If you've already built up a world in singleplayer or a non-dedicated session and want to move it onto your MintServers dedicated server, you don't have to start over. ARK stores each world as a small set of files that can be copied straight across.
⚠️ Important Warning:
Uploading a save will overwrite whatever world currently exists on your server for that map. Back up your server first if there's anything on it you might want later, and make sure your server is completely stopped before uploading.
Step 1: Locate Your Local Save Files
- Open Steam and go to your Library.
- Right-click ARK: Survival Evolved, then choose Manage → Browse Local Files.
- Navigate to
ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal.
Inside, you'll find three types of files that make up your save:
.ark TheIsland.ark): the world itself, terrain, structures, tamed dinos, and dropped items.LocalPlayer.arkprofile: your survivor, level, stats, and engram unlocks..arktribe
📝 Bringing Your Settings Too:
If you want your singleplayer configuration to carry over as well, copy
Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini from ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor. This is optional, most people only bring the world and character files.
Step 2: Prepare Your Server
- Log into your MintServers panel and Stop your server.
- Open the Files tab and navigate to
ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks(note there's no "Local" in the server-side folder name). - Delete the existing
.arkfile for the map you're replacing, along with any old.arkprofileor.arktribefiles you're overwriting.
💡 Pro Tip:
You don't need to clear out the entire folder, just the map file you're replacing. Leaving other survivor profiles in place is harmless, the server matches each player to their profile by Steam ID automatically.
Step 3: Upload Your Save Files
- Upload the
.ark,.arkprofile, and.arktribefiles (andGame.ini/GameUserSettings.ini, if you're bringing settings too) intoShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks. - For larger save files, an SFTP client will generally be faster and more reliable than uploading through the browser-based Files tab.
Step 4: Rename Your Player Profile
- Find your Steam64 ID using any Steam ID lookup tool.
- Rename
LocalPlayer.arkprofiletoYourSteam64ID.arkprofile. - Leave the
.arkand.arktribefiles exactly as they are, they should not be renamed.
📝 Note:
If your save was on a different map than your server is currently set to, update the Map setting before starting, see our Change Your Server Map guide. The map name in the
.ark filename needs to match what the server is set to load.
Step 5: Start Your Server
Go back to the Console tab and start your server. It should load directly into your uploaded world.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Upload Issues
Server loads a fresh world instead of your upload:Double-check the.arkfile's name matches the map your server is set to, and that it actually landed inShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksrather than a different folder.Your character isn't there when you join:ConfirmLocalPlayer.arkprofilewas renamed to your Steam64 ID exactly, a typo here means the server won't recognize you as the profile's owner.Tribe ownership looks wrong:Make sure the.arktribefile was uploaded alongside your profile and wasn't accidentally renamed.Upload keeps failing or timing out:Large save files can struggle over a browser upload. Switch to SFTP for anything more than a few hundred megabytes.
Once you're in and your character, dinos, and structures are all present, you're done. If something doesn't come through the way you expected, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will help you get it sorted.