Configure your ARK server (GameUserSettings, admin password)

Almost every setting on an ARK server (both Survival Evolved and Ascended) is handled in GameUserSettings.ini. The admin password, session name, player count and match rules are all defined there.

Cause / The problem

Without explicit configuration, the server falls back to generic defaults (name ARK Server, no admin password, PvP enabled…). A missing or duplicated admin password in the startup command line causes conflicts and prevents the enablecheats command from working.

Solution

1. Edit GameUserSettings.ini from the panel (Files tab → ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini), section [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings].
2. Main settings:

   SessionName=Mon Serveur FR
   ServerAdminPassword=UnMotDePasseSolide
   MaxPlayers=70
   ServerPassword=

   Leave ServerPassword empty for a public server, or fill it in for private access.
3. Do NOT add the admin password in the startup command line / batch file: this causes conflicts and random overwrites on reboot. Everything must go through the .ini.
4. Enable game options in the same section:

   ServerPVE=True
   ServerCrosshair=True
   AllowThirdPersonPlayer=True
   MaxStructuresInRange=1300

5. For multipliers (XP, harvesting), use the same [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings] section with XPMultiplier=2.0, HarvestAmountMultiplier=2.0, etc.
6. Save and restart. Log into the game, open the console (Tab) and type:

   enablecheats UnMotDePasseSolide

   You can then use cheat giveexp, cheat fly, cheat ghost, etc.
7. Change the password regularly and only share it with trusted administrators.

For ARK Ascended, the variable names are identical but some paths move to .json depending on the panel; refer to the Settings tab of the panel, which exposes these fields securely.