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How to Manage Players on an ARK Server

A complete ARK server player-management guide covering administrator access, ASE and ASA identifiers, whitelists, exclusive joins, bans, kicks, the admin manager and hosted panels.
Length10 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To manage players on an ARK server, authenticate as an administrator, identify the player with the ID format required by your edition and platform, then use the appropriate whitelist, ban, kick or broadcast command. ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE), ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA), Steam, Epic, Xbox and PlayStation do not always use the same identifiers or administrator files, so confirm those details before changing access.

Start by identifying your ARK edition, platform and player ID

Player-management commands only work reliably when three things match: the server edition, the connection platform and the identifier expected by the command. Confirm whether the server runs ARK: Survival Evolved or ARK: Survival Ascended, then note whether the player connects through Steam, Epic, Xbox or PlayStation. Cross-play configurations can make the visible name different from the identifier used by the server.

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Use the server’s identity or player-list command

With administrator access, run the player-list or identity command supplied for your edition. Record the exact account value returned for the target player, including every digit. The official command examples for whitelist and ban operations use integer account IDs. Do not substitute a display name, tribe name or an ID copied from a different edition.

ASE administrator configuration commonly distinguishes Steam IDs. ASA administrator configuration uses ARK/EOS IDs in the relevant administrator file. A Steam ID copied from an ASE setup is not automatically valid for an ASA list, and the reverse is also true. When a command appears to succeed but the player can still join, the first thing to verify is the identifier format.

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Keep an identifier record

  • Write down the player’s exact ID and in-game name.
  • Note the edition, platform and date on which you obtained it.
  • Record why the player was added, removed, banned or granted administrative access.
  • Keep the record outside the game server so a restart or map change does not erase your notes.

Authenticate as an administrator without sharing the password

Only an authenticated administrator can change player lists or run moderation commands. Use the server’s administrator password through its normal admin-authentication process, or use an administrator identifier file when your edition supports one. Give the credential only to people who actually moderate the server.

Server-password authentication

Most ARK server interfaces provide an admin-authentication command or field where you enter the server administrator password. Follow the syntax shown by your host or console; do not paste the password into public chat. After authentication, run a harmless information command to confirm that the console is operating with administrator privileges before changing a player’s status.

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Administrator identifier files

For ASE, the configuration documentation names AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt as the administrator whitelist file. ASA uses the corresponding ARK-ID administrator file specified by its configuration documentation. Place only trusted identifiers in these files, use the format required by the edition, and restart when the server documentation says a reload is required.

An administrator list is different from a player join whitelist. An administrator can execute commands; a whitelisted player merely receives permission to connect under the selected access model.

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Choose the right access model

Access model What it does When to use it Operational note
Join-no-check list Listed players bypass the normal maximum-player check. Reserve access for selected players while leaving the server otherwise public. Entries can be added or removed while the server is running with commands.
Exclusive-join list Only players on the exclusive list may connect. Make the server private for a community, event or trusted group. Players absent from the list are refused; file changes generally require a restart.

Join-no-check whitelist

Use this model when the server should remain open but certain players must bypass the ordinary player-capacity check. It does not make the entire server private and it does not grant administrator privileges.

Add an account with:

cheat AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>

Replace <ID> with the exact account ID returned by the server. To remove the entry, run:

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cheat DisallowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID>

Check the resulting list in the in-game admin manager or your host’s player-control interface. If the player still cannot connect, check the edition, platform and ID format before repeating the command.

Exclusive-join list

An exclusive list makes the server private. Players who are not listed cannot join, even if they know the server address. The list is stored in PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt and is enabled through the documented command-line setting or the corresponding GameUserSettings.ini setting for your server.

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  1. Stop the server or use the host’s file editor if it supports safe configuration changes.
  2. Open PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt in the server’s configuration directory.
  3. Add each permitted account using the identifier format required by the edition.
  4. Enable exclusive joining with the command-line or GameUserSettings.ini option documented for your build.
  5. Save the file and restart the server unless your host explicitly supports a live reload.
  6. Test with one permitted account and one account that is not listed.

Do not confuse this file with the join-no-check list. A player can be on the join-no-check list and still be rejected by an exclusive server if that player is absent from PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt.

Moderate players from the server console

Run the following commands only after administrator authentication. The command prefix shown below is the conventional cheat form; a host panel may provide a command box that automatically supplies the prefix.

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Purpose Command Effect
Add to join-no-check list cheat AllowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID> Lets the specified account bypass the normal maximum-player check.
Remove from join-no-check list cheat DisallowPlayerToJoinNoCheck <ID> Removes that account from the join-no-check list.
Ban cheat BanPlayer <ID> Adds the account to the server ban list.
Unban cheat UnbanPlayer <ID> Removes the account from the ban list.
Kick cheat KickPlayer <identifier> Disconnects an active player without creating a permanent ban.
Broadcast cheat Broadcast <message> Sends a message to everyone currently online.

Ban a player

  1. Obtain the player’s exact server identifier rather than relying on the displayed name.
  2. Authenticate as an administrator.
  3. Run cheat BanPlayer <ID>.
  4. Confirm the entry in the ban list through the admin manager or hosting panel.
  5. Record the reason, moderator and date in your server log.

A ban is a persistent access decision. If the player is currently online, use the kick command as well when you need an immediate disconnect; otherwise the ban takes effect when the server checks the player’s next connection.

Unban a player

Use cheat UnbanPlayer <ID> with the same account identifier that was banned. If the command reports no change, compare the recorded ID with the current player-list output. A changed display name does not change the underlying account, but a wrong edition or platform identifier will prevent the removal.

