How to Become Admin on Your ARK Server

This guide shows you how to grant yourself admin (administrator) rights on your own ARK: Survival Evolved server, whether it’s a dedicated server you host or a rented one from a provider. You’ll learn the exact commands and files to edit so you can use cheat commands, spawn items, and manage players. Before starting, make sure you have access to the server’s console or files, and that you know your in-game Steam ID (you can find it by opening the in-game console and typing showmyadminmanager or by using Steam’s profile page).

What You’ll Need

• Access to your server’s files (via FTP, a control panel like Nitrado or GPortal, or local folders if self-hosted).
• Your Steam 64-bit ID (find it at steamid.io or via the in-game console).
• An admin password you want to set (for in-game admin commands).

Step-by-Step

1. Stop the server – Before editing any files, shut down your ARK server through your hosting panel or by stopping the process. This prevents file corruption.
2. Locate the GameUserSettings.ini file – This is the main configuration file. On a rented server, find it in the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ folder (or WindowsServer on Windows). On a local dedicated server, it’s in ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/.
3. Open GameUserSettings.ini with a text editor – Use Notepad, Notepad++, or any plain text editor. Do not use Word.
4. Add or edit the [ServerSettings] section – Scroll to find [ServerSettings]. If it doesn’t exist, add it at the end of the file. Inside, add or change the following lines:
• AdminPassword=YourStrongPassword – Replace with a password you’ll remember. This is used to enable admin commands in-game.
• ServerAdminPassword=YourStrongPassword – Same password, used for some admin commands (it’s a legacy alias).
5. Save the file – Save GameUserSettings.ini and close it.
6. Start the server – Restart your ARK server through your control panel or by launching it again.
7. Join your server in-game – Launch ARK, join your server, and press Tab to open the console.
8. Enable admin mode – Type enablecheats YourStrongPassword (replace with the password you set) and press Enter. You should see a message confirming admin mode is enabled.
9. Verify admin rights – Type cheat gcm to open the GameMaster (admin) menu, or try a simple command like cheat god to become invincible. If these work, you’re an admin.
10. Optional: Add your Steam ID to the whitelist – If you want to be automatically admin without typing the password every time, edit the AllowedCheaterSteamIDs line in the same [ServerSettings] section. Add your Steam ID as a comma-separated list, like AllowedCheaterSteamIDs=12345678901234567. Save and restart again.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to stop the server before editing – The server may overwrite your changes when it shuts down, so always stop it first.
• Using the wrong file – Some people edit Game.ini instead of GameUserSettings.ini. Admin settings go in GameUserSettings.ini.
• Typing the password wrong – The password is case-sensitive. Double-check for extra spaces or typos.
• Using a weak password – If your server is public, a weak admin password can be brute-forced, giving others admin control.
• Not using the correct Steam ID format – Your Steam ID must be the 17-digit 64-bit ID, not your profile name or a shorter ID.

Tips

• Use a strong, unique password for admin – avoid anything you use elsewhere.
• If you host multiple servers, set different admin passwords for each.
• Write down your password or store it in a password manager – you’ll need it often.
• After enabling cheats, you can use cheat giveitemnum or cheat spawnitem to spawn items. Learn a few essential commands to manage your server effectively.
• If you’re on a rented server, check your host’s documentation – some have a simple checkbox in the control panel to set admin passwords.

Troubleshooting

• Admin password not working – Check that you’ve added the line in the correct section and that the file is saved. Restart the server again after editing. Also, ensure you’re typing enablecheats (not admincheat – that’s for after enabling).
• Console not opening – On PC, press Tab to open the console. If it doesn’t open, check your keybindings in the game settings. On Xbox/PlayStation, you need to enable the console in the server settings (set ServerConsole to true in GameUserSettings.ini).
• Commands not working – Make sure you’re typing the full command with cheat prefix, e.g., cheat god. Some commands require you to be in admin mode first.
• Changes revert after restart – This usually means the server didn’t shut down properly before you edited. Stop the server, wait a few minutes, then edit and start again.
• Can’t find the file – Use your hosting panel’s file manager or FTP. If you’re self-hosting, look in the ARK server installation directory. If you’re using a dedicated server via SteamCMD, the path is typically ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/.
• Using a non-dedicated server – If you’re playing a non-dedicated session (hosting from your own game), you are already the admin. Just press Tab and type commands directly without enabling cheats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my Steam ID?

Go to your Steam profile, click “Edit Profile”, and look at the URL – the 17-digit number at the end is your 64-bit Steam ID. Alternatively, use a site like steamid.io.

Can I become admin on someone else’s server?

No, you can only become admin if the server owner gives you the admin password or adds your Steam ID to the allowed list. There is no legitimate way to bypass that.

What’s the difference between enablecheats and admincheat?

enablecheats is the command you use once to activate admin mode with your password. After that, every cheat command is prefixed with cheat (or admincheat – both work).

Do I need to be admin to use admin commands?

Yes, you must first enable admin mode with enablecheats or be on the allowed Steam ID list. Otherwise, commands are ignored.

How do I add multiple admins?

In GameUserSettings.ini, under [ServerSettings], set AllowedCheaterSteamIDs=ID1,ID2,ID3 – separate each Steam ID with a comma. Restart the server for changes to take effect.

What if I forget my admin password?

You’ll need to reset it by editing the GameUserSettings.ini file again. Stop the server, change the password, and restart.

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