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ARK Admin Commands Guide

Ark Guide • Updated Mar 30, 2026

ARK Admin Commands Guide

Admin commands are the fastest way to recover a broken ARK server, moderate players, and diagnose world problems. The mistake most admins make is treating them like a random cheat list. On a real dedicated server, you need a clean authentication flow, a small set of safe operational commands, and a few clear rules about when not to use them.

Authenticate First

enablecheats YourAdminPassword
admincheat ListPlayers

On multiplayer servers, most commands require enablecheats first and then either the cheat or admincheat prefix. If the server rejects commands, confirm that ServerAdminPassword is set correctly and that you authenticated in the current session.

Admin Access Options

Method When to Use It
Admin password Small groups or temporary operator access
Whitelisted admins Permanent trusted staff without sharing one common password

For automatic admin whitelisting, ARK supports dedicated files instead of forcing every moderator to enter the password manually:

# ASA
ShooterGame/Saved/AllowedCheaterAccountIDs.txt

# ASE
ShooterGame/Saved/AllowedCheaterSteamIDs.txt

High-Value Commands

Command Use
admincheat ListPlayers Show online players and identify who is connected
admincheat SaveWorld Force a save before restarts or risky maintenance
admincheat DoExit Gracefully stop the server after saving
admincheat DestroyWildDinos Wipe wild spawns after map or population changes
admincheat Broadcast Message Warn players before restarts and maintenance
admincheat SetTimeOfDay HH:MM Correct event setups or testing conditions
admincheat Teleport Fast moderation and stuck-player recovery
admincheat KickPlayer <ARK_ID> Remove a player without restarting the whole server

Be careful with destructive admin commands. Commands that destroy structures, wipe tribes, or mass-delete entities are easy to misuse and difficult to undo without a backup.

Operational Habits

  1. Broadcast before every planned restart.
  2. Use SaveWorld before risky changes.
  3. Record player IDs from ListPlayers before you moderate or whitelist anyone.
  4. Prefer targeted recovery commands over broad destructive wipes.

Need an easier way to manage staff access and routine maintenance on ARK? Run ARK: Survival Evolved on Supercraft or host ARK: Survival Ascended on Supercraft and keep admin workflows on a cleaner dedicated baseline.

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