🎮 Game Error Codes What it means & how to fix it

ARK: Survival Ascended Can't Connect to Server? Here's the Fix

The #1 reason you can't connect to an ARK: Survival Ascended server is following an old ASE guide: ASA only requires UDP 7777 (plus optional 27020 for RCON), not the 7777+27015 pair from Survival Evolved. The second reason is CGNAT — if your public IP differs from your router's WAN IP, no forwarding will help.

Exact details for ARK: Survival Ascended

Error codes

Server not appearing in browser EOS hasn't registered your server yet

Cause: Propagation delay or 7777 not open.

Fix:
  1. Forward UDP 7777 (Game) only — ASA does not need 27015.
  2. Wait several minutes: ASA uses Epic Online Services and there's a delay after first registration.
  3. Confirm your public IP equals your router WAN IP; a mismatch means CGNAT and hosting from home won't work without a tunnel/VPN.
Port check passes but nobody can join Config port mismatch

Cause: QueryPort/GameUserSettings.ini doesn't match the forwarded port.

Fix:
  1. Re-check that the port in GameUserSettings.ini exactly matches the router rule and host panel.
  2. Forward 7777 for BOTH TCP and UDP if your router separates them.
  3. Verify the internal IP in the forwarding rule still matches the server machine's current LAN IP.
Followed a guide but still fails Guide was written for ASE

Cause: Most ARK port guides target Survival Evolved and were never updated.

Fix:
  1. Ignore the 27015 query-port step — that's ASE, not ASA.
  2. Optionally forward 27020 only if you use RCON.

Fixes that work for most ARK: Survival Ascended errors

  1. Forward UDP 7777 (Game) to the server's LAN IP — that's all ASA needs.
  2. Check for CGNAT: public IP must match router WAN IP.
  3. Wait for EOS propagation after the server first boots.
  4. Match the port in GameUserSettings.ini to the router rule.
  5. Only forward 27020 if you use RCON.
  6. Ignore old ASE guides that tell you to open 27015.

FAQ

What ports does ARK: Survival Ascended need?

Only UDP 7777 (the game port), and optionally 27020 for RCON. Unlike ARK: Survival Evolved, ASA does not require the 27015 query port, which is why old guides cause connection problems.

Why can't anyone join my ASA server even though the port check passes?

Usually the port in GameUserSettings.ini doesn't match your forwarded/host-panel port, or you're behind CGNAT. Confirm the config port equals the router rule and that your public IP matches the router's WAN IP.

Does ARK: Survival Ascended use port 27015?

No. That's an ARK: Survival Evolved requirement. ASA only needs UDP 7777. Following an ASE guide and opening 27015 is a common source of confusion.

Other games