Enable or Disable PvP on an ARK Server

This guide explains how to turn Player vs. Player (PvP) combat on or off for your ARK: Survival Evolved server. You’ll learn the exact settings to change, whether you run a dedicated server, a non-dedicated session, or rent from a hosting provider. By the end, you’ll be able to switch between peaceful PvE (Player vs. Environment) and competitive PvP gameplay in a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

• Access to your server’s configuration files (Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini) or your hosting provider’s control panel.
• For a dedicated server: the ability to stop and restart the server process.
• For a non-dedicated session (hosting from your own game client): the ability to pause the game and change settings in the host menu.

Step-by-Step

1. Determine your server type. The steps differ slightly for dedicated servers (run as a separate process or rented) and non-dedicated sessions (run from the game client). If you rent, check your host’s panel for a “PvP Mode” toggle—many provide a simple switch.
2. For dedicated servers: locate the configuration files. The two key files are GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini. They are usually in the ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ or WindowsServer/ folder of your server installation. If you rent, use the file manager in your control panel.
3. Edit GameUserSettings.ini. Open the file with a text editor (Notepad, VS Code, etc.). Find the [ServerSettings] section. If it doesn’t exist, create it at the end of the file. Add or change the line PVE=True to enable PvE (disable PvP) or PVE=False to enable PvP. Save the file.
4. Edit Game.ini (optional but recommended). Open Game.ini. Under the [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameMode] section, add or change bPvEAllowUnlimitedRespawns=True and bPvEAllowUnlimitedStructureRespawns=True if you want PvE-style unlimited respawns. For PvP, these should be False. This step is not strictly required to toggle PvP, but it aligns the respawn behavior with the mode.
5. For non-dedicated sessions: use the in-game menu. While hosting a non-dedicated session, press Esc to open the pause menu. Select Host Options (or Server Settings). Look for a checkbox labeled PvE or Enable PvP. Toggle it as desired. The change applies immediately without restarting the session.
6. Restart the server (dedicated only). After editing the files, you must restart the server process for changes to take effect. Use your control panel’s restart button or the command line (e.g., sudo systemctl restart ark-server on Linux).
7. Verify the change. Join the server and check whether you can damage other players or their structures. If you can, PvP is enabled; if not, PvE is active. Also check the server’s admin log or the in-game server settings display (if available) to confirm.

Common Mistakes

• Editing the wrong file. Some hosts use GameUserSettings.ini for all settings; others split between Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini. Double-check the file path.
• Forgetting to restart. The server caches settings; changes won’t apply until a full restart.
• Using the wrong case. The setting is PVE (all caps), not PvE or pve. Incorrect case may be ignored.
• Not backing up files. Always back up the .ini files before editing so you can revert if something goes wrong.
• Assuming PvP is the default. By default, ARK servers are PvP unless you explicitly set PVE=True.

Tips

• Use a hosting panel if available. Most paid hosts (e.g., Nitrado, GPortal) offer a simple toggle in their web interface—no manual file editing needed.
• Combine with other settings. For a true PvE experience, also set bPvEAllowUnlimitedRespawns=True and bPvEAllowUnlimitedStructureRespawns=True to prevent griefing via resource depletion.
• Test on a separate server. If you’re unsure, spin up a temporary test server to try the settings before applying them to your main server.
• Keep a changelog. Note the original values so you can revert easily.

Troubleshooting

• Change doesn’t take effect. Ensure you edited the correct file and restarted the server. Check for syntax errors (e.g., missing equals sign). If using a host, confirm the file path is correct—some hosts use a different folder.
• PvP still enabled after setting PVE=True. There might be a conflicting setting in Game.ini like bPvEAllowUnlimitedRespawns=False that overrides. Also, check if the server has a command-line argument like -ServerPVE that forces PvE—remove it if present.
• Players can still damage each other in PvE. In PvE, players cannot damage each other directly, but they can still be harmed by wild dinos, fall damage, or environmental hazards. Also, some mods may override PvE restrictions—disable mods to test.
• Can’t find the [ServerSettings] section. Create it manually at the end of the file. It’s case-sensitive; use exactly [ServerSettings].
• Hosting panel toggle doesn’t work. Some panels write the setting to a different file or require a specific format. Contact your host’s support or manually edit the .ini files.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I switch between PvP and PvE without wiping the server? Yes, toggling the PvE flag does not reset the world. However, existing structures and tames may behave differently (e.g., structures become indestructible in PvE).
2. Does PvE affect raiding? In PvE, you cannot damage other players’ structures or tames, so raiding is impossible. You also cannot pick up an enemy player’s items.
3. Can I enable PvP only for specific times? ARK doesn’t have a built-in scheduler for PvP toggling. You’d need to manually change the setting or use a server plugin/mod that supports timed events.
4. What about PvPvE servers? That’s not a standard server mode. You can simulate it by enabling PvP but setting bPvEAllowUnlimitedRespawns=True to make resources infinite, but true PvPvE requires mods.
5. Will my mods break when switching modes? Some mods are designed for PvP or PvE specifically. Check each mod’s description; you may need to disable incompatible ones.
6. How do I check the current mode from the server console? The console doesn’t show the mode directly, but you can type GetGameMode (if admin) to see the game mode class, which includes PvP/PvE info.

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