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You can host an ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server without paying a hosting company by running the server software on a Windows or Linux PC you already own. The trade-off is that you provide the computer, internet connection, uptime, network configuration, backups, and maintenance. To let friends connect over the internet, you will usually need to allow the server through the PC’s firewall and manually forward its ports on your router; a server that starts successfully can still be invisible to everyone outside your home network.
What “free” hosting includes—and what it does not
In this guide, free means there is no server-rental bill. It does not mean the server has no cost or requirements: the host needs a suitable PC, an internet connection, electricity, and a router you can configure. The computer must remain on and connected while players need access. If you cannot keep a PC online or your network will not accept incoming connections, a VPS or managed game server may solve those problems, but renting one is not completely free.
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Self-hosting is most practical when you already have a spare computer and can change the router settings. It gives you a dedicated server rather than asking the host to join a normal game session. The server files are installed separately from the regular game client, using SteamCMD.
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- A Windows or Linux PC: Use a machine you can leave running for the hours your group wants to play. The documentation cited by the ARK Official Community Wiki specifies glibc 2.17 as the minimum for Linux.
- Windows runtime components: The dedicated-server setup requires Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable x64 and DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010).
- A usable home connection: The ARK Official Community Wiki recommends a 100Mb-or-better home connection for a properly supported server. That recommendation does not, by itself, establish the upload speed available at your home or guarantee a particular player count.
- Network access: You need permission and access to configure the operating-system firewall and router. A carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) arrangement or ISP restriction can prevent inbound connections even when you set up port forwarding correctly.
Actual resource use and the player count a computer can support depend on the machine and server workload; the figures above are requirements or guidance, not a guarantee that any PC will perform well.
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Install the dedicated-server files
- Choose a host PC and make a server folder. Select a computer that can remain powered on and connected. Create a dedicated directory for the server files so they are separate from personal files and the normal game installation.
- Install SteamCMD. SteamCMD is the command-line tool used to download the server files. It is separate from the regular game client; installing or owning the client installation is not the same as installing the dedicated server.
- Install the operating-system dependencies. On Windows, install Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable x64 and DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010). On Linux, use a distribution that supports glibc 2.17 or later, as specified by the dedicated-server documentation.
- Use SteamCMD to download the ARK dedicated-server files. Direct the installation to the server directory you created and let the download finish before trying to configure or start the server. The available setup information identifies SteamCMD as the download method but does not specify a SteamCMD command, application ID, or file path here; use the current dedicated-server instructions for those exact values rather than guessing them.
Set the server name, map, password, and gameplay settings
Configure the server using its server configuration files before inviting players. At minimum, decide on a name that friends can recognize, the map you intend to run, whether to protect access with a password, and the gameplay settings your group wants. Share the password only with the players you intend to admit.
Keep a note of the settings you change and where the server stores its configuration and world data. These files are also important for recovery: if you later move the server or restore it after a problem, you will need the relevant configuration and saved-world data. The available setup information does not specify the configuration filenames, exact setting keys, supported maps, or save-file paths, so do not rely on guessed paths or copy settings from instructions for a different game version.
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Open the required ports
For the default port assignments, allow the following traffic through the host PC’s firewall and forward the router ports to the host PC. The ARK Official Community Wiki says the operating-system firewall and router must allow incoming connections and direct them to the server host. The server does not support UPnP, so expect to create the router rules manually.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game traffic | Default game port |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer traffic | Default peer port |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query | Default query port |
| 27020 | TCP | RCON | Optional; only needed for RCON |
- Give the host PC a stable local network address. Router rules need to point to the computer running the server. If that computer’s local address changes, a rule may point to the wrong device. Use your router’s address-reservation feature if available, or otherwise ensure the host keeps the address used in the forwarding rules.
- Add inbound firewall rules on the host. Allow the listed UDP ports for the game, peer traffic, and Steam query. Add the optional TCP rule only if you plan to use RCON.
- Create router forwarding rules. Forward each required port and protocol to the host PC’s local address. Match the protocol as listed: UDP for 7777, 7778, and 27015; TCP for optional 27020. A rule using the wrong protocol or pointing to another device will not serve the intended traffic.
- Save the router changes. Router interfaces differ, so use the router’s port-forwarding or virtual-server settings. UPnP will not configure the required forwarding automatically for this server.
Port forwarding is not the same as opening a port in the computer firewall: both layers can block the connection. The router needs to deliver outside traffic to the right computer, and the computer needs to permit the server process to receive it.
