ARK Crashes When Hosting Non-Dedicated Server on PC: Causes and Solutions
ARK: Survival Evolved is a thrilling open-world survival game where players tame dinosaurs, build bases, and explore a vast world. One of its most popular multiplayer options is hosting a non-dedicated server on your PC, allowing you to play with friends in a shared world. However, players often experience crashes when hosting non-dedicated servers on PC, which can be frustrating and disrupt gameplay.
In this article, we’ll dive into common causes of ARK crashes when hosting a non-dedicated server and provide detailed solutions to help you fix the issue.
What is a Non-Dedicated Server in ARK?
Before addressing crash issues, it's essential to understand what a non-dedicated server is in ARK. When hosting a non-dedicated server, you are both playing the game and hosting the server on the same machine. This allows you to invite friends into your world, but it can also put a strain on your system as it needs to run the server and the game at the same time. This dual load is one of the main reasons why crashes may occur.
Common Causes of ARK Crashes When Hosting Non-Dedicated Servers
1. Insufficient System Resources
Running both the game and the server on a single PC requires a significant amount of CPU, RAM, and GPU power. If your computer doesn’t meet the recommended system requirements, ARK can crash due to overloading.
2. Outdated Graphics Drivers
Graphics card drivers are critical for running a game like ARK, which is graphically demanding. If your drivers are outdated, they may cause rendering or performance issues, leading to crashes.
3. Mod Conflicts
ARK’s modding community adds a lot of content and customization to the game, but mods can sometimes conflict with one another or with the game itself, especially when they haven’t been updated to match ARK’s latest version.
4. High Graphics Settings
If you’re running ARK on high graphics settings while hosting a non-dedicated server, your system might be under too much pressure. This can lead to crashes, especially if your PC isn’t powerful enough to handle both the game and the server.
5. Memory Leaks
Memory leaks occur when ARK continues to consume system memory over time without releasing it. This can cause the game to slow down and eventually crash, especially during long gaming sessions.
6. Network Issues
If your internet connection is unstable or has high latency, it may cause the game to crash while hosting a non-dedicated server. This is especially true when multiple players are connected to your game over the internet.
Solutions to Fix ARK Crashes When Hosting a Non-Dedicated Server
1. Ensure Your PC Meets the System Requirements
The first step to preventing ARK crashes is ensuring your PC meets or exceeds the game’s recommended system requirements. Here’s a quick look at what your PC should have:
OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 670 or AMD Radeon HD 7870
DirectX: Version 10
Storage: At least 60 GB available space
If your system only meets the minimum requirements or falls short, upgrading your hardware may be necessary to avoid crashes.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of game crashes. To prevent this, make sure your drivers are up-to-date:
NVIDIA Graphics Card Users: Visit the official NVIDIA Drivers Page.
AMD Graphics Card Users: Visit the official AMD Support Page to get the latest drivers.
After updating your drivers, restart your PC and see if the crashes persist.
3. Lower Graphics Settings
High graphics settings may overwhelm your system while running a non-dedicated server. Lowering these settings can reduce the load on your PC:
Set Graphics Quality: Adjust to medium or low.
Disable Motion Blur and Bloom: These visual effects can be turned off to improve performance.
Lower Resolution Scaling: This reduces the strain on your GPU.
By lowering the graphics settings, you can help prevent crashes caused by your PC struggling to keep up.
4. Verify Integrity of Game Files
Sometimes crashes occur due to corrupted or missing game files. Steam allows you to check and verify the integrity of your ARK files:
Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click ARK: Survival Evolved and choose Properties.
Select the Local Files tab and click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
This process checks for any missing or corrupted files and automatically replaces them.
5. Disable or Update Mods
Mods can significantly alter your game, but they may also cause crashes. If your ARK is crashing, especially after adding new mods, try disabling them to see if the game runs smoothly without them.
If disabling mods fixes the crash, try enabling them one at a time to identify which one is causing the issue. Make sure to also update mods regularly to ensure compatibility with the current version of ARK.
6. Increase Virtual Memory
If ARK is crashing due to insufficient memory, increasing your system’s virtual memory (paging file) can help:
Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
Click Advanced system settings.
Under Performance, click Settings.
Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual Memory.
Set the Initial Size to 1.5 times your RAM and the Maximum Size to 3 times your RAM.
This will allocate more memory for ARK and prevent crashes caused by RAM limitations.
7. Improve Your Network Connection
Since a non-dedicated server requires a stable internet connection, network instability can result in crashes. Here are some ways to improve your connection:
Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi for better stability.
Restart your router and modem if you’re experiencing high latency or disconnections.
Limit bandwidth-consuming activities like streaming or downloading while hosting the game.
8. Reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved
If nothing else works, reinstalling ARK may be the solution. Here's how to do it:
Uninstall ARK from Steam.
Delete any remaining ARK files from your system (usually in the Steam folder under
steamapps/common).Reinstall ARK through Steam and test if the crashes continue.
This clean installation can resolve any persistent file corruption or incompatibility issues.
Conclusion
ARK crashes when hosting non-dedicated server PC, While ARK is an exciting game to play with friends, crashes while hosting a non-dedicated server can be a frustrating experience. However, by understanding the causes — from system resource limitations to mod conflicts and network instability — you can address these issues with the solutions provided in this article.
Whether it's updating your drivers, lowering graphics settings, or improving your PC's memory, following these tips can help ensure a smoother and more stable ARK experience. If crashes continue, upgrading your hardware or switching to a dedicated server may be the next step to consider. Happy gaming!