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For a self-hosted ARK: Survival Evolved dedicated server, the dependable backup unit is the entire ShooterGame/Saved directory, not just the map file. That directory keeps the world, player profiles, tribes, configuration and logs together so a restore can return the server to a coherent point in time. On Nitrado’s ARK: Survival Evolved service, automatic map snapshots are documented every three hours and full server backups once per day, but you should still keep dated copies outside the live server.
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This guide explains what each backup type contains, where the files live, how to make and verify copies, and how to restore a world without unnecessarily losing players, tribes or settings. Paths and panel labels differ between ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA), and hosts, so confirm the version shown by your server panel before moving files.
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What an ARK server backup must contain
ARK stores the persistent state of a dedicated server under ShooterGame/Saved. The ARK Official Community Wiki describes the operation plainly: copy the folder named ShooterGame/Saved and its contents to the backup location. Copying only a .ark map file is not a full backup because it omits identity and configuration data.
A complete copy should preserve the directory structure and file names exactly. The important subfolders are:
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| Location | What it contains | Why it matters during recovery |
|---|---|---|
SavedArks/ |
The world map, player profiles and tribe files. Typical examples include <WorldName>.ark, <SteamID>.arkprofile and <TribeID>.arktribe. |
These files must come from the same point in time if you want players, tribes and the map to agree. |
Config/ |
Server settings, including GameUserSettings.ini, Game.ini and, where used by the hosting layout, Engine.ini. |
Restoring them returns rates, rules, passwords and other settings instead of silently applying newer or default values. |
Logs/ |
Operational logs. | Logs can show whether a save completed or why a restore failed; keep them when diagnosing an incident. |
Some hosts place additional files under Saved. Do not prune unfamiliar files from the copy unless the host’s documentation specifically says they are disposable.
Backup types and when to use each one
Hosts may label snapshots differently, but Nitrado separates game-internal (map) backups, server backups and database backups. The practical differences are scope, how old the newest recovery point may be, portability and the restore action.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game-internal or map backup | The world/map state, generally the map save and related game data. | Map snapshots every three hours. | Usually selected inside the host panel; availability outside that host is not stated. | Use a map/internal restore for a recent rollback when the broader server configuration is still correct. |
| Full server backup | Broader server state, including configuration files as well as saved game data. | One server backup per day. | Provider snapshot until you download the files; a copied ShooterGame/Saved directory is portable. |
Use a provider restore or replace the server files manually. |
| Database backup | A separate host-managed database category. | Not stated in the cited Nitrado material. | Depends on the provider’s export and retention rules. | Use only for the database component the host documents; it is not a substitute for the ARK save directory. |
A map rollback is appropriate when a recent in-game event damaged the world and the existing settings, profiles and tribes should remain untouched. A server restore is the safer choice after a failed configuration change, corrupted upload or other incident affecting more than the map. If you need to move a server to another machine or host, use a downloaded copy of the complete directory rather than relying on a panel-only snapshot.
Self-hosted ARK backup procedure
Use this sequence for a dedicated server you administer directly. It creates a consistent copy and leaves a way back if the first restore attempt is wrong.
- Create a clean save. Use the server’s normal save command or administrative method, then wait for the save to finish. Record the date and time in UTC; a name such as
ark-backup-2026-10-14T21-30Zmakes the recovery point unambiguous. - Stop the server or enter a maintenance window. Files that are changing while they are copied can produce a mixture of old and new data. Stop the process cleanly and confirm that it has released the save files before copying.
- Copy the complete directory. Copy
ShooterGame/Saved, includingSavedArks,Config,Logsand every other item beneath it. Preserve permissions and timestamps when your operating system or transfer tool offers that option. - Write the copy to separate storage. A second disk, another host or an external USB hard drive protects the backup from a failure of the live machine. Choose capacity from the actual size of your saves and the number of generations you intend to retain; no single capacity is universally sufficient.
