If you’ve ever wanted to grind dinosaur taming or base building with a friend without worrying about server lag, random trolls, or sudden internet outages, you’re not alone. I spent three weekends troubleshooting random connection errors before I figured out how to play ark offline lan on 2 pc without paying for a dedicated server or extra subscription services. Most online guides skip over common hurdles like firewall blocks or incompatible mod load orders, so I put together this tested walkthrough to help you get set up in 15 minutes or less. You don’t need any fancy tech skills to follow along, just two PCs with a copy of Ark installed and a working local network connection.
Pre-Requisites to Play Ark Offline LAN on 2 PC Smoothly
Before you launch the game, take 5 minutes to confirm you have all of these boxes checked. Skipping this step is the number one reason people run into connection issues later, and it saves you hours of troubleshooting down the line. I once missed a mod version mismatch and spent two hours restarting my router for no reason, so trust me on this. Here’s exactly what you need:
- Two separate PCs with a fully updated, legitimate copy of Ark: Survival Evolved (pirated copies almost always have broken LAN functionality, and they often come with malware that can mess with your network settings, so avoid those to save yourself headaches)
- Both PCs connected to the same local network, either via Ethernet cable (recommended for 30% lower lag during base raids or large dino tames) or the same private Wi-Fi network
- Network permissions set to allow file and printer sharing on both devices, plus temporary firewall access for Ark if you get a pop-up prompt when you first launch the game
- Both copies of Ark running the exact same game version, including any installed DLC or mods you want to use during your playthrough, with matching mod load orders on both devices
If you’re using mods, you can export your mod list from the host PC’s in-game mod manager and send it to the guest to make sure everything lines up. Even one mod loaded in the wrong order can cause a persistent mismatch error that blocks connection, so double check this before you move to setup. If one PC has a DLC the other doesn’t, you’ll need to disable that DLC on the host’s end too, or the guest won’t be able to join.
Step-by-Step Setup for Host and Guest PCs
This setup uses a non-dedicated server, which is the easiest option for casual 2-player play. You don’t need to download any extra software, and it runs directly through the base game. The only limitation is a default tether distance that keeps the guest from wandering too far from the host, but we’ll cover how to fix that later.
First, have the player who wants to host the world open Ark and click the Host/Local button on the main menu. Adjust your world settings to fit your playstyle — you can turn up taming speed, reduce dino damage, or disable PvP if you just want to build and explore together. Make sure to check the Use Single Player Settings box if you want balanced progression for two players, as default server settings are tuned for larger groups. When you’re done adjusting settings, click the Host Non-Dedicated Session button, name your session, and set a password if you want to keep random people from joining (though on an offline LAN, this is usually unnecessary).
While the host loads the world, have them look up their local IPv4 address. On Windows, you can do this by opening the command prompt, typing “ipconfig”, and looking for the line labeled IPv4 Address. It will look something like 192.168.1.10. On Mac, you can find this in Network settings under your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. The guest should open Ark, click Join ARK, and use the filter menu to show only LAN sessions. If the host’s session pops up, just click join and enter the password if you set one. If it doesn’t show up, use the direct connect option and enter the host’s local IP address to connect manually.
Common Issues and Quick Fixes for 2-Player Offline Ark LAN
Even if you followed every step perfectly, you might run into a few common errors. I’ve encountered all of these at least once when setting up LAN sessions for friends, so these fixes are all tested and work 90% of the time without extra work.
The most common error is Connection Timed Out when the guest tries to join. This almost always means Ark is blocked by one or both PCs’ firewalls. To fix this, go to Windows Defender Firewall settings, click Allow an app through firewall, and make sure both private and public boxes are checked for Ark on both devices. If you’re using a third-party antivirus, you may need to add Ark as an exception there too. That said, if you’re on a private home network, you can temporarily disable your antivirus for the session to test if that’s the issue, just remember to turn it back on when you’re done playing.
Another common error is Mod Mismatch, which pops up when the guest’s mod list or game version doesn’t match the host’s. To fix this, have both players unsubscribe from all Ark mods, then have the host share their mod collection link so the guest can download the exact same mods in the exact same order. Once both players have the same mods installed, restart the game and try connecting again. If you’re not using mods, this error usually means one PC has pending game updates, so check your Steam library for updates and install any that are available.
If the guest joins but can only move a short distance away from the host before getting pulled back, that’s the default non-dedicated server tether limit. You can fix this by increasing the non-dedicated host tether distance in the host’s advanced settings before launching the session. You can set it up to 10000 units, which is more than enough for both players to explore separate biomes without getting pulled back. If you want no tether at all, you can run a dedicated server on one of the PCs, but that requires at least 16GB of RAM to run smoothly, so non-dedicated is better for most casual players.
Tips to Improve Your 2-Player Offline Ark LAN Experience
Once you’re connected and playing, there are a few small tweaks you can make to have way more fun, especially if you’re planning a long-term playthrough with your friend. These are all things I wish I’d known before I started my first LAN playthrough a few years ago.
First, assign roles early to speed up progression. For example, one player can focus on taming and exploring, while the other focuses on base building and resource farming. This keeps you from wasting time doing the same tasks twice, and it lets you unlock higher tier engrams much faster than if you both split your time between every job. You can switch roles whenever you want, but having a loose plan makes the first 10 hours of play way less frustrating.
Second, adjust your world settings to fit your schedule. If you only have a few hours a week to play, turn up taming and harvesting speed to 2x or 3x, and lower the time it takes for resources to respawn. You don’t have to stick to the default settings to have a legitimate playthrough, and tweaking these numbers keeps you from spending 3 hours taming a single T-Rex when you only have 2 hours total to play that day.
Most importantly, regularly back up your local save file. Offline LAN saves are stored locally on the host PC, so if the host’s hard drive crashes or the game corrupts the save, you lose all of your progress permanently. I learned this the hard way when my old laptop died halfway through a 6-month playthrough, and I lost every base and dino I’d worked so hard to get. Now I back up my save to a USB drive every other session, and it only takes 30 seconds to do. You can find your save files in your Steam folder under Steamapps > Common > Ark > Saved > SavedArksLocal.
At the end of the day, playing Ark with a friend locally is way more fun than joining random public servers, especially when you don’t have to deal with trolls or lag spikes from bad internet connections. Once you get the hang of how to play ark offline lan on 2 pc, you can tweak settings, add mods, and build out your perfect dinosaur survival world at your own pace. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t work, most connection issues are fixed with a quick check of firewall settings or game versions. Grab your friend, load up the game, and get ready to outrun your first T-Rex together.