ARK Save Files Explained: Backups, Autosaves and Restoring a Corrupted World
An ARK server keeps your world in a handful of files in ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. The map itself is one .ark file, each player has an .arkprofile, and each tribe has an .arktribe. Settings are stored in a separate place.
This guide explains the files, the autosave default, how to take and restore a backup, and how to recover when only part of the save is broken. It was checked on 2026-11-15 against three hosting guides that agree on the folder and file types, and our own settings guide. Details that came from one source are marked.
- Saves live in
ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/:MapName.ark(the world),.arkprofile(players) and.arktribe(tribes). AutoSavePeriodMinutesdefaults to 15, so up to one interval of progress can be lost in a crash.- Run
SaveWorldbefore any manual copy, so the files are current. - Use Backups then Restore then Put it back for a full restore. A restore replaces newer progress.
- To fix one bad file, stop the server, rename it, and put a good copy back with the same name.
On this page
What is in the save folder
| File | What it holds |
|---|---|
MapName.ark | The world: map state, structures and tamed creatures. One per map, for example TheIsland.ark or Ragnarok.ark. |
*.arkprofile | One per player character: level, engrams, stats and items. |
*.arktribe | One per tribe. |
- Settings such as
GameUserSettings.iniandGame.iniare in aConfigfolder and are not part of the world files. The panel's World and settings backup covers both, and Whole server adds everything else. - One host notes that on a cluster, transfer data is kept in a separate transfer folder from the map saves. See the cluster guide before moving files around.
- One host says the automatic backups it keeps carry a timestamp in the file name, in UTC. Look at your own folder rather than relying on a pattern.
Autosaves and manual saves
ARK saves the world on a timer. AutoSavePeriodMinutes defaults to 15 minutes, so a crash can cost you up to one interval of progress. Do not set it to 0. One host warns that this would make the server save constantly. You can save at any time with SaveWorld from the Console tab, or cheat SaveWorld in game as an admin. See the ARK admin commands guide.
Take a backup
- Save first
Run
SaveWorldon the Console tab so the files on disk are current. - Open Backups
Go to panel.chicagoservers.co, choose your ARK server and open Backups.
- Choose what to include
World and settings covers your saves and settings. Whole server adds everything else, such as mods.
- Back up now
Click Back up now. Star the ones you want to keep, and set Automatic backups (scheduled in Chicago time) for a routine.
You can also download the SavedArks folder from the Files tab after saving. For a routine for any game, see the general backup guide.
Full restore
- Pick the backup
On Backups, choose the newest one from before the problem and click Restore.
- Keep a restore point
Leave Save the current files as a restore point first ticked, in case you picked the wrong one.
- Put it back
Click Put it back. The server stops, the files are replaced, and it starts again if it was running.
- Check the world
Join and check your base, creatures and tribe.
Restore only part of a save
Sometimes only one file is damaged. Two hosts describe a targeted fix, and one of them stresses stopping the server first:
- A broken map file: stop the server, rename the bad map file (for example add
.brokento the end), take the same.arkfile from a backup, upload it toSavedArkswith the exact original name, and start the server. - One player's character: with the server stopped, replace only that player's
.arkprofilefrom a backup. - Use SFTP for large files. See how to use SFTP.
Habits that prevent lost progress
- Take a backup before changing mods, maps or settings, so you can go back. See the ARK mods guide.
- Keep at least one starred backup you never overwrite.
- Do not edit save files while the server is running.
- After a crash, restore from the newest good backup rather than repeatedly restarting a damaged world.
Looking for a host? See ARK server hosting.
Frequently asked questions
Where are ARK server save files stored?
In ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/. The map is a .ark file, players are .arkprofile files and tribes are .arktribe files.
How often does ARK autosave?
AutoSavePeriodMinutes defaults to 15 minutes, so a crash can lose up to one interval of progress.
How do I restore an ARK server backup on ChicagoServers?
On the Backups tab click Restore on the backup, leave the restore point option ticked, and click Put it back.
Can I restore just one player's ARK character?
Yes. With the server stopped, replace only that player's .arkprofile file with the one from a backup.
Are ARK settings part of the world save?
No. Settings files are in a separate Config folder. The World and settings backup on the panel covers both.