Set ARK: Survival Evolved’s join message in the server’s GameUserSettings.ini file, under [MessageOfTheDay]. Set Duration in seconds and put the welcome text in Message; use the two-character sequence n for line breaks. The documented default duration is 20 seconds. Self-hosted administrators edit the file directly, while a Nitrado server exposes the same values in Settings → General and, when needed, through Expert Mode.
Godlike.Host offers hosted ARK: Survival Evolved servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
What ARK’s Message of the Day controls
ARK displays the Message of the Day when a player joins the server. Nitrado describes it as a message broadcast to players when they join. The setting is not a chat command or a player-side preference: it is part of the server configuration and must be changed by whoever administers the server or its hosting account.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (PS4) | $19.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One | $23.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (Nintendo Switch) | $35.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One (Renewed) | $21.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
ARK Survival Evolved Definitive Complete Guide & Walkthrough (Latest Update 2025) All Strategies,... | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe controlling section is [MessageOfTheDay] in GameUserSettings.ini. It has two documented values:
Messageis the text shown after login. ARK expects the value on one INI line.Durationis an integer measured in seconds. The documented default is 20 seconds.
To put the message on more than one visual line, keep the value on one physical INI line and insert n where the break should occur. For example:
#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
[MessageOfTheDay]
Duration=20
Message=Welcome to our ARK server!nRead the rules in Discord before building.The setting takes effect after the server is started with the saved configuration. Reconnect with a player account to check both the wording and how long it remains visible.
Choose the way you manage the server
Your editing steps depend on where the dedicated server runs. A self-hosted installation gives you direct access to the configuration file. A managed host may provide ordinary form fields instead, with an optional editor for the underlying INI.
| Management route | Where you change the MOTD | How duration is entered | How the change is applied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted dedicated server | ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini, or the equivalent saved-configuration path for the operating system |
Duration as an integer number of seconds |
Save the file, start the server, then reconnect to verify |
| Nitrado web interface | Settings → General → Message of the Day (MOTD) | The duration field beside the MOTD setting | Stop the server before editing, choose Save changes, start the server, then reconnect |
| Nitrado Expert Mode | The [MessageOfTheDay] section in GameUserSettings.ini |
Duration in seconds |
Use the same stop, save, start and reconnect sequence |
Other hosting panels can use different labels and layouts. If a panel does not show an MOTD field, its file editor may still expose GameUserSettings.ini; look specifically for the [MessageOfTheDay] section rather than assuming a similarly named setting controls the login message.
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
Set the MOTD on a self-hosted ARK server
These steps apply to a dedicated server for which you can access the saved configuration directory. The example path is the Windows Server layout documented for ARK.
- Stop the dedicated server cleanly. Do this before opening the file. Editing while the process is running risks having the server write its current settings back over your changes.
- Make a backup. Copy
GameUserSettings.inito a separate location before changing it. A backup lets you restore the previous message if an edit introduces a formatting mistake. - Open the saved configuration file. Go to
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini. On another operating system, use that installation’s equivalent server-configuration path; the file name and section remain the important parts. - Locate the section. Search for the exact heading
[MessageOfTheDay]. Section headings use square brackets and must be written once for the values that follow them. - Add the section if it is missing. Insert one
[MessageOfTheDay]heading, followed byDurationandMessage. Do not create several copies of the section while troubleshooting; keep one authoritative pair of values. - Choose the display time. Set
Durationto a whole-number count of seconds, such as20for the documented default. The value is not minutes and does not use a unit suffix. - Write the welcome text. Put the text after
Message=and keep the entire value on one physical INI line. Insert the literal two charactersnwherever the in-game message should start a new line. - Save the file. Check that the file remains named
GameUserSettings.iniand that the section heading and key names have not been changed. - Start the server. The running server must load the saved configuration before a player can see the new MOTD.
- Reconnect as a player. Join or reconnect with a player account. Confirm the exact text, line breaks and approximate display duration rather than relying on the file edit alone.
A complete self-hosted example
A practical welcome message can combine a greeting with a short rules reminder:
[MessageOfTheDay]
Duration=30
Message=Welcome to our ARK server!nRead the rules in Discord before building.In this example, 30 means 30 seconds, and n is the line-break escape stored inside the single-line Message value. You can replace the wording and number while preserving the key names and format.
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
Set the MOTD through Nitrado’s control panel
Nitrado documents a form-based workflow for ARK servers. Stop the server before changing the setting so the panel and server process do not compete over the configuration.
- Stop the server in the Nitrado web interface.
- Open Settings, then General.
- Edit Message of the Day (MOTD). Enter the welcome or rules text in the MOTD field.
- Edit the duration field. Enter the desired number of seconds, using the same seconds-based meaning as the INI value.
