To move an existing ARK world to GuavaHost, stop both servers, copy your SavedArks files across with SFTP so the map name matches, and start it up, or simply open a ticket and let our team migrate it for you.
The easy way: let us do it
GuavaHost offers staff-assisted migration. Open a support ticket or ask in our Discord, share the details of your current server, and the team can move the world across for you. If you would rather do it yourself, the steps below walk through a self-service copy over SFTP (SFTP is a secure way to move files between your computer and your server).
What files you need
Your world lives in ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/.
- ARK: Survival Evolved: the files are named after the map, such as TheIsland.ark, along with .arkprofile files for players, .arktribe files for tribes, and a .bak backup. Copy the whole SavedArks folder to be safe.
- ARK: Survival Ascended: saves sit in a per-map subfolder, for example SavedArks/TheIslandWP/, with the .ark` file and player and tribe files inside. Copy that whole map subfolder.
It is also worth copying GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini from the Saved/Config folder so your rates and settings come along too.
Self-service SFTP steps
- On the new GuavaHost server, take a snapshot from the Backups tab so you have a clean starting point.
- Open the Settings tab for your SFTP host, port and username, and connect with FileZilla, a free SFTP client.
- Stop the new server. Never overwrite save files while it is running.
- Download your SavedArks folder, and the config files, from the old host.
- On the Startup tab, set the same map as your save. A save only loads on the matching map, so TheIslandWP files need the map set to TheIslandWP.
- Upload your files into the same SavedArks path, into the matching map subfolder for ASA, overwriting what is there.
- Start the server and watch the Console tab load your world.
Common gotchas
- Wrong map name: if the map does not match the save, ARK just generates a fresh world instead of loading yours. Confirm the internal map name.
- ASE and ASA saves are not interchangeable. You cannot load an Evolved save on Ascended, or the other way round.
- Mods must match. Install the same mod IDs first, or a modded save may not load.
- Keep the .bak file. If the main .ark fails to load, you can rename the backup to recover.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.