If you’ve ever logged into a public ARK server only to find your newly tamed T-Rex killed by a random griefer, or gotten stuck waiting in a 20-person queue just to play with your best friend, you’ve probably wondered how to make the experience better. Knowing how to run a 2 player ARK server fixes almost all of those common pain points, and it’s way easier to set up than you might think. I spent three weekends fumbling through outdated Reddit tutorials, messing up port forwarding, and dealing with random server crashes before I got my own 2 player server running smoothly with my partner. Now we play for 2-3 hours twice a week, no interruptions, no random players stealing our resources, and we can tweak every setting to fit our lazy playstyle.
Prerequisites for Running a Smooth 2 Player ARK Server
Before you start downloading any tools or messing with router settings, there are a few basic requirements you need to check off to avoid wasting time. First, you need to decide if you’re going to self-host the server on your own PC, or pay for a cheap third-party host. Self-hosting is completely free, but your PC has to be turned on and running the server any time either of you wants to play. A cheap $5 monthly host takes almost all the setup work out of the process, and you don’t have to leave your PC running 24/7.
You’ll need a minimum of 8GB of available RAM on the host device, even for a 2 player server, because ARK’s base game uses around 4GB of memory on its own, even without mods. If you plan to add mods, you’ll want 12GB of available RAM to avoid lag or crashes. Upload speed of at least 5Mbps is non-negotiable for the host’s internet connection, because you’ll be sending game data to the second player in real time. If your internet is slower than that, you’re almost definitely going to deal with constant rubberbanding or disconnects for the non-host player. You’ll also need access to your router’s admin panel if you’re self-hosting, unless you plan to use a gaming VPN to connect directly.
Step-by-Step Process to Run a 2 Player ARK Server Without Paid Hosting
If you decide to self-host to save money, the easiest way to do it for beginners is using a free tool called ARK Server Manager, which removes all the complicated command line work most old tutorials make you do. First, download and install the tool, then open it and select the map you want to play on first – The Island is the best choice for new players, since it’s the most straightforward and has a gentle learning curve. Next, adjust the max player count to 2, and enable the allow list feature so only you and your friend can join the server. You’ll need to add both of your Steam IDs to the allow list, which you can find by looking up your Steam profile on a free Steam ID lookup site.
The most intimidating step for most people is port forwarding, but it’s simpler than it sounds. You’ll need to forward port 27015 (both UDP and TCP) on your router to the local IP address of your host PC. Every router has a slightly different admin panel, so you can search for your router model plus “port forwarding guide” to get exact steps for your device. Make sure you add an exception for ARK server in both your Windows Defender firewall and your router’s security settings – this is the most common reason new servers don’t show up for other players. Once you’ve done all that, hit start server in ARK Server Manager, wait 5-10 minutes for it to fully load, then have your friend search for the server name you set in the ARK server browser. If they can’t find it, they can connect directly using your public IP address plus the port number, like 123.45.67.89:27015.
Optimal Settings for a Fun 2 Player ARK Experience
The default ARK server settings are built for large public servers with dozens of players, so they’re way too grindy for a casual 2 player playthrough. I’ve tested dozens of setting combinations over the past two years, and these tweaks will make your playthrough feel challenging without forcing you to spend 6 hours grinding just to build a small base. You can adjust all of these settings directly in the ARK Server Manager dashboard, no coding required.
- Taming speed: Set this to 3x-5x so you don't have to spend 3 real hours sitting guard over a knocked-out dino when you only have a few hours a week to play.
- XP multiplier: Bump to 2x-3x so you unlock engrams at a pace that matches your playtime, no grinding hundreds of dinosaur kills just to get a metal pickaxe.
- Tether distance: If you're using a non-dedicated server (the built-in option for console or PC without ARK Server Manager), set this to 9999 to remove the annoying range limit that forces you to stay within a few hundred meters of the host.
- Dino count multiplier: Lower to 0.7x if you're hosting on a lower-end PC to reduce lag, or raise to 1.5x if you want more creatures to find, tame, and fight.
- PvE mode toggle: Turn this on if you don't want to accidentally kill each other during a fight with a wild dino, or have your tamed creatures attack each other by mistake.
I run our personal 2 player server at 4x taming speed, 2.5x XP, and 1.2x dino count, and it’s perfect for our casual play schedule. We still have to work for our progress, but we don’t have to give up entire weekends just to get a flying mount. Never turn on crossplay unless you both are playing on the same platform family – PC and console crossplay still has a ton of unpatched bugs for private servers, so you’ll almost definitely run into connection issues if you leave it on.
Common 2 Player ARK Server Issues and Quick Fixes
Even if you follow every step perfectly, you’ll probably run into at least one small issue when you first set up your server. These are the most common problems I’ve run into, and the easy fixes that work 90% of the time. If the second player is dealing with constant lag or rubberbanding, first have both of you switch to a wired internet connection if you’re on Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi interference is the most common cause of lag for small private servers. If that doesn’t work, lower the server’s view distance setting to 3 or 4, and close any background apps on the host PC that are using up RAM or internet bandwidth, like streaming services or cloud backup tools.
If your friend can’t find the server in the browser at all, double check that you added their Steam ID to the allow list, that your port forwarding rules are set correctly, and that the server name doesn’t have any special characters like emojis or asterisks, which can make it unsearchable. If the server crashes right when you try to start it, first verify the server files through ARK Server Manager to fix any corrupted downloads, then remove any mods you added recently to check for conflicts. If you keep running into port forwarding issues that you can’t fix, use a free gaming VPN like Radmin VPN to connect your two PCs directly without messing with router settings. I use this trick all the time when I’m traveling and staying in a rental with a router I can’t access, and it works just as well as traditional port forwarding for 2 player servers.
At the end of the day, learning how to run a 2 player ARK server takes a little bit of patience the first time, but it’s 100% worth it for the stress-free co-op experience. You don’t have to deal with random griefers ruining your hard work, you don’t have to wait in queues, and you can adjust every single part of the game to fit exactly what you and your friend want out of your playthrough. If you get stuck on any step, take a 10 minute break and come back to it – I messed up my port forwarding rules three times before I got them right, and now I can set up a new 2 player server in less than 10 minutes. My partner and I have put over 200 hours into our private server, and we still find new areas to explore and new dinos to tame every time we log on. It’s the best way to play ARK, hands down.