- Click Save changes. Wait for the panel to confirm the settings have been stored.
- Start the server.
- Reconnect with a player account. Verify the message and timing in the actual join screen.
When to use Expert Mode
Use Nitrado’s Expert Mode when you need direct control of the underlying configuration rather than the ordinary form fields. Open GameUserSettings.ini, find or add [MessageOfTheDay], and edit Duration and Message in the same format shown above. Keep the server stopped while making the change, save it, start the server and reconnect to test.
Write a message that displays reliably
Keep the INI value on one line
The documented format treats Message as a single-line string. Do not press Enter inside the value to create a second physical INI line. Instead, type n at the desired break point:
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
Message=Welcome survivors!nRead the rules before claiming a base.Use seconds for the duration
Duration=20 means 20 seconds, not 20 minutes. The documented default is 20 seconds, so a value below or above that number changes how long the join message remains visible. Use an integer and omit words such as “seconds” from the value.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Keep the content focused
A join message is most useful for information every player needs immediately: a greeting, a short rules reminder, a Discord location or a notice about building expectations. Put longer documentation in your linked community rules rather than trying to turn the MOTD into a full handbook.
Do not assume unsupported formatting
The available configuration reference establishes the newline escape but does not establish a universal character limit, color-code syntax or hyperlink policy. Treat the message as plain text unless your specific platform documentation confirms additional formatting. If a proposed color code or clickable URL does not render as expected, remove it and retest with ordinary text.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the change after restarting
A successful file save is not the same as a successful in-game change. Use this short verification sequence every time:
Recommended Free Tools
- Confirm the server was stopped before the edit.
- Reopen the saved file or panel entry and check that the intended
[MessageOfTheDay],MessageandDurationvalues are present. - Start the server after saving.
- Join or reconnect with a player account rather than checking only an already-connected session.
- Read the message for spelling, line breaks and the time it remains visible.
This process tests the complete path from configuration storage to the login screen, which is the workflow documented for both direct file editing and the Nitrado panel.
Troubleshoot an MOTD that does not appear correctly
The message is not shown after joining
- Check that the edit was made in
GameUserSettings.ini, not a similarly named game or server file. - Verify the section heading is exactly
[MessageOfTheDay]. - Confirm the server was stopped before the edit, the file was saved, and the server was started afterward.
- Reconnect after the restart. Testing an existing session does not exercise the join-message workflow.
The duration is wrong
- Read the
Durationvalue as seconds. A value of20is the documented default and means 20 seconds. - Make sure the value is an integer with no “s,” “sec” or other text.
- On a hosted panel, check the duration field in Settings → General rather than assuming the text field controls timing.
The message appears on one line
- Use the two-character escape
ninside theMessagevalue. - Keep the value on one physical INI line; do not insert a real line break after
Message=. - Save, restart and reconnect before judging the result.
The change disappears after a restart
- Restore the backup if necessary and repeat the edit with the server stopped.
- Check that there is one
[MessageOfTheDay]section and one current pair of keys, rather than competing copies. - For Nitrado, use the panel’s Save changes control or Expert Mode instead of editing a local copy that the hosted server does not use.
The panel does not show the fields described here
Panel labels are not guaranteed to be identical across hosts or platforms. On Nitrado, the documented location is Settings → General, with Expert Mode available for direct INI control. On another host, consult its current interface documentation or use its file editor to locate GameUserSettings.ini and the [MessageOfTheDay] section.
Self-hosting or a managed panel?
The MOTD itself is the same pair of configuration values, but administration feels different.
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Nitrado-managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying file access | Direct access to the saved GameUserSettings.ini path |
Ordinary fields in Settings → General, plus Expert Mode for direct INI editing |
| How you enter the message | Type Message= in the [MessageOfTheDay] section |
Type in the Message of the Day (MOTD) field, or edit the section in Expert Mode |
| How you enter timing | Set Duration to an integer number of seconds |
Use the duration field, which represents the same seconds-based setting |
| Restart responsibility | Stop and start the dedicated-server process yourself | Stop and start the server from the web interface |
| Best fit | Administrators who want file-level control and can manage backups and restarts | Administrators who prefer a web form, with Expert Mode available when file-level control is necessary |
The choice is operational rather than a different MOTD system: both routes ultimately set the same section, message value and duration.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A maintenance checklist for future MOTD edits
- Write the new text and decide its duration in seconds.
- Stop the server.
- Back up the current
GameUserSettings.iniwhen editing files directly. - Change only the
[MessageOfTheDay]values. - Keep
Messageon one line and usenfor visual breaks. - Save the file or click Save changes in the panel.
- Start the server.
- Reconnect and read the message as a player would.
Following that sequence preserves the existing configuration, avoids edits being overwritten by a running process and confirms that the setting is visible in the actual join experience.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