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Kick a player without banning

Use cheat KickPlayer <identifier> for a temporary removal, such as stopping an argument, correcting an accidental connection or clearing a slot. Kicking does not by itself prevent the player from reconnecting. If the conduct violates your rules, apply a ban separately and document the reason.

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Broadcast a warning or maintenance notice

Use cheat Broadcast <message> to communicate with everyone online. Keep the message specific: state the action, the reason and the expected next step. For planned restarts, broadcast the timing before stopping the server so players have time to move to safety.

Use the in-game admin manager when supported

ShowMyAdminManager opens an in-game management interface on supported versions. It can display server information, your current position, connected players, banned players and whitelisted players, and it exposes many administrative commands.

Open and use the manager

  1. Authenticate as an administrator.
  2. Run ShowMyAdminManager from the admin console.
  3. Open the connected-player list to select an active player.
  4. Use the available action for kick, ban, whitelist or information lookup.
  5. Copy the UE4 player ID when a command requires that identifier.
  6. Verify the resulting list after the action.

The interface is convenient for moderators who are already playing, but support varies by edition, version and platform. If the command does not open a manager or a particular action is missing, use the console or the server’s file and panel controls instead.

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Manage players through a hosted control panel

A hosted panel is useful when you need to manage players while away from the game or when several moderators should not receive the server password. Nitrado’s player-management guide places these controls under Tools → Player Control.

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What the Player Control page can do

From the web interface, an owner can add or remove players from the administrator, whitelist and ban lists, and view offline entries. This is particularly useful for banning a player who is not currently connected or for preparing a private server’s access list before an event.

  1. Sign in to the server-management account.
  2. Open Tools → Player Control.
  3. Choose the administrator, whitelist or ban list.
  4. Search for the player or enter the identifier required by the panel.
  5. Add or remove the entry, then save the change.
  6. Recheck the list and allow for a restart if the panel indicates that one is required.

Automation through an API

For communities with their own moderation tools, the provider’s authenticated API exposes add and remove operations for whitelist and ban lists. Protect API credentials like administrator passwords, restrict access to trusted automation, and log every request with the player identifier, moderator or service account, reason and timestamp. API support and available operations depend on the provider’s current documentation and the server edition attached to your account.

Compare the three management approaches

Option Best for Main control surface Online or offline management Restart considerations Automation Trade-off
Self-hosted files and console Owners comfortable with server files and commands Server console, GameUserSettings.ini and list files Console actions can be live; file edits are often offline Exclusive-list file and configuration changes generally need a restart Possible through your own scripts and console tooling Maximum control, but you maintain identifiers, backups and permissions manually.
In-game admin manager Moderators who are online ShowMyAdminManager GUI Primarily online Depends on the action and version Not intended as an external automation surface Fast and visual, but version and platform support varies.
Hosted panel Owners who want remote, visual administration Player Control web interface and provider API Online and offline entries are available where supported The panel indicates when a restart or reload is required Authenticated API operations can automate list changes Requires a hosting provider and current provider support for your edition.

Before choosing an approach, check five compatibility points: identifier support, whether the action is live, whether offline players can be managed, whether an API exists, and whether the feature is available on your exact ARK edition and platform.

Common failures and how to correct them

The command says it worked, but the player can still join

  • Confirm that you used the account ID, not the character name.
  • Check whether the server is ASE or ASA and whether the ID is a Steam ID or an ARK/EOS ID.
  • Verify that you authenticated on the intended server, not a test instance or another map.
  • Inspect the ban or whitelist list in the admin manager or panel.
  • Restart if the change was made in a configuration file and the server does not support live reload.

A permitted player is rejected by a private server

  • Check PlayersExclusiveJoinList.txt for the exact identifier and formatting.
  • Make sure exclusive joining is enabled in the intended command-line or GameUserSettings.ini setting.
  • Restart after editing the file.
  • Test the account on the same platform and edition used to obtain the identifier.

The admin manager does not open

  • Re-authenticate and confirm that the server accepted the administrator credential.
  • Check whether your current ARK edition and version support ShowMyAdminManager.
  • Use the console or hosted panel as the fallback control surface.

An unban does not restore access

  • Verify that you removed the same identifier that was originally banned.
  • Check for a second restriction, such as an exclusive-join list that does not include the player.
  • Look for a duplicate ban entry in the panel or list file.
  • Have the player reconnect only after the list has been saved or the required restart has completed.

Security and moderation practices

  • Give administrator access only to trusted moderators; a whitelist entry is not a substitute for permission control.
  • Never publish the server administrator password in chat, screenshots or shared documents.
  • Use separate moderator accounts or panel roles when your host supports them.
  • Back up GameUserSettings.ini, list files and moderation records before large configuration changes.
  • Keep a written reason for bans and a review date for temporary sanctions.
  • Broadcast planned maintenance before kicking everyone or restarting.
  • After an update, retest identifiers and commands because edition and platform behavior can change.

A practical operating routine

  1. Identify: confirm ASE or ASA, the connection platform and the account ID returned by the server.
  2. Authorize: authenticate with the admin credential or maintain the appropriate administrator identifier file.
  3. Select: decide whether the player needs join-no-check access, membership in an exclusive list, a temporary kick or a permanent ban.
  4. Apply: use the exact command, manager action, file edit or panel control for that decision.
  5. Verify: inspect the resulting list and test a connection when the change affects access.
  6. Record: log the identifier, action, reason, moderator and time.

That routine prevents the two most common administrative mistakes: acting on the wrong identifier and assuming that a live command, a list-file edit and a hosted-panel change all take effect in the same way.

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