- Keep several dated generations. Retain more than the newest copy so a corruption discovered days later does not overwrite the only usable point. Keep at least one generation away from the server’s physical machine.
- Start the server only after the copy completes. Check that the destination contains the expected subfolders and files before ending the maintenance window.
Do not rename individual map, profile or tribe files to make them fit a different map. Their names and internal identifiers are part of ARK’s save relationship. If you are changing maps, make a separate backup before the change and treat that as a different recovery point.
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Making a local copy from Nitrado (ARK: Survival Evolved)
Nitrado states that its ARK service includes automatic server backups. Its published schedule documents map backups every three hours and server backups once per day. Those intervals are recovery-point descriptions, not a guarantee that every host, game edition or retention plan has identical history; inspect the live panel for the entries available to your account.
To maintain a copy you control, use FTP:
- Stop the server from the Nitrado panel, or schedule a maintenance window so no files are changing.
- Connect with your FTP client and open
/arkse/ShooterGame/Saved/. - Download
Config,LogsandSavedArksinto a local folder named with the UTC date and time. If the directory contains additional items, download those as well for a full copy. - Check the transfer for errors and confirm that the downloaded
SavedArkscontains the expected.ark,.arkprofileand.arktribefiles. - Store the dated folder on separate storage and keep the provider snapshot available until the local copy has been checked.
A downloaded copy is useful even when automatic snapshots are enabled: provider retention can expire, a panel account can become inaccessible, and a local copy can be inspected or moved to a test instance without depending on one host.
Restoring a Nitrado snapshot through the panel
Use the panel restore when the desired point is still available and you do not need to edit files manually. Preserve the current state first if there is any chance you will need evidence of what happened.
- Stop the server and note the current map and configuration.
- Open Tools → Restore Backup in the Nitrado panel.
- Select the dated backup entry that matches the incident and confirm the restore.
- Wait until the panel reports completion. Do not start the server during the restore operation.
- Start the server, join as an administrator and verify the map, a known player profile, a tribe and the key settings before inviting players back.
A map/internal restore is intended for a recent world rollback. Choose a full server snapshot instead when configuration files or other server state also need to return to the earlier point.
Restoring files manually through FTP
Manual replacement is useful for a downloaded backup, a migration or a host snapshot that cannot be selected in the panel. It also carries the greatest risk of mixing generations, so keep the pre-restore directory.
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- Stop the server. Confirm that it is offline before touching the save files.
- Preserve the current directory. Rename the live
Savedfolder or move it aside, for example toSaved-pre-restore-2026-10-14T22-00Z. Do not delete it until the restored world has been verified. - Upload the dated copy. Upload the saved
Config,LogsandSavedArksfolders, maintaining the path under/arkse/ShooterGame/Saved/for Nitrado ASE. - Select the matching map. In the panel, choose the map that corresponds to the uploaded world, save the panel changes and check the spelling before proceeding. Nitrado specifically instructs administrators to select the correct map before restarting.
- Restart after the upload finishes. Starting while FTP is still transferring can create an incomplete save.
- Validate before normal play. Check the world, player profiles, tribes, mods and settings. If anything is missing, stop the server and return to the preserved pre-restore directory rather than repeatedly overwriting files.
Uploading only SavedArks can leave the world using incompatible or newer configuration. Upload the complete saved set when the goal is a full server restoration.
Restoring players and tribes without wiping them
Players and tribes are represented by separate files in SavedArks, not solely by the world map. A coordinated restore therefore includes the map file, all relevant .arkprofile files and .arktribe files from the same dated backup. Replacing only the map can roll back structures while leaving profiles or tribes at another point, producing missing ownership or apparent wipes.
Before starting, identify the map name and the backup timestamp. After starting, test with an administrator account and at least one ordinary player account if available. Confirm that:
- the intended world loads rather than a newly generated map;
- a known player can see the expected character and inventory state;
- a known tribe still exists and ownership is intact;
- the server’s rates, passwords, difficulty and other important settings match the chosen point;
- installed mods and their configuration are present where the host requires them.
