Accessing Your ARK Server Files Through FTP

ARK: Survival Evolved is one of those games where serious server administration eventually pushes you into the file system. Whether you are loading custom mods, dropping in a hand-crafted map, tweaking config files, or pulling out a backup of your world, FTP is the tool that gets you there. The file tree can look intimidating at first, especially if there is also an external database handling player data, so this guide walks through both ways of connecting and points out the folders that actually matter.

What You Need Before Connecting

Every FTP session relies on four pieces of information: the host address (IP), the port number, a username, and a password. All of these live inside your HolyHosting control panel under the file access section. Two things worth knowing up front:

• If you ever migrate the server to a new datacenter location, the host address will change. Always pull a fresh copy of the connection details from the panel rather than working off an old screenshot.
• The panel login you use daily is not always the FTP username. The FTP credentials are listed separately, and mixing the two is the most common reason connections get rejected.

There are two ways to actually use those credentials. The web panel is fastest if you just need to edit a settings file or browse around. An external FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck takes a minute to set up but is the right choice for anything large. Both methods use encrypted transfers, so security is not the deciding factor. Speed and file size limits are.

Method 1: The Web Panel

The browser-based file manager is the path of least resistance. There is nothing to install, nothing to configure, and you can usually finish a quick task before a desktop FTP client has even launched. The trade-off is a cap on upload size and limited preview support for certain file types.

1. Open your HolyHosting control panel and click the FTP / file manager option from the panel sidebar.

1. Enter your password and press Login.

1. The directory listing loads with every ARK file ready to view, edit, or download. Double-check that your panel's server selector matches the instance you intend to work on. Editing files under the wrong profile is the kind of mistake you only make once.

Method 2: An External FTP Client

For mod packs, large world saves, or bulk transfers, a dedicated FTP application moves data noticeably faster. FileZilla and Cyberduck are the two long-standing options. Both are free, both are widely audited, and either one works.

1. Download and install your client of choice. FileZilla is shown below as an example.

1. Back in the HolyHosting panel, open the FTP / file manager section and copy the Address, Port, Username, and Password.

1. Paste those values into the client's top toolbar and click Quickconnect (or the equivalent connect button in your client).

1. Once authenticated, you will see the same folder tree as the web panel, only now without the upload ceiling.

Where the Important Files Live

The bulk of what you will care about lives inside the `ShooterGame` directory. World saves, mods, server configuration, and runtime data all branch off from there. For surface-level tweaks like gamma, your panel's built-in file editor is still the quickest tool. For everything else, the locations below are the ones you will visit again and again.

Mods. Custom mods belong in the `Mods` folder under the `Content` directory. The full path is:

``` .../ShooterGame/Content/Mods ```

There are other files in the `Content` directory, but the average admin can leave them untouched.

Saves and server settings. Inside `Saved`, two folders matter. `SavedArks` holds every world save plus its backups, which is also where you go when something needs to be restored. `Config/LinuxServer` holds the configuration files that define server rules, rates, and most behavioral tweaks. Path:

``` .../ShooterGame/Saved ```

There is plenty of additional data inside `Saved`, but those two folders are the difference between a working server and one in pieces.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The connection is rejected outright. Almost always a credential problem. Re-copy the host, port, username, and password directly from the panel rather than typing them out. Confirm you are using the FTP username, not your panel login name. And verify that your internet connection is stable, since FTP failures sometimes wear the disguise of authentication errors when the real issue is a flaky network.

Uploads fail or time out partway through. The web panel caps individual transfers, so anything sizable should go through FileZilla or Cyberduck. If a desktop client is also stalling, compress the file first with 7zip or WinRAR into a single archive. A 2 GB archive is almost always easier on both ends than 2 GB of loose files, and most servers are happier processing one stream than thousands of small writes.

Files arrive incomplete or corrupted. This tends to show up on the largest transfers, on either method. Splitting a giant upload into several smaller archives is the simplest fix. Note that decompressing an archive after upload requires an FTP client that supports it, which the web panel does not, so plan the transfer with a desktop client from the start.

Related Guides

• How to Set Up an ARK Server
• How to Install Mods on an ARK Server
• How to Change ARK Server Settings
• Working with FTP: General Reference