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Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted ARK: Survival Ascended servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
To install mods on an ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) server, add each mod’s CurseForge Project ID to the server’s active-mods list, then save and restart. On a managed host, this is usually done in the provider’s CurseForge Mods panel. On a self-hosted dedicated server, add -mods=<ModId1>,<ModId2> to the startup command. Every ID must belong to an ASA project; ARK: Survival Evolved mod IDs are not compatible.
Players do not install ASA mods through the CurseForge desktop app. CurseForge’s support documentation says ASA mods are downloaded in-game. A player can install missing required mods from the server-join prompt, activate them in Mod settings, and then connect.
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What do you need before adding mods to an ASA server?
You need administrator access to the server control panel or the machine that launches the dedicated server, plus the CurseForge Project ID for every mod you want to load. Confirm that each project is made for ARK: Survival Ascended, not the older ARK: Survival Evolved. Nitrado explicitly warns that Survival Evolved mods will not work on an Ascended server.
- Managed server: access to the host’s ASA settings and CurseForge Mods section.
- Self-hosted server: permission to edit the dedicated server launch command and a Windows or Windows-like environment. ASA dedicated servers do not support Linux natively according to the ARK Official Community Wiki.
- Mod identifiers: CurseForge Project IDs, entered as a comma-separated list with no spaces if the host’s documented format requires that.
- Restart access: the server must restart after the list is changed so ASA reloads the active mods.
Back up the world and configuration before making a large change. The installation procedure does not guarantee that two unrelated mods are compatible with each other, so add substantial mod lists incrementally and check the server after each change.
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How do I add CurseForge mods to a managed ASA server?
The following is the documented Nitrado workflow. Other hosts may use different labels or expose fewer controls, so treat the names as an example of a provider implementation rather than a universal interface.
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- Set the platform mode. In General settings, choose Crossplay or PC-only. Save the setting and restart if the platform mode changes. Make this choice before testing the mod list, because it determines the server mode in which clients will look for the session.
- Open the mod manager. In the Nitrado panel, go to Settings → CurseForge Mods.
- Find each project. Search the available mods in that panel, or open the mod’s CurseForge project page and copy its Project ID. Do not copy a display name, URL slug, or an ID from an ARK: Survival Evolved project.
- Fill the Active Mods field. Enter the IDs in load-list format, for example
MODID,MOD2ID,MOD3ID. Keep the commas exactly as required and remove spaces or other characters that the panel does not document as valid. - Save the settings. A list that appears in the panel but was not saved will not be applied at startup.
- Restart the server. ASA reads the active list when the server starts. Wait for the server to finish booting before testing a connection.
Should I choose Crossplay or PC-only?
Choose the mode that matches the players you intend to support. The Nitrado panel exposes these choices in General settings, and a mode change requires a save and, when prompted, a restart. Because the cited documentation does not define the behavior of every other provider, check that provider’s ASA instructions if its mode names or placement differ.
How should the Active Mods list be formatted?
Use only the numeric or alphanumeric Project IDs supplied by the ASA CurseForge projects and separate them with commas. The documented example is MODID,MOD2ID,MOD3ID; an accidental space, line break, or extra punctuation can prevent the list from being parsed. Keep a copy of the final string so you can compare it with the panel after an edit.
How do I install mods on a self-hosted ASA dedicated server?
Self-hosting uses the server launch command instead of a web panel. The ARK Official Community Wiki documents the ASA option as -mods=<ModId1>[,<ModId2>...]. The values are CurseForge Mod Project IDs, and the wiki states that mods update automatically when the server starts with this option.
- Locate the command that launches the ASA dedicated server. Use the executable, map name, and other options already required by your installation.
- Add the mods argument. Append
-mods=<ModId1>,<ModId2>to the launch command, replacing the example values with the exact ASA Project IDs. Keep the argument as one comma-separated value. - Save the launcher, script, or service definition. If a scheduled task or service starts the server, edit that actual launch definition rather than a temporary command window.