If the world loads but ownership is wrong, stop immediately and restore the preserved pre-restore directory or another complete generation. Do not continue playing and then overwrite the evidence with a new save.
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Map or game-internal recovery
This is the narrow rollback. It is useful when the map was damaged recently and the server’s configuration and account data should remain as they are. Its short recovery-point interval can reduce lost play time, but its exact contents and retention are host-specific.
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Full server recovery
This returns a wider set of files, including configuration. Select it after a bad INI edit, an incomplete deployment, a failed mod change or corruption that is not limited to the map. A full restore can also roll back legitimate configuration changes made after the snapshot, so record the intended settings before applying it.
Database recovery
Some panels list database backups separately. They may support a host-managed service component, but the cited ARK documentation does not establish a universal schedule or a replacement for ShooterGame/Saved. Treat database recovery as a distinct operation and follow the host’s instructions for that specific database.
ARK: Survival Ascended path differences
Nitrado’s ASA material uses arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ and keeps the same broad distinction between game-internal and server backups. Do not assume an ASE path or panel label applies to ASA. Confirm the exact game selection, root directory, map name and restore controls shown by the current host before downloading or replacing files. The safe principles remain the same: stop first, preserve the current directory, move a complete dated copy, select the matching map and verify the result before resuming play.
Testing and retention that make backups usable
A backup is only useful if it can be read by a server. Periodically restore a copy to a disposable instance or maintenance environment. The available sources document the restore mechanics but do not publish a universal testing interval, so choose a cadence appropriate to how often your world changes and how much progress you can afford to lose.
During a test, record:
- the backup timestamp and the ARK edition and map used;
- whether the world opens without a new-map prompt;
- whether player and tribe files load;
- whether configuration and mods behave as expected;
- how long file transfer and startup take.
Keep several generations with clear UTC names. Store at least one copy away from the live machine, and retain the pre-restore directory until the restored world has been checked. Retention length, snapshot limits and automatic deletion vary by host, so do not infer them from the three-hour or daily schedule alone.
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Failure symptoms and corrective actions
The server starts a fresh world
Stop it before it saves over anything. Check that the uploaded SavedArks folder is under the correct ShooterGame/Saved path, that the panel map matches the uploaded world and that the map filename is present. Restore the preserved directory if the path was correct but the wrong generation was used.
The map loads but players or tribes are missing
The map was likely paired with incomplete or mismatched profile and tribe files. Stop the server, preserve the current state, and restore SavedArks as a complete set from one dated backup. Do not copy a single profile from an unrelated generation unless the host’s documentation specifically supports that repair.
Settings reverted
Check whether Config was included. A map-only restore does not necessarily return INI files. Reapply settings only after saving the current configuration and confirming which backup class was selected.
FTP transfer or startup errors occur
Compare the local and remote folder contents, retry failed transfers while the server is stopped, and inspect Logs for save or permission errors. Keep the original pre-restore directory until a clean startup and in-game validation succeed.
The expected snapshot is unavailable
Look for a downloaded local generation or another off-machine copy. Automatic schedules do not guarantee indefinite retention, and a provider’s panel-only snapshot may not be portable after the account or service changes.
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Operational rules worth putting in your runbook
- Always create a clean save and write the UTC timestamp before copying.
- Stop the server for both backup and restore operations unless the host explicitly provides a consistency-safe method.
- Back up the entire
ShooterGame/Savedtree, not just a map file. - Keep map, player, tribe and configuration files from the same generation when performing a full restore.
- Preserve the pre-restore directory and only remove it after validation.
- Confirm the edition (ASE or ASA), path and selected map in the live panel.
- Test a disposable restore often enough for your server’s risk, because the documentation gives no universal testing interval.
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