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!

[AndyGneiss]

First, xXshadowWolfGaming, you should be asking that in the Steam community areas for those games.
Second, for Terraria:
Start menu > "Multiplayer" > "Join via IP" > Pick your character > "Enter Server IP Address:" > and then format that IP address like xxx.xxx.x.xxx:7777, or whatever the port number is if it's not 7777. I don't know anything about Destiny 2.

[xXshadowWolfGaming]

how do i use steam://connect/ip:port for destiny 2 and Terraria

[0n3Tw03]

@WinterWisteria
It's still under the View menu but is now called Game Servers and you have to go to the Favorites tab then click the "+" (don't forget the port i.e ":1234"

View > Game Servers > Favorites > "+" > IP + Port

[0n3Tw03]

@Leon Gary Plauche
Same here, going to any menus at the top of steam will cause it to freeze and I literally have to restart my PC to fix it, even "End Task" wont touch it.

I reported this bug to steam and they don't care, all they said is try the beta... really? No thanks, I don't want more bugs, fix your shit.

[Brochacho]

New ui is fucked pls fix

[WinterWisteria]

Anyone know how to do this with the new Steam layout update? The Add Server button no longer seems to exist ):

[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.