You decide which services we may enable for analytics, personalization, and external content.
We use cookies and similar technologies on our website to personalize content, embed external media, and better understand how individual areas are used.
Necessary cookies
These entries support essential functions such as security, stability, and form processing.
Optional sections
AnalyticsMarketingPersonalizationExternal media
Your data may be processed with your consent or on the basis of legitimate interests. In the cookie settings, you can reject or explicitly allow each optional category.
Some services process personal data in third countries. By consenting, you also agree to this transfer. You can find more information in our Privacy Policy.
You can reopen and change your selection at any time. · 1.0.2
Learn how to troubleshoot and resolve common PixARK server issues for a smoother gaming experience → Find out more
10 November 20267 min read0 Views0 helpful
Introduction
Setting up and running your own PixARK game server can be exciting and a lot of fun. It’s a great way to build a custom gaming environment and community, but it also means taking responsibility when things go wrong. Crashes, lag, and configuration issues are common challenges that every server owner will face at some point.
To help you spend less time troubleshooting and more time enjoying your server, this section covers the most common issues server owners encounter and offers solutions to help you fix them quickly and effectively.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Check the Console to make sure your server has fully started. The first startup takes a little longer because Wine needs to be set up. Set the in-game server list to Unofficial and, if your server has a password, enable Show Password Protected. You can find it more reliably in Steam Favorites using the IP address and Query Port.
Common causes include faulty server software, broken or incompatible add-ons (frameworks, plugins, mods, or resources), system overload, and configuration errors. Try disabling suspected add-ons to narrow down the cause.
Common causes include limited server resources (CPU, RAM, or bandwidth), overload from many players or resource-intensive add-ons, routing issues, and a server location far from your player base. First, check whether your server meets or exceeds the recommended specs.
Most network threats are beyond your control, but ZAP-Hosting provides built-in protection and mitigation systems. If you suspect an attack, contact our support team for help and next steps.
Create regular backups so you can restore an older, working version if something goes wrong. We already back up your game server automatically every day. With the ZapX Pass, you can also create and restore your own backups at any time. ZapX Pass Pro also lets you schedule automatic backups.
Feedback
Was this article helpful?
Your feedback helps us prioritize and improve content.
0 of 0 Users found this article helpful.
Personal support
Need more help than the guide provides?
Our ZAP support team knows your product — briefly describe your issue and we'll help you personally.
Navigation
PixARK
Issues and solutions
Server issues can have a variety of causes, which aren’t always immediately obvious. Learn how to analyze and resolve common issues step by step to keep everything running smoothly.
General
General issues can include all kinds of unexpected problems that don’t fit into a specific category. They’re often related to basic settings, missing files, or simple configuration errors. These can usually be fixed quickly with a few checks and adjustments.
Server not visible
If your server isn’t visible, it may not have completed its initialization successfully. This can be caused by a faulty configuration or corrupted files, for example. You can usually find more information in your server’s Console or in the log files. During its first startup, the server also sets up its runtime environment (Wine), so it takes a little longer.
Also check the filters in the server list: your server will only appear if the list is set to Unofficial. If your server has a password, also select Show Password Protected. You can find it more reliably using Steam Favorites with the IP address and Query Port shown in your overview. Our guide Connecting to the server explains how.
Crashes
Nothing ends a good session faster than an unexpected crash. Crashes can be caused by faulty server software, broken or incompatible add-ons (such as plugins, mods, resources, or frameworks), system overload, or configuration errors.
Keep your server up to date
Running your game server on the latest version is essential for stability, security, and compatibility. Game updates, framework changes, or updates to third-party tools can cause serious issues if your server is out of date.
An outdated game server may crash, behave unpredictably, or even fail to start altogether.
Faulty or problematic add-ons (frameworks, plugins, mods, resources)
Crashes are often caused by faulty or outdated add-ons. Whether it’s a framework, plugin, mod, or resource, issues can arise when an add-on isn’t compatible with the latest game version or contains bugs in its code.
This can lead to unexpected server crashes, freezes, or errors, especially when multiple problematic add-ons interact. If you suspect an add-on is causing the issue, try disabling it and check whether your server remains stable without it. This is a quick way to identify the add-on causing problems.
Make sure all the add-ons you use are up to date, actively maintained, and tested for compatibility with the current game version to avoid crashes and downtime.
To isolate the cause of crashes, it can help to temporarily disable additional content. Start with a minimal configuration and check whether the problem persists. If it doesn’t, add your extensions, mods, or resources back one at a time, testing after each change. This helps you pinpoint the element causing problems. This approach saves time and helps you make decisions based on facts rather than guesswork.
