There’s nothing better than diving into Ark’s prehistoric, dinosaur-filled world with a friend by your side, whether you’re building a base together, taming a T-Rex, or fending off raider attacks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a friend come over ready to play, only to spend 45 minutes messing with controller settings instead of exploring the map. If you’ve been struggling to get your co-op session running smoothly, you’re not the only one. I’ve spent dozens of hours troubleshooting connection errors and split screen glitches to figure out the simplest way how to set up 2 player on Ark for every platform, from PC to console. This guide skips the confusing technical jargon and walks you through every step, plus fixes for the most common issues that pop up mid-setup.
How to Set Up 2 Player on Ark for Local Split Screen
Local split screen is the perfect option if you and your friend are in the same room, and it works natively on all Xbox and PlayStation console versions of Ark. PC players will need a community mod to enable split screen, as the base game doesn’t support local co-op on PC by default. You don’t need an active Xbox Live or PS Plus subscription for local split screen play, which makes it a great low-effort option for casual gaming sessions.
To get started on console, first make sure both controllers are paired to your device, and the second controller is linked to either a guest profile or a separate console profile. Launch Ark and load into the single player save you want to play in, or start a new save. Once you’re loaded into the game, press the menu/options button on the second controller, and a prompt will pop up asking if you want to join the session. Select yes, and the second player will spawn in right next to you within a few seconds.
Keep in mind that split screen reduces your field of view and makes in-game text smaller by default. You’ll need to set your in-game resolution to at least 1080p for split screen text to be readable, and you can turn off unnecessary graphics settings like motion blur to keep the frame rate stable for both players. If you’re on PC, look for the most popular split screen mod on the Ark workshop, and follow the mod creator’s step-by-step setup instructions to enable local play.
Steps to Host an Online 2 Player Ark Session
If you and your friend are playing from different locations, an online co-op session is the way to go. You have two options for online play: a non-dedicated server or a dedicated server. Non-dedicated servers are the best choice for 2 player sessions, as they don’t require extra software or constant hosting costs. Dedicated servers are better for larger groups of 5+ players, so you can skip that option for a 2 player playthrough.
To host a non-dedicated server, launch Ark and select the “Host/Local” option from the main menu. Adjust your server settings to fit your playstyle: you can turn up taming speed, resource respawn rate, and disable friendly fire if you don’t want to accidentally hurt each other during fights. Make sure to check the “Non-Dedicated Host” box, set a unique server name, and add a password so random players can’t join your session. Click “Start” to launch the server, and you’ll spawn into the map like you would a single player game.
To have your friend join, tell them to open the “Join Ark” menu from their main screen, and filter the server list to show only non-dedicated servers. Have them search for your server name, enter the password you set, and they’ll join your session within a minute. Your friend will only be able to travel within a 200-300 meter radius of you on a non-dedicated server by default, but you can increase this radius in the host settings before you launch the session if you want more space to explore separately.
Common 2 Player Setup Issues and Quick Fixes
Even if you follow every step perfectly, small glitches are super common with Ark co-op, especially right after a new game update drops. Most issues take less than 5 minutes to fix, and you don’t need any technical skills to troubleshoot them. Always make sure both you and your play partner have installed the latest Ark game patches before starting a session, as outdated versions are the number one cause of co-op errors.
Below are the three most common issues players run into, plus simple fixes you can try right away:
- Connection timed out errors: If your friend can’t join your online session, first confirm both of you have the same game version and no conflicting mods installed. If you’re on PC, add Ark as an exception to your firewall and antivirus software, and forward port 27015 on your router if you’re still running into connection issues.
- Split screen not activating on console: If your second controller isn’t being detected, close Ark fully, disconnect and re-pair the controller, then restart the game. Make sure the second controller is linked to a valid profile on your console, even if it’s a free guest profile with no linked account.
- Player tethering issues on non-dedicated servers: If you or your friend keep getting kicked back to the host when you travel too far, go to your host settings before launching the session and increase the “Non-Dedicated Host Tether Distance” slider to the maximum value, or install a tether removal mod if you’re on PC.
If you’re still running into issues after trying these fixes, try restarting your internet router or console, as small temporary bugs often get cleared with a quick restart. You can also check the official Ark community forums to see if other players are reporting the same issue after a recent update.
Tips to Make Your 2 Player Ark Session More Fun
Once you have your session up and running, there are a few small tweaks you can make to turn a basic playthrough into a way more enjoyable experience for both you and your friend. First, agree on your playstyle before you start: do you want to focus on casual base building and taming in PvE, or test your skills against other players in PvP? Getting on the same page early prevents arguments later on about whether you should build a hidden base or go raid another group.
Assigning roles early on also makes progress way faster, especially in the first few hours of a new save. One player can focus on gathering wood, thatch, and stone to build your first base, while the other hunts for food, crafts tools, and tames small starter dinosaurs like dodos and parasurs. Make sure to set a shared spawn point at your first base as soon as possible, so if either of you dies, you don’t have to trek across the entire map to meet back up.
You can also adjust server settings to fit your schedule, so you don’t waste all your playtime grinding for basic resources. If you only have a few hours a week to play together, turn up taming speed, harvesting speed, and experience gain rate so you can progress faster without spending hours grinding for a single dinosaur. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a modded playthrough with new dinosaurs, items, and map areas to keep things fresh for weeks of play.
At the end of the day, setting up a 2 player Ark session doesn’t have to be a frustrating, hours-long process. Whether you’re huddled on the couch for split screen play or connecting online from opposite sides of the world, the steps we covered will help you get your game up and running in 10 minutes or less. Don’t be afraid to tweak server settings and experiment with different playstyles to find what works best for you and your partner. Now that you know how to set up 2 player on Ark, it’s time to grab your friend, gear up, and start building your dinosaur empire together.