Want to explore a new world on your ARK: Survival Ascended server? Switching maps on a Pterodactyl panel is quick and straightforward — just follow this step-by-step guide to get your tribe adventuring on a brand-new ARK in minutes.
Step 1: Log In to Your Pterodactyl Panel. Open your Pterodactyl panel in your browser and log in with your admin credentials. From the dashboard, locate and click on your ARK: Survival Ascended server to open its management interface.
Step 2: Stop Your Server. Before making any changes, you must stop your server. Navigate to the Console tab and click the Stop button. Wait until the server is fully offline before proceeding — making changes while the server is running can cause world corruption or data loss.
Step 3: Open the Startup Tab. Once your server is stopped, click on the Startup tab in the left-hand navigation menu. This is where all launch parameters for your ARK: Survival Ascended server are managed, including the all-important SERVER MAP field.
Step 4: Change the SERVER MAP Value. In the Startup tab, locate the field labeled SERVER MAP. Clear the current map name and type in the name of your desired map. Important: all ARK: Survival Ascended maps require the _WP suffix to work correctly — for example, use TheIsland_WP, ScorchedEarth_WP, Aberration_WP, or TheCenter_WP. Make sure to follow proper capitalization exactly as shown.
Available Maps for ARK: Survival Ascended. As of 2025–2026, the following official maps are available: The Island (TheIsland_WP), Scorched Earth (ScorchedEarth_WP), The Center (TheCenter_WP), Aberration (Aberration_WP), Extinction (Extinction_WP), Valguero (Valguero_WP), Ragnarok (Ragnarok_WP), Astraeos (Astraeos_WP), and Lost Colony (LostColony_WP). Studio Wildcard continues to release new remastered maps on an ongoing roadmap, so check official channels for the latest additions.
Step 5: Save Your Changes. After entering the correct map name with the _WP suffix, confirm or save the new value in the panel. Double-check the spelling and capitalization before moving on — an incorrect map name will prevent your server from starting properly.
Step 6: Restart Your Server. Head back to the Console tab and click Start to bring your server back online. The server will now launch with your newly selected map. The first startup on a new map may take slightly longer than usual as the world generates for the first time.
Important: Back Up Your Save Data First! Switching maps will not delete your old world — it simply stops loading it. However, it is strongly recommended to back up your existing save files before switching. You can do this via the File Manager tab, navigating to ShooterGame/Saved/, and downloading your current map’s save folder to a safe location.
What Happens to Your Characters and Tames? Your existing character is tied to the map it was last played on. If you want to preserve your survivor, dinos, and items when switching maps, upload them to an Obelisk or Supply Drop before stopping the server. They can then be downloaded on the new map when you first log in.
Pro Tip: Use Server Clustering for Multi-Map Play. If you want to run multiple maps simultaneously and allow player transfers between them, consider setting up an ARK cluster on Pterodactyl. This requires configuring shared mounts and adding cluster parameters — such as a unique cluster ID and cluster directory override — to each server’s startup arguments in the panel.
Need More Help? If your server fails to start after switching maps, double-check that the map name uses the correct _WP suffix and exact capitalization. Ensure your server has sufficient RAM — a default ARK: Survival Ascended map requires approximately 11 GB of RAM with no players connected. Contact your hosting provider’s support team if issues persist.