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Start the server and check that friends can find it
Once the files and network settings are ready, launch the dedicated server using the startup options appropriate to your configuration. Keep the host PC awake and online for as long as friends need access; shutting it down or disconnecting it makes the home-hosted server unavailable.
- Start the server and allow it time to initialize.
- Check for it in the relevant server browser. Discovery and joining are separate checks: a server can be running locally but not reachable from outside the home network.
- Ask a friend who is not on the same home network to look for and join the server. A local test alone does not confirm that router forwarding, firewall rules, or the internet connection permit outside access.
- If the server does not appear or cannot be joined, work through the troubleshooting checks below before changing unrelated settings.
Enable Steam and Epic crossplay
For the Steam/Epic crossplay setup described by the ARK dedicated-server references, add the -crossplay launch option. The setup reference also documents -PublicIPForEpic=<IPAddress> for Epic connectivity. Replace <IPAddress> with the relevant public IP address; do not include the angle brackets literally.
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Crossplay depends on the documented launch options and can change as platform updates change server behavior. If players on one platform cannot connect, first confirm the option is present in the actual server launch configuration and that the server is reachable at all. A successful connection from one platform does not prove that crossplay is configured correctly for another.
Troubleshoot a server that runs but is unreachable
Friends cannot see the server
- Confirm the server has finished starting and is still running.
- Check that the host firewall permits the server traffic on UDP 7777, UDP 7778, and UDP 27015.
- Check that the router forwards those same UDP ports to the host PC’s current local address.
- Verify that the rules point to the right computer and use the listed protocols. Forwarding UDP traffic as TCP, for example, does not match the default assignment.
- Test from outside the home network. A server visible to the host locally may still be blocked at the router or by the ISP.
Port forwarding looks correct, but outside connections still fail
CGNAT or an ISP restriction can prevent unsolicited inbound connections from reaching a home router. In that situation, changing a port-forwarding rule may not help because the connection is blocked upstream of the router. The dedicated-server setup documentation describes host and router configuration, but it does not establish the policy for every ISP or provide a way to bypass every network restriction. Ask your ISP whether your connection accepts inbound connections or whether you are behind CGNAT. If inbound access is unavailable, consider a VPS or managed server instead of promising friends that the home server will be joinable.
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One platform cannot join
If a Steam player can connect but an Epic player cannot, check the crossplay launch option and the Epic public-IP option against the server’s actual launch configuration. Then verify general server reachability and port forwarding. The setup references document these options, but platform updates may affect whether a particular configuration continues to work.
Self-hosting versus renting a server
A rented VPS or managed ARK server changes who supplies the always-on machine, but it does not make hosting free. Whether it is the better choice depends on what is stopping you from self-hosting.
| Decision point | Self-host on your PC | VPS or managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | No rental bill if you already have the PC and connection; electricity and equipment costs remain yours. | Paid rental; no price is stated here because it depends on the provider and plan. |
| Router and firewall work | You configure the host firewall and forward the server ports on your home router. | Home-router forwarding may not be needed, but the available setup information does not establish the network configuration for any particular provider. |
| Uptime when you are away | The server is available only while your host PC is on, connected, and running the server. | A provider supplies the rented server environment; specific uptime terms are not stated here. |
| Bandwidth and player capacity | Depends on your connection, host PC, server workload, and number of players. | The ARK Official Community Wiki gives an estimate of up to 60 KiB/s per connected player for VPS bandwidth; actual use depends on tick rate and world-save complexity. |
| Mods and crossplay | Crossplay uses documented launch options; no general mod-support guarantee is established here. | Support depends on the provider and configuration; no provider-specific mod or crossplay capability is established here. |
| Backups and maintenance | You are responsible for keeping configuration and world data safe and maintaining the PC and server. | Responsibilities vary by provider and plan; backup and maintenance terms are not stated here. |
Choose self-hosting if your PC can stay online and you can make inbound connections work. Consider a rented option when your home network blocks inbound access, your PC cannot stay on, or you prefer not to maintain the host yourself. Check the specific provider’s current terms for uptime, backups, supported features, and costs before choosing; those details cannot be assumed across all VPS or managed-server plans.
If your home network blocks inbound connections or your PC cannot stay on, Godlike.Host’s ARK: Survival Evolved server hosting is one managed option. It includes free DDoS protection, up to three free backups a day with restore, and 24/7 support; see the current plans.