- Start or restart the server. ASA checks the listed projects at startup and, according to the wiki, updates them automatically during that process.
- Watch the startup output. If the server stops before loading the map, remove the newest ID, start with the last known-good list, and then test the project separately.
What operating system can host an ASA dedicated server?
The ARK Official Community Wiki states that ASA dedicated servers require Windows or a Windows-like environment and do not support Linux natively. A compatibility layer or hosting abstraction is therefore not the same as native Linux support; verify its ASA-specific documentation before committing a production server to it.
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Does self-hosting give more control?
Yes, the command-line method lets you control the exact launch arguments, update timing, and surrounding service configuration. It also makes you responsible for keeping the command valid, monitoring startup failures, and deciding when to restart for updates. A managed panel trades that command-line control for a form-based workflow.
How do players install ASA mods and join a modded server?
Players install ASA mods inside the game. CurseForge support states that ARK: Survival Ascended is not supported in the CurseForge app and that mods can be downloaded in-game.
- Launch ASA and open the Mods list.
- Select Browse mods.
- Choose a project and select Install.
- Open Mod settings and activate the installed mod.
- Join the server. If the server requires mods that are missing locally, the server browser displays the requirements and offers a join flow that installs the missing items.
For a first connection, allow the installation prompt to finish before trying to join again. If the prompt does not appear or the connection fails, compare the server’s required list with the client’s installed versions and check that the player is using the same ASA platform mode expected by the server.
Do clients have to pre-install every mod?
Not necessarily. CurseForge documents a server-browser join flow that shows required mods and lets the player install missing ones. Pre-installing and activating the list can still reduce waiting time and makes it easier to identify a client-side problem before joining.
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Only some mods expose editable server settings. Nitrado’s documented Windows-server path is arksa → ShooterGame → Saved → Config → WindowsServer → GameUserSettings.ini.
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- Stop the server or use the provider’s configuration editor if it safely handles offline edits.
- Navigate to
arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.iniin the panel’s file browser. - Paste only the entries and section names documented by the mod author.
- Save the file without changing unrelated settings.
- Restart the server and test the affected feature.
Nitrado cautions that not every mod supports editable settings. Do not invent keys or paste settings from a different game edition; an unrecognized entry will not make a mod configurable and can complicate troubleshooting.
What is the difference between managed hosting and self-hosting?
Both approaches ultimately supply ASA with a comma-separated list of CurseForge Project IDs, but they differ in administration and prerequisites.
| Consideration | Managed panel | Self-hosted dedicated server |
|---|---|---|
| How mods are added | Provider UI, such as Nitrado’s Settings → CurseForge Mods page | -mods=<ModId1>[,<ModId2>...] in the launch command |
| Control style | Form-based selection and save/restart controls | Direct command-line and service configuration |
| Update behavior | Handled through the provider’s mod panel and restart workflow; exact behavior varies by host | ASA checks for updates automatically at startup when the -mods option is used, according to the ARK Official Community Wiki |
| Platform-mode control | Nitrado documents Crossplay and PC-only choices in General settings | Set through the server’s own launch and hosting configuration; the cited wiki entry does not provide a matching panel path |
| INI access | Nitrado documents direct access to GameUserSettings.ini; other hosts may differ |
Administrator controls the server files and service environment |
| Operating-system requirement | Depends on the host’s supported ASA environment | Windows or a Windows-like environment; native Linux is not supported, according to the wiki |
| Cost comparison | Not stated in the cited documentation | Not stated in the cited documentation |
Choose managed hosting when a visual panel and provider-maintained environment are more valuable than shell-level control. Choose self-hosting when you can maintain the Windows-based server, edit its launch service, and troubleshoot updates yourself.
How much storage can ASA mods use?
