ARK: Survival Evolved Updated April 26, 2026

How to Wipe Your ARK Server

Delete ARK save files to do a full wipe, a map-only wipe, or a character-only wipe. Includes what each file type contains and how to back up before deleting.

ARKWipeSave FilesServer ManagementAdministration

Where ARK Saves Its Data

All save data lives in one folder:

ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/

Inside you will find three types of files:

Extension Contains
.ark The world map: structures, wild dinos, dropped items, resource nodes
.arktribe Tribe data: tribe name, members, ranks, tribe log
.arkprofile Individual player data: character, engrams, implant, stats

Understanding which file is which lets you do surgical wipes instead of nuking everything.

Before You Do Anything: Stop the Server

Always stop the server before touching save files. If the server is running and writing a save when you delete files, you can corrupt the remaining data or cause a crash on next startup.

Full Wipe (Everything Fresh)

Deletes all saves — map, tribes, characters. Everyone starts over from level 1 with nothing.

  1. Stop the server
  2. Navigate to ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
  3. Delete (or move) all files in this folder
  4. Start the server — a fresh map generates on first boot

Map-Only Wipe (Keep Characters)

Players keep their characters, engrams, and tribe memberships. The physical world resets — bases gone, wild dinos respawn, resource nodes regenerate.

  1. Stop the server
  2. Navigate to ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
  3. Delete only the .ark file (example: TheIsland.ark)
  4. Leave all .arktribe and .arkprofile files in place
  5. Start the server

When players log in, they will be naked on a fresh map with their level, engrams, and inventory intact. Any items they had equipped or in their inventory are gone (those are part of the map save), but their character level and learned engrams survive.

Character-Only Wipe (Keep Map)

Resets all player characters — everyone starts at level 1 — but the map, bases, and tames stay exactly as they are. Less common but useful for certain seasonal resets.

  1. Stop the server
  2. Navigate to ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/
  3. Delete all .arkprofile files
  4. Leave .ark and .arktribe files in place
  5. Start the server

Back Up Before Wiping

Instead of deleting files outright, move them to a backup folder first. This way you can restore if something goes wrong or if a player needs something recovered.

ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/Backups/2026-04-26-pre-wipe/

Copy all files into the dated folder before you delete from the live directory. Storage is cheap; being able to undo a wipe is priceless.

After the Wipe

  • The server generates a new map on first startup — this takes longer than a normal boot, usually 1-3 minutes
  • Announce the wipe in advance so players can say goodbye to their builds
  • Consider posting wipe dates in your server name or MOTD so returning players know when to expect resets
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