-check filename is described as a separate join-check bypass on some installations.
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