ARK: Survival Evolved: RCON

Discover how to securely manage and control your ARK: Survival Evolved game servers remotely without logging into the game → Learn more now

10 November 20262 min read0 Views0 helpful

Introduction

RCON (Remote Console) is a network protocol that allows you to control game servers remotely. It provides access to the server console without needing to interact directly with the server environment. This way, you can execute administrative commands, adjust configuration parameters, or retrieve server status information.

In ARK: Survival Evolved, RCON is used to run server-side commands such as managing players, changing gameplay settings, or fetching diagnostic outputs. The connection is password-protected and operates through a designated port accessible via compatible RCON clients.

A major advantage of RCON is that you can manage the server without being connected as a player in the game. Server admins can conveniently monitor and control ARK: Survival Evolved through external tools, command lines, or web dashboards—offering great flexibility and convenience for remote management.

Configuration

Before you can use RCON, it must be enabled and configured. You do this by editing the configuration file in the Configuration tab of your game server (raw text view). In the GameUserSettings.ini file, add or adjust the following entries:

cfg

[ServerSettings]
RCONEnabled=True
ServerAdminPassword=define-your-password

You can find the assigned RCON port in the Server Details section on your game server’s Overview under More ports.

Connecting via RCON

To connect to your ARK: Survival Evolved game server via RCON, use the tool ARKon. You can download it here from the Steam Thread. After downloading and installing it on your PC, create a new server entry with the following information:

Server IP address
RCON port
RCON password

After saving the connection profile, select the server from the list and establish the connection. Once connected, you can execute RCON commands through the graphical interface. ARKon also offers cool features specifically for ARK: Survival Evolved, such as:

Real-time player list and online status
In-game chat monitoring and interaction
Quick-access buttons for common admin commands
Logging of RCON outputs and command history

RCON Commands

Once connected via RCON, you can execute various administrative and diagnostic commands on your ARK: Survival Evolved game server. Available commands depend on the game engine but typically include player management, status queries, and server control.

Command	Description
`EnableCheats <password>`	Enables admin mode on the server (admin commands)
`AdminCheat KickPlayer <Steam64ID>`	Kicks a player
`AdminCheat BanPlayer <Steam64ID>`	Bans a player
`AdminCheat UnbanPlayer <playerName>`	Unbans a player
`AdminCheat Broadcast <message>`	Sends a broadcast message to all players
`AdminCheat SaveWorld`	Saves the current world state
`AdminCheat SetTimeOfDay <hh:mm>`	Sets the in-game time
`AdminCheat TeleportPlayerIDToMe <playerID>`	Teleports a player to you
`cheat Slomo <factor>`	Adjusts the game speed
`AdminCheat GiveItemNum <ItemID> <quantity> <quality> 0`	Spawns items into your inventory

Conclusion

RCON is an essential tool for remotely managing ARK: Survival Evolved game servers. It provides fast and direct access to administrative functions and secures access through password authentication. Proper and secure configuration is crucial to ensure server stability and prevent unauthorized access.

If you have any questions or need assistance, our support team is available daily to help! 🙂

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Edit the GameUserSettings.ini file in the Configuration tab (raw text view) and add RCONEnabled=True and ServerAdminPassword=your-password under [ServerSettings].

You can find it in the Server Details section on your game server’s Overview page.

You can manage the server without being connected as a player—such as managing players, changing gameplay settings, or retrieving diagnostics via external tools, command lines, or web dashboards.

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