Connect to server via IP address / URL

This will show you how to connect to an ARK server using the IP address or URL of the server through Steam.

1) Steam

So, you can't

• find a server in-game?
  
• bother wasting time even looking for a server?

Open the Steam client.

In the menu bar at the top left, go to View > Servers.


Go to the FAVORITES tab, right click in the blank, open space to open a small menu. Add server by IP address should be an option. If you don't have any servers "favorited" already, it should be the only option. Click it!


You should now see "Enter the IP address of the server you wish to add."
Here, as you should see in the examples under the text field, is where you can enter a server's IP address or URL. Enter one of those and click FIND GAMES AT THIS ADDRESS..., and hopefully it will show below that an ARK server was found.


Click on the server and then click on ADD SELECTED GAME SERVER TO FAV...
This will add a server to your favorites list both in this steam server list and, more importantly, in-game. Now you may exit the server menu.

2) Game Client

Launch the game, ARK: Survival Evolved. At the main screen, click JOIN ARK.

From here, click the Server Filter: drop-down menu and click on Favorites.

Now you should be able to pick the server that you added to your favorites earlier and join it. Now is when a password prompt might pop up, if the server is password protected. Enjoy the game!

[Space]

I found out what went wrong, I was using URL forwarding when I should've been using host records.

[Space]

Thanks for your reply, and yes, I am running my own server. My problem wasn't lying with redirecting the server IP, it was the port. I already do have my own domain but I haven't been able to redirect to port 7777 with any other protocol other than HTTP. As far as I know, Ark needs TCP/UDP. Here's a screenshot of what I'm getting when trying to redirect. https://imgur.com/a/SfklFtG

[AndyGneiss]

Space, assuming you're running your own server, you would need to get a domain name from an internet domain registrar. Some popular examples of that are bluehost, hostgator, and godaddy. With that service, you tie your server's IP address to the domain name. I had an IT friend (skade88 below) set up the server and all that for me.

And to address everyone: Yes, this is an old guide that I'm no longer maintaining. I haven't even touched ARK in many years (five years next month).

[Space]

How would you go about getting a URL for your server like the one shown in 4th screenshot? I've tried to but I've only been finding services that redirect with HTTP.

[Illithid]

this guide is literally 5 years old, calm down

[ИЗИ ПАРКОВКА]

so fake

[ИЗИ ПАРКОВКА]

its not working

[shlelieveld]

I've forwarded the ports 7778 UDP and TCP to the docker container and also ports 27018 but the container also has a port 32330 or so ? Does anyone know anything about that port?

[skade88]

Howdy Shlelieveld,

It sounds like you might have a routing issue. I would suggest trying to Telnet to your server from the outside world to see if it's accessible that way. In Windows I suggest using the program named Putty. Just put in the public IP and port when not on your local LAN and see if it connects. If it doesn't then there is a routing issue. If it does connect then it's something else.

[shlelieveld]

Hi this is all Nice, and I tried it, but for some reason it does not work.
Let me explain.

I've hosted an ARK server as a docker container on my CentOS 7.7 Linux Server. When my son is at home, he can select LAN in ARK and sees the SHL-Server i'm hosting. Connects and plays with ease.
I opened ports 7778, TCP and UDP on my router, and opened port 27018 (via the docker container redirected to port 27015 in the container (as 27015 is already in use for Factorio)
When I add the server in the servers pane on steam it just says server not responding.
I have added the exception to the firewall on all these ports, but still a ano go (even if I temporary disable the firewall all together).

Any help will be helpful
thmnx