Fix: ARK Survival Can’t Join Private or Friends Server

In the world of gaming, connectivity issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you can’t join private or friends’ servers in a popular multiplayer game like ARK: Survival Evolved. Many players have reported encountering this problem, which prevents them from enjoying the game with their friends. If you’re facing this issue, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various troubleshooting steps to help you fix the problem and get back to enjoying the game with your friends.

1. Check Server Status

The first thing you should do when you can’t join private or friends’ servers in ARK: Survival Evolved is to check the server status. Visit the official @survivetheark Twitter handle to get the latest updates on server-related issues. Game servers can experience technical errors, downtime, or maintenance, which could be the cause of your connectivity problem. If the server is down, you’ll need to wait until it’s back online. You can also report server issues through a Google Form provided by the developers. If there are no server issues, move on to the next method.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

A stable and reliable internet connection is crucial for online gaming. Poor or unstable internet can cause connectivity issues. Start by checking your internet connection to ensure it’s fast and stable. If you’re using a wireless network, try using a wired (Ethernet) connection to rule out any issues with your Wi-Fi. You can also try connecting to a different internet network to see if the problem persists.

3. Power Cycle Your Wi-Fi Router

Sometimes, network glitches can occur on the router side. Power cycling your Wi-Fi router can help refresh the connection and resolve any networking issues. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Power off your Wi-Fi router.
2. Disconnect the power adapter from the router.
3. Wait for a couple of minutes.
4. Plug the power adapter back into the router.
5. Power on the router and wait for it to fully boot up.
6. Check if the issue is resolved.

4. Update ARK: Survival Evolved

Outdated game versions can often cause connectivity issues. Make sure you have the latest update for ARK: Survival Evolved installed on your system. Here’s how to update the game:

For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client and go to the Library.
2. Select ARK: Survival Evolved from the left pane.
3. The game will automatically check for updates. If an update is available, click on Update to install it.
4. Wait for the update to finish installing, then close the Steam client.
5. Restart your PC and try launching the game again.

For Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to the Library.
2. Click on the three dots icon next to ARK: Survival Evolved.
3. Make sure the Auto Update option is turned on.

5. Verify and Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can also cause connectivity issues. Verifying and repairing the game files can help resolve this problem. Here’s how to do it:

For Steam:

1. Launch Steam and go to the Library.
2. Right-click on ARK: Survival Evolved from the list of installed games.
3. Click on Properties and go to the Local Files tab.
4. Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Wait for the verification process to complete.
6. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

For Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to the Library.
2. Click on ARK: Survival Evolved.
3. Click on Verify, and the launcher will start verifying the game files.
4. Wait for the process to complete and restart the launcher.
5. Launch the game and see if you can join private or friends’ servers.

6. Allow ARK: Survival Evolved in Windows Firewall

Sometimes, Windows Firewall can block connections to game servers, causing connectivity issues. Whitelisting ARK: Survival Evolved in Windows Firewall can help resolve this problem. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start Menu and type Firewall.
2. Select Windows Defender Firewall from the search result.
3. Open it and click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the left pane.
4. Click on Change Settings and then click on Allow another app.
5. Browse for the ARK Survival Evolved application.
6. Select it and click on Add, then click OK to save the changes.
7. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

7. Try Using Public DNS

Your internet service provider’s DNS server address may have issues or blocks that affect online services. Switching to a public DNS server can help resolve connectivity problems. Here are the steps to change your DNS settings:

1. Press the Windows + R shortcut keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel.
3. Click on Network and Internet, then select Network and Sharing Center.
4. Go to your Connections and select Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or the appropriate network you’re using.
5. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to open its properties.
6. Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter 8.8.8.8 as the Preferred DNS server.
7. Enter 8.8.4.4 as the Alternate DNS server.
8. Check the Validate settings upon exit checkbox.
9. Click OK to confirm the changes.
10. Launch ARK: Survival Evolved and check if you can join private or friends’ servers.

If the problem persists with the Google DNS, you can try using the Cloudflare DNS address by replacing 8.8.8.8 with 1.1.1.1 as the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 with 1.0.0.1 as the Alternate DNS server.

8. Use LAN Play Session

Cross-platform connectivity and multiplayer issues can sometimes cause problems when joining private or friends’ servers. To troubleshoot this, you can try using LAN play sessions instead of normal online modes. Here’s how:

1. Download and install the free Radmin app on your PC.
2. Open the Radmin app and go to the Network menu.
3. Select Create a New Network.
4. Once you’ve created a new session, launch ARK: Survival Evolved.
5. Go to the Settings menu and select the LAN Play option.
6. Join the LAN session created by the Radmin app.

9. Reinstall the Game

If none of the methods mentioned above work, you may need to reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved. Reinstalling the game can fix any issues with the installed game files. Here’s how to do it:

For Steam:

1. Open the Steam client and go to the Library.
2. Right-click on ARK: Survival Evolved in the left pane.
3. Click on Uninstall and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation.
4. Once the game is uninstalled, close Steam and reboot your PC.
5. Launch Steam again and reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved.

For Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to the Library.
2. Click on the three dots icon next to ARK: Survival Evolved.
3. Click on Uninstall and wait for the process to complete.
4. Close the launcher and reboot your PC.
5. Open the launcher again and reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved.

10. Contact ARK: Survival Evolved Support

If none of the methods mentioned above resolve the issue, it’s time to reach out to the official ARK: Survival Evolved support team. Contact them through their support website and submit a bug report. By creating a support ticket, you’ll receive acknowledgment from the developers and they can investigate the issue further.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re unable to join private or friends’ servers in ARK: Survival Evolved, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue. From checking the server status to updating the game, verifying game files, and adjusting network settings, these methods should help you get back to playing with your friends in no time. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact the game’s support team for assistance. Happy gaming!