Import Your Own ARK: Survival Evolved Save File

Discover how to restore your ARK: Survival Evolved game server using official or personal backup saves for seamless gameplay → Learn more

10 November 20262 min read2 Views0 helpful

Introduction

Want to import your own or an official backup save file to your ARK: Survival Evolved game server? No problem—this guide explains step by step how to import your regular personal or official backup save file to your new server.

Import Your Own ARK: Survival Evolved Save File

Prepare your save file

Tip

As an alternative to manually uploading files via FTP, you can also upload and download your savegame directly through the Savegame-Manager in the Savegames tab of your game server.

Official backup save file

First, you need to download your official server save file. You can do this directly from the ARK website or use a community tool to make it easier to find your server.

Info

Unfortunately, if you play on Xbox or PlayStation, you can't download official server files. The developers only allow world saves from Steam and Epic to be downloaded freely.

Two snapshots were created: the first on August 25, 2023, and the second on September 30, 2023. For both, you need to find your server and download the save file.

Info

You can only use your own official backup save file with the ARK - SE (Official backupsave kompatibel) game server variant. If you're using a different version for your server, you can change it in the Games section in the dashboard of your game server or follow our Game Change guide.

Your own regular save file

To import your own save file (not an official one), you need all the files from the save folder. These are usually located in the SavedArks directory, which is inside the Shootergame/Saved folder. Find these files and back them up so you can import them.

Info

For this, you should use the regular Ark: SE game server variant (without official backup save support), since you're importing a regular, unofficial save file.

Upload the save to your server

After downloading your .zip save file, you need to extract it using a program such as 7zip or Winrar. The upload process is the same for both game server and save file types.

Now you need to connect to your server via FTP to upload the save files. See our FTP access guide if you need help logging in with your preferred FTP client and transferring the files.

Open your FTP client and navigate to the following subdirectory on your game server:

Code

/gxxxxx/ark/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks

Delete all files from the current save file (or back them up first if you want to play on this save again later). Then drag all the extracted files into this directory, including the .ark, .arktribe, and .arkprofile files. Please be patient—the upload may take a while, depending on the size of your save file.

Once the upload is complete, restart your server and the newly uploaded files should load. You have successfully uploaded an official backup save file to your ARK: Survival Evolved game server.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Download the save file from the official ARK website (survivetheark.com) or use a community tool. Alternatively, you can upload and download your savegame directly through the Savegame-Manager in the Savegames tab of your game server.

No. The developers only allow world saves from Steam and Epic to be downloaded freely.

You can only use an official backup save file with the 'ARK - SE (Official backupsave kompatibel)' game server variant.

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Import Your Own ARK: Survival Evolved Save File

Introduction

Prepare your save file

Official backup save file

Your own regular save file

Upload the save to your server

Frequently asked questions

Ark: Survival Evolved

Prepare your save file

Official backup save file

Your own regular save file

Upload the save to your server

Game Server

Servers & Hosting

ZAPX

Resources

ZAP-Hosting