Nitrado’s 2023 documentation lists different installed-mod limits for its ASA server modes. These figures are provider-specific and dated, so confirm the current allowance before relying on them for a large collection.
| Server mode | Installed-mod allowance | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Crossplay | 20 GB | Nitrado figure documented in 2023 |
| PC-only | 50 GB | Nitrado FAQ figure documented in 2023 |
The 50 GB statement applies to PC-only servers in Nitrado’s FAQ. These numbers describe installed mod storage, not a guarantee that every combination of projects will run together, and they do not establish limits for other providers or self-hosted machines.
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Why are my ASA server mods not loading?
Most failures come from an incompatible project ID, malformed list, unsaved panel changes, or a client/server mismatch. Work through the checks below in order so that one correction does not hide another problem.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems1. Verify that every project is for ASA
Open each project page and confirm it is an ARK: Survival Ascended project. IDs from ARK: Survival Evolved do not work on ASA servers, as Nitrado states explicitly. Remove an old-edition ID before testing anything else.
2. Check the exact comma-separated syntax
Compare the active list or launch argument with the documented form MODID,MODID,MODID. Remove spaces, line breaks, quotes, and stray punctuation if the host requires the compact format. A single malformed entry can make the complete list fail to load.
3. Save and restart
In a managed panel, save the settings and perform a full restart rather than merely returning to the dashboard. For self-hosting, stop and start the process using the edited service or script so the new argument is actually present.
4. Compare the client’s required list
If the server starts but a player cannot join, read the required-mod list shown by the server browser. Let ASA install missing mods through the join prompt, activate them in Mod settings, and retry. Compare versions if the client already has the project installed.
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5. Recheck the INI location and section
For settings-based problems, confirm that the entry is in the section documented by the mod author and, on the Nitrado workflow, in arksa → ShooterGame → Saved → Config → WindowsServer → GameUserSettings.ini. Save and restart after editing. If the mod does not document editable settings, assume its behavior cannot be changed through that file.
6. Isolate a problematic project
When the list is valid but startup still fails, remove the newest mod, restart with the last known-good list, and add projects back one at a time. This does not prove that two mods are compatible; it identifies which addition changes the server’s behavior.
What are the safest practices for maintaining a modded ASA server?
- Keep an inventory. Record each Project ID, the project name, and the order in the active list.
- Change one variable at a time. Add or remove one project before restarting so a failure has a clear trigger.
- Back up before major changes. Preserve the world and configuration before replacing a large list or editing an INI file.
- Use the same list for administrators and players. Give players the server’s required list rather than asking them to guess project names.
- Restart after configuration changes. Both the mod list and documented INI edits require a restart to be read by the server.
- Plan for storage. If using Nitrado, compare your collection with the dated 20 GB Crossplay or 50 GB PC-only figures and verify the current limits first.
- Keep a rollback list. Save the previous working IDs and launch command so you can restore service quickly after a failed update.
Can I move a mod list between a hosted and self-hosted server?
Yes, the core list can be reused when the projects are ASA-compatible: copy the same CurseForge Project IDs into the hosted panel’s Active Mods field or into the self-hosted -mods= argument. You still need to recheck platform mode, storage, INI paths, and operating-system support because those parts are controlled by the hosting environment rather than by the list itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CurseForge desktop app required to install ASA mods?
No. CurseForge’s support guidance says ASA is not supported in the CurseForge app, so players should use the in-game Mods list and Browse mods screens instead. The server browser can offer installation of missing required mods during the join process.
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The ARK Official Community Wiki says the dedicated server checks for mod updates when it starts with the -mods option. A restart is therefore part of the update cycle; leaving a running server untouched will not apply a newly downloaded version.
Why does a mod appear in CurseForge but not in my server panel?
A host panel may expose only the projects and controls it supports, and the cited Nitrado workflow is not a universal interface. Confirm that the project is an ASA project, then check the host’s own documentation or support channel if its search does not return the ID.
Can every ASA mod be configured through GameUserSettings.ini?
No. Nitrado cautions that only some mods provide editable settings. Use the exact section and keys documented by the mod author; an absent configuration guide is not evidence that a setting can be safely added.
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