Take your ARK: Survival Ascended Pterodactyl server to the next level by adding mods. Unlike the older ARK: Survival Evolved, ASA uses CurseForge — not Steam Workshop — as its exclusive mod platform. This guide walks you through finding, installing, managing, and troubleshooting mods on your Pterodactyl-hosted ASA server step by step.
Step 1: Find Your Mods on CurseForge — All ARK: Survival Ascended mods are hosted exclusively on CurseForge at curseforge.com/ark-survival-ascended. Browse or search for the mods you want to install. Once you find one, locate its Project ID in the ‘About Project’ panel on the right side of the mod page. Note it down — this number is what your server uses to download and identify the mod.
Step 2: Access Your Pterodactyl Panel — Log in to your Pterodactyl panel and navigate to your ARK: Survival Ascended server. Before making any changes, stop your server from the Console page to prevent configuration conflicts. Never edit GameUserSettings.ini while the server is actively running or installing mods, as this can corrupt your configuration.
Step 3: Enter Your Mod IDs in Startup Variables — Go to the Startup tab inside your Pterodactyl panel. Locate the field labelled ‘Mod IDs’ or ‘MODS’. Enter your CurseForge Project IDs separated by commas with no spaces (e.g. 929420,914844,912902). This appends a -mods= flag to your server’s launch command automatically, telling ASA which mods to download and load on startup.
Step 4: Start Your Server & Let Mods Auto-Download — Save your startup variables and start your server. On first launch with mods enabled, the server will automatically download each mod directly from CurseForge before finishing its startup sequence. Be patient — the first startup with mods takes longer than usual, especially for large or total-conversion mods, which can add several minutes to boot time.
Step 5: Help Players Connect to Your Modded Server — When a player attempts to join your modded server, ARK: Survival Ascended will automatically prompt them to download any missing mods. Players can also install the CurseForge app and subscribe to the same mods in advance for a faster connection. Share your full mod list with CurseForge links or Project IDs to help your community prepare before joining.
Managing Mod Load Order — The order in which mods are listed in your startup variable determines their load priority. Enter mod IDs from highest to lowest priority, separated by commas. If two mods affect the same game mechanics, placing the preferred one earlier in the list ensures it takes precedence. Keep a saved reference of your full mod list and load order for easy management.
Updating Mods on Your Server — Mod updates are handled automatically: every time your ASA server restarts, it checks CurseForge for newer versions of each installed mod and downloads them automatically. A simple server restart from your Pterodactyl panel is usually all it takes to apply the latest mod updates. Players using the CurseForge app will receive update notifications on the client side as well.
Removing a Mod — To uninstall a mod, stop your server in the Pterodactyl panel and navigate back to the Startup tab. Remove the mod’s Project ID from the Mod IDs field, then save and restart. If a mod has been discontinued or deleted from CurseForge, the server will be unable to download it — remove its ID from your list immediately to prevent startup failures.
Troubleshooting: Mod Conflicts — If your server crashes or behaves unexpectedly after adding a new mod, a conflict is likely the cause. Try disabling mods one by one to identify the problematic addon. Rearranging the load order can also resolve many conflicts. Check each mod’s CurseForge page for known incompatibilities, and review crash logs located at ShooterGame/Saved/Crashes/ for error details.
Troubleshooting: Version Mismatches & Performance — After a major ASA game update, some mods may become temporarily incompatible until their authors release an update — always check each mod’s CurseForge page for compatibility notes. If your server slows down after adding multiple mods, consider reducing your mod list or upgrading your server’s RAM, as some mods — especially high-detail or large-area ones — require significant resources.
Pro Tips for a Smooth Modded Experience — Always test your server with no mods on a fresh install to confirm it runs cleanly before adding addons. Keep a backup of your GameUserSettings.ini before each mod addition. Regularly reboot your server to clear memory and ensure mod updates are applied. If you are running a community server, document your full mod list and share it with players to minimize connection issues and reduce support requests.