How to Set Up RCON on Your ARK Server
Enable RCON on your ARK server to send admin commands remotely without logging in-game. Covers config, client tools, useful commands, and security basics.
What RCON Does
RCON (Remote Console) lets you send admin commands to your ARK server from outside the game — from your desktop, a web dashboard, or a Discord bot. You do not need to be in-game. Useful for kicking griefers, broadcasting messages, saving the world, or scripting scheduled tasks.
Enable RCON in GameUserSettings.ini
Stop your server, then open:
ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini
Add these lines under [ServerSettings]:
[ServerSettings]
RCONEnabled=True
RCONPort=27020
ServerAdminPassword=YourStrongPasswordHere
RCONEnabled=True— turns RCON onRCONPort=27020— the port RCON listens on (27020 is the default; change it if you have port conflicts)ServerAdminPassword— this is the same password used for in-game admin access; RCON authenticates with it
Save the file and start your server. A restart is required — you cannot enable RCON on a live server without restarting.
RCON Client Options
You need a client to connect. Pick whatever fits your workflow:
ARKon (Windows desktop app)
- Purpose-built for ARK servers
- Player list, chat relay, scheduled commands
- Download from GitHub: search "ARKon RCON"
BattleMetrics (web-based)
- No install required — works in your browser
- Good if you manage multiple servers
- Free tier available at battlemetrics.com
mcrcon (CLI)
- Lightweight, cross-platform command-line tool
- Useful for scripting
- Run a one-off command:
mcrcon -H your.server.ip -P 27020 -p YourPassword "ListPlayers"
Connecting
All clients ask for the same three things:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Host / IP | Your server's IP address |
| Port | The RCONPort value (default 27020) |
| Password | Your ServerAdminPassword |
Useful RCON Commands
ListPlayers
Shows all connected players and their Steam IDs.
KickPlayer <SteamID>
Kicks a player from the server.
BanPlayer <SteamID>
Bans a player. They cannot rejoin until unbanned.
UnbanPlayer <SteamID>
Removes a ban.
SaveWorld
Forces the server to save immediately. Run this before any maintenance.
DoExit
Gracefully shuts down the server.
Broadcast <message>
Sends a message to all players in the on-screen notification area.
SetTimeOfDay <HH:MM>
Sets the in-game time. Example: SetTimeOfDay 12:00
DestroyWildDinos
Removes all wild dinos on the map. They respawn naturally. Use after a patch that changes dino stats.
Security
RCON traffic is not encrypted. A few rules:
- Never expose port 27020 to the public internet without a firewall rule. Limit access to known IPs (your home IP, your admin team's IPs) using your server firewall.
- Use a strong, unique admin password. Do not reuse passwords from other services.
- Change the RCON port from the default 27020 if you want to reduce automated scan attempts (minor mitigation, not a substitute for firewall rules).