To join an ARK server by address, use the server owner’s public connection string in IP:PORT form. Steam PC normally uses the server’s Steam query port in Steam’s Favorites list; Epic Games Store PC uses the in-game console command open IP:PORT. The server must be running a compatible ARK edition and build, and its firewall and router must allow the required traffic.
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The port is not optional. A server can have separate game, peer, and query ports, and using the wrong one is a common reason a server cannot be found or joined.
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What you need before trying to connect
Ask the server owner or hosting provider for the exact public address, including the port. Request it as a complete string such as 203.0.113.25:27015, rather than copying an address from a general server description. Hosts can change default ports or run several server instances, so a familiar-looking port is not proof that it is correct.
- Public IP address: This is the address reachable from the internet. A private address such as
192.168.x.x,10.x.x.x, or172.16.x.xnormally works only for players on the same local network. - Correct port: Steam’s browser and the in-game connection command do not always use the same port type. Follow the platform-specific instructions below.
- Compatible game installation: You and the server need the same ARK edition and a compatible build. An IP address cannot make incompatible editions or versions connect.
- Password, if enabled: Keep the server password available. Depending on the platform and browser behavior, you may be asked for it after the connection starts.
- Crossplay approval, if needed: A server must be configured for the platforms it allows. Enabling crossplay on your client does not override a server’s platform restrictions.
Which port should you use?
ARK servers commonly expose more than one port. The documented defaults are shown below; a host may change them, especially when multiple instances share one machine.
#1 Best Overall
- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
| Port | Transport | Purpose | Where a player uses it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7777 | UDP | Game port for player traffic | Used by the actual game session; Epic’s open command normally targets the supplied game address. |
| 7778 | UDP | Peer port, normally game port plus one | Server-side networking; do not substitute it for the address supplied by the owner. |
| 27015 | UDP | Steam query port | Commonly entered with the public IP in Steam’s server-browser Favorites. |
| 27020 | TCP | Optional RCON remote-administration port | Not a player join port. |
The important distinction is between the query port and the game port. Steam uses a query address to discover and list the server, while the game session uses the game networking port. Do not automatically replace a supplied Steam query port with the default game port, or vice versa.
Join an ARK server by IP on Steam PC
Steam’s reliable direct-address workflow is the Steam client’s server browser, not a random port guessed from the game’s defaults.
Rank #2
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Step 1: Open the Steam server browser
- Start the Steam client and sign in.
- Choose View in the top menu, then select Servers.
- Open the Favorites tab.
Step 2: Add the server address
- Select Add a Server to Favorites.
- Paste the complete public
IP:PORTsupplied by the owner. For this Steam workflow, the port is normally the server’s query port, not the game port. - Confirm the entry and refresh the list.
Step 3: Launch ARK and connect
- When the server appears, select it and use the option to launch or join ARK.
- Wait for the game to load the server connection.
- Enter the server password if the game requests it.
If the server does not appear immediately, refresh the Favorites list rather than repeatedly adding duplicate entries. Steam’s general in-game browser can be slow or incomplete; Favorites gives you a saved query address to test directly.
Join an ARK server by IP on Epic Games Store PC
The Epic Games Store version does not provide a launcher-level direct-connect box. Host Havoc Technical Support Team stated on June 10, 2026 that “The Epic Games Store version of ARK does not currently have a way to join a server directly via IP/port.” In practice, Epic PC players use ARK’s in-game console after starting a single-player session.
Rank #3
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
Step 1: Start a local session
- Launch ARK from the Epic Games Store.
- Start a single-player game so that you reach the game world and can use the console.
Step 2: Open the console
- Press Tab to open the console. If your keyboard binding has been changed, use the key assigned to console access.
- Type the command exactly as follows, replacing the placeholders with the server’s supplied public address:
open <IP>:<PORT>- Press Enter and wait for the connection attempt.
- Provide the server password in-game if prompted.
For this method, use the connection port specified for the game session by the owner or host. Do not assume that the Steam query port is also the Epic game port. If the owner gives separate Steam and game addresses, use the game address with open.
Steam and Epic connection methods compared
| Platform | Entry point | Address normally entered | Password handling | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam PC | Steam > View > Servers > Favorites | Public IP plus the server’s Steam query port | May be requested when ARK launches or joins | Browser discovery depends on a reachable query service and correct query port. |
| Epic Games Store PC | In-game console from a single-player session | Public IP plus the game connection port | Enter it inside the game if prompted | No launcher-level direct-connect field; use open IP:PORT. |
Neither method bypasses server security, edition checks, build checks, firewall rules, or platform restrictions. A successful address lookup only proves that a service answered on that port; it does not guarantee that your client is allowed to complete the game connection.
Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Crossplay and edition compatibility
Server configuration determines which clients may connect. The documented platform identifiers include PC, PS5, XSX, WINGDK, and ALL, along with settings that control crossplay and public-IP behavior for Epic clients.
- Confirm the server owner has enabled the platform combination you need.
- Make sure your client and the server use the same ARK edition and a compatible build.
- If an Epic client is expected to join a crossplay server, the server must be configured for Epic participation and a publicly reachable address.
- Do not treat
ALLor another platform identifier as a guarantee that every edition and update can connect; the rest of the server configuration still applies.
A universal, current procedure for manually entering an arbitrary IP:PORT on Xbox or PlayStation is not established here. Console menus and supported connection methods can differ by edition and platform. Use the relevant official game or platform documentation for those clients instead of applying the Steam or Epic PC steps blindly.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a server that does not appear or will not join
Work through the checks in order. Change one variable at a time so you know which correction solved the problem.
The server is missing from Steam Favorites
- Re-copy the public IP and query port from the owner’s current message or control panel. A stale saved entry can point to an old address.
- Confirm you entered the query port, not the game port. With default settings these are different values.
- Refresh the Favorites tab after the server has fully started. A server that is still booting may not answer queries.
- Ask whether the host changed ports for a second server instance. Defaults are not mandatory.
- Test from outside the host’s local network. A private LAN address can appear plausible but is not an internet-routable destination.
The Epic open command fails
- Check the command format:
open IP:PORT, with no brackets, spaces inside the address, or quotation marks. - Use the game connection port supplied for the Epic session, not automatically the Steam query port.
- Confirm that you opened the console in an active single-player game and pressed Enter.
- Verify the server password when prompted. A password failure can look like a failed join if the prompt is missed.
- Ask the owner to confirm that Epic clients are enabled in the server’s platform or crossplay settings.
The address is correct, but the connection times out
- Have the server owner verify that the server process is running and listening on the advertised ports.
- Check the host firewall for the required UDP game, peer, and query traffic. A firewall rule that permits only TCP will not satisfy the documented UDP game and query defaults.
- For a server behind a home router, confirm that the relevant ports are forwarded to the machine running ARK. The public IP must point to that router, and the forwarding target must be the server’s private LAN address.
- Check whether the public IP changed. Residential internet connections can receive a new address after a modem or router restart.
- Make sure you are not testing an internal address from an external network or an external address from a network that lacks NAT loopback support.
The server appears, but joining is rejected
- Compare the client’s ARK edition and build with the server’s current installation.
- Confirm that required mods, maps, or content are available and that the client has finished updating.
- Check the server’s password and whitelist rules, if it uses them.
- Review platform compatibility and crossplay settings. An IP address does not override a server configured for different platforms.
The server is visible but shows stale details
- Remove an obsolete Favorites entry and add the current address again.
- Refresh after the server has completed its startup sequence.
- Ask the owner whether the instance moved to another port. A reused IP with a changed port can show a different server or no server at all.
If you run the server yourself
Players can connect only when the server is reachable from the internet. The documented defaults provide a starting point: UDP 7777 for game traffic, UDP 7778 for the peer port, and UDP 27015 for Steam queries. Optional RCON administration uses TCP 27020 and should not be advertised as a player address.
- Choose the game, peer, and query ports in the server configuration. Record any non-default values.
- Allow those ports through the operating system or hosting-provider firewall using the correct transport protocol.
- If the machine is behind a router, forward the selected ports to the machine’s private LAN address.
- Give players your current public IP and the port appropriate to their platform: query address for Steam Favorites, game address for the Epic
opencommand. - Tell players which ARK edition, build, password, and crossplay platforms the server supports.
When multiple instances share one public machine, each instance needs a distinct port arrangement. Supplying only the IP is insufficient because the client may reach the wrong service or no service at all.
Quick decision checklist
- Steam PC: Open Steam’s server browser, choose Favorites, add the public IP with the server’s query port, refresh, then launch ARK.
- Epic PC: Start a single-player game, press Tab, enter
open IP:PORTwith the game port, and submit the password in-game if requested. - Either platform: Use the exact public address from the owner, not a private LAN address.
- Still blocked: Check firewall rules, router forwarding, server uptime, edition/build compatibility, password, and platform or crossplay configuration.
Bottom line
Joining by IP works when three pieces match: the exact public address and correct port, a reachable server with its firewall and router configured, and a client that the server’s edition and platform settings allow. Steam uses Favorites with the query address; Epic PC uses the in-game open IP:PORT command with the game address. Get those distinctions right before troubleshooting anything more complicated.
Quick Recap
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