Performance
Smooth server performance is essential for a great gaming experience. Issues such as lag, delays, or sudden crashes often occur when the server configuration isn’t optimal, the hardware doesn’t meet the game’s requirements, or installed add-ons overload the system.
Common causes include poor configuration, insufficient resources, or unoptimized plugins and mods. Checking and adjusting these areas can resolve most performance issues and keep your game stable and responsive.
Poor server configuration
Incorrect or poorly adjusted server settings can lead to higher resource usage and performance issues such as lag or stuttering. Make sure your configuration values match the recommended settings for your game and server size. Review and adjust them as needed to help your server run as efficiently as possible.
You can easily adjust your configuration in the Configuration tab: AI automatically displays the appropriate settings as form fields, or you can open the raw text of the relevant file using Edit directly. For PixARK, set the server name, password, player count, map, and world name under Startup Parameters.
Game requirements not met
To keep your game server running smoothly and reliably, it’s important to choose a configuration that suits your planned project. Requirements vary significantly depending on the game, the use of add-ons such as mods, plugins, or resources, and the expected number of players.
During checkout, ZAP-Hosting provides a recommended minimum configuration. This is based on typical use cases and is intended to help you avoid common performance issues such as lag, crashes, or long loading times.
Please follow these recommendations or upgrade your package if needed to ensure optimal stability and the best experience for you and your players. This is a minimum recommendation.
Depending on the scope of your project and the amount of additional content, you may need more resources from the start, or your requirements may increase over time. In such cases, upgrading your game server package is the easiest way to maintain performance and stability.
Not all add-ons are optimized for performance. Whether it’s a framework, plugin, mod, or resource, poor implementation can cause significant performance issues on your server. The feature may work as intended, but its implementation could be inefficient, overly complex, or place unnecessary strain on server resources.
This can lead to high CPU usage, memory leaks, lag, or even crashes, especially when multiple unoptimized components interact. Make sure add-ons are actively maintained, well documented, and tested for performance. If in doubt, community feedback or monitoring your server’s performance can help you identify problematic components.
To isolate the cause of performance issues, it can help to temporarily disable additional content. Start with a minimal configuration and check whether the problem persists. If it doesn’t, add your extensions, mods, or resources back one at a time, testing after each change. This helps you pinpoint the source of the problem, whether it’s a conflict, memory leak, or excessive resource usage.
This approach saves time and helps you make decisions based on facts rather than guesswork.
Network
Network issues can cause lag, delays, or disconnections. They can have many causes, but are usually fixable with the right settings and security measures.
Ping spikes, lag, and network delays
Ping spikes, lag, and network delays are usually caused by limited server resources, such as insufficient CPU power, RAM, or bandwidth.
They can also occur when the server is overloaded with players or resource-intensive scripts and plugins. Network issues such as poor routing, external congestion, or a server location far from your player base can further increase latency.
Background processes, unstable internet connections, packet loss, and outdated or incorrectly configured server software can also cause noticeable performance issues in the game.
If you’re experiencing lag or high ping on your server, you can try a few simple steps to improve performance. First, make sure your server meets or exceeds the recommended specs for your game and project. Choosing a server location close to your player base can also help reduce latency.
If you suspect routing issues or other external network problems, don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We’ll help you analyze the situation and find the best solution.
DDoS and other network threats
Game servers can occasionally be targeted by malicious network attacks, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These flood the server with excessive traffic, causing lag, connection loss, or even complete downtime. In other cases, attackers may try to exploit network vulnerabilities or disrupt server stability through repeated connection attempts or unusual data patterns.
Most of these threats are beyond the control of a regular user, but ZAP-Hosting provides built-in protection and mitigation systems to protect your server from common and advanced attacks. If you suspect your server is under attack and experiencing issues, contact our support team for help and further instructions.
Preventive measures
Regular backups can save you a lot of stress and worry. Create backups regularly so you always have an older version to restore if something goes wrong. We already back up your game server automatically every day. With the ZapX Pass, you can also create your own backups at any time and restore them with a single click. ZapX Pass Pro even lets you schedule automatic backups. Find out more in our guide to Backups.
Conclusion
These steps should help you resolve your issue. If your problem is listed here, the suggested solution will usually point you in the right direction and get your server running again quickly.
If not, don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We’re here every day and will be happy to help! 🙂
Server hosting from €2.49 / month, online instantly, DDoS protection included.
Preferred source on Google
