How to Transfer an ARK Single Player Save to a Server (ASA)

You can transfer an ARK Survival Ascended single player save to a dedicated server by copying three kinds of files: the map's .ark save, your LocalPlayer.arkprofile character and your .arktribe file. The world copies straight over. Your character needs one extra step: the profile has to be renamed to your EOS ID so the server knows it is you. This guide walks through the whole move and the problems people hit along the way.

Before you start

• Back up everything. Copy your whole single player Saved folder somewhere safe before you touch anything.
• Use the same map. A save from The Island only loads on a server running TheIsland_WP. Scorched Earth needs ScorchedEarth_WP, and so on.
• Match mods. If your single player game used mods, the server needs the same CurseForge mods, or modded dinos and items disappear.
• Update both. The game and the server should be on the same version.

Step 1: Find your single player save

On Steam, right click ARK: Survival Ascended, choose Manage, then Browse local files. The single player saves are in:

ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal\TheIsland_WP\

The last folder is named after your map. Inside you will find:

Step 2: Get your EOS ID

Your character on a server is stored under your EOS ID, a 32 character string of letters and numbers. To find it, join any server (your new one is fine), open the console with Tab and type:

whoami

Write the ID down exactly. If you join your server and create a character by accident, that is fine, you will replace it in step 4.

Step 3: Stop the server and back up its save

Stop the server. If it has already run once, it has a fresh save of its own in:

ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/TheIsland_WP/

Download or copy that folder first, so you can go back if anything goes wrong.

Step 4: Rename and upload the files

1. Make a copy of LocalPlayer.arkprofile and rename the copy to your EOS ID, for example 0002a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e.arkprofile.
2. Upload these files into the server's ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/TheIsland_WP/ folder:
   • TheIsland_WP.ark
   • your renamed .arkprofile
   • your .arktribe file
3. When asked, replace the server's own TheIsland_WP.ark and any existing profile with the same name.
4. Delete the server's other dated .ark backup files in that folder, or move them out, so the server does not load an older one.

On Windows, make sure file extensions are visible (File Explorer, View, File name extensions), or you can end up with name.arkprofile.arkprofile, which the server ignores.

Step 5: Start the server and check

Start the server and give it a few minutes to load. Join and check:

• Your character spawns with your level, engrams and inventory.
• Your tames are there and still belong to you.
• Your base doors and storage open for you.

If your friends played in single player on your PC with you, they never had their own characters, so they start fresh on the server. They can join your tribe once they are in.

Common problems

• You spawn as a new character. The profile name does not match your EOS ID exactly, or the file has a hidden .txt or double extension. Stop the server, check the name and try again.
• The world is empty or brand new. The .ark file is in the wrong folder, the map folder name does not match, or the server is running a different map.
• Tames are there but you cannot ride or access them. The .arktribe file did not come across, or your character is not in the tribe. Upload the tribe file and restart.
• Modded dinos and items vanished. The server is missing some of your single player mods. Add the same CurseForge project IDs to the server and restore your backup.
• Single player settings are gone. Rates set in single player do not travel with the save. Set them again in the server's GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini, as covered in ARK server settings not working.

Moving a save between servers

Going from one dedicated server to another is simpler. Copy the whole map folder from ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/ on the old server into the same place on the new one. Player profiles are already named by EOS ID, so nobody needs renaming. Stop both servers first so the files are not half written.

Uploading to a GamezServers server

On a hosted server you do the same steps in your browser:

1. Press Backup, then Stop in the control panel.
2. Open the Files tab and go to ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/TheIsland_WP/.
3. Upload your .ark, renamed .arkprofile and .arktribe files. For big saves, use the SFTP login from Settings in an app like FileZilla or WinSCP.
4. Press Start.

If anything looks wrong, restore the backup you made in step 1 and try again.

FAQ

Can I move my ARK single player world to a dedicated server?

Yes. Copy the map's .ark file, your .arktribe file and your LocalPlayer.arkprofile renamed to your EOS ID into the server's SavedArks map folder.

Where are ARK Survival Ascended single player saves?

In your game folder under ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal\, with one folder per map.

Will my tames transfer?

Yes, they are part of the world file. Upload the tribe file too, so they still belong to you.

Why did I lose my character after transferring?

The profile was not renamed to your exact EOS ID. Run whoami in the console to check the ID and rename the file to match.

Keep the world running

Once your world is on a server, it keeps going when you log off: babies mature, crops grow and friends can play on their own time. See ARK: Survival Ascended server hosting or the quick start guide.