You’ve been running a casual ARK PvE server for your group of builder friends for months, but lately your more competitive clan has been begging you to spin up a separate PvP map for weekend raids. You don’t want to shut down the existing server, and you don’t have a second PC to dedicate to hosting. That’s where knowing how to start 2 ARK servers at once on the same machine saves the day. I’ve been hosting ARK servers for my 30+ member community for three years, and I’ve tested every method to run multiple instances without lag or crashes, so I’m breaking down the exact steps you can follow today.
Prerequisites to Check Before You Learn How to Start 2 ARK Servers at Once
You don’t need a top-of-the-line gaming rig to run two ARK servers, but you do need to meet a few basic hardware requirements to avoid performance issues. Minimum 16GB of RAM is non-negotiable; each unmodded server uses roughly 4-6GB of RAM on its own, and modded servers can use 8GB or more depending on the mod list. Quad-core CPU 3.0GHz or higher is also required, as ARK servers are very CPU-intensive and need separate threads to run smoothly for all players.
You’ll also need 100GB free SSD storage at a minimum, and never run servers on a HDD — load times will be so slow that your players will quit before they even spawn. A stable internet connection with at least 10Mbps of upload speed is the last core requirement, as each 10-player server uses roughly 5Mbps of upload to send data to all connected users. If you plan to run modded servers or have more than 10 players per instance, you’ll want to bump that upload speed to 15Mbps or higher to avoid lag spikes.
Step 1: Configure Unique Network Settings for Each Server Instance
The biggest mistake new server admins make when setting up multiple ARK instances is using the same network ports for both servers. ARK’s default game port is 7777, and its default query port is 27015, so you’ll need to change one set of ports to avoid conflicts. I usually set the second server’s game port to 7779 and its query port to 27017, leaving a gap between port numbers to avoid overlap. Never use consecutive port numbers for game and query ports, because ARK often uses the port immediately after the one you set for background processes, so leaving a gap prevents unexpected conflicts.
This is one of the most critical steps to get right if you want to learn how to start 2 ARK servers at once without constant connection errors. You’ll need to add both sets of ports to your Windows Firewall allow list, and set up separate port forwarding rules for each port on your home router. If you’re using a VPN for your host machine, you’ll either need to set up port forwarding through the VPN or turn it off entirely for hosting, as most consumer VPNs block incoming port traffic by default.
Step 2: Set Up Separate Server Installation Folders
Another common error is running two server instances from the same installation folder, which almost always leads to save file corruption, mod conflicts, and lost player progress. You can either install the ARK Dedicated Server tool twice in completely separate folders, or use the popular ARK Server Manager tool to create separate profiles that store all files in distinct locations. No matter which method you use, you need to make sure each server has these four unique components:
- Separate save game directories, so progress on one server doesn’t overwrite the other
- Individual mod installation folders, so you can run a fully modded Primal Fear server on one instance and a vanilla PvP server on the other
- Unique config files (GameUserSettings.ini and Game.ini) for each server, so you can set different harvest rates, player limits, and rule sets without cross-over
- Separate startup batch files or ASM profiles, so you don’t accidentally load the wrong settings when launching an instance
I made this mistake my first time trying to run two servers, I used the same install folder and woke up to 12 angry messages from my community because all their PvE base builds were gone, overwritten by the PvP server’s save. Don’t make that same error. Always launch one server first and wait for it to fully load before starting the second, because launching both at once will use too much RAM and CPU at the same time, leading to crashes on both instances. This small step eliminates 90% of the errors people run into when they first try to figure out how to start 2 ARK servers at once.
How to Fix Common Issues When Running Two ARK Servers Simultaneously
Even if you follow every step perfectly, you might run into small issues when you first launch both servers. The most common issue is one server failing to launch entirely, which is almost always caused by a port conflict. You can use Windows Resource Monitor to check which ports are currently in use on your machine, and adjust your server ports if another program is already using the ones you selected. If players can see one server in the server browser but not the other, double check your router’s port forwarding rules, as routers often erase custom port rules after a firmware update.
If you’re noticing consistent lag spikes on both servers, you might be pushing your hardware too hard. Lower the player count limit on each server by 2-3 players first, and disable any unnecessary background processes on your host machine, like streaming software or unused browser tabs, to free up more RAM and CPU. If you’re running modded servers, double check that all mods are installed in the correct folder for each instance, and that your mod load order is the same for both the server and any players connecting to it. I also recommend restarting both servers once every 24 hours to clear cached data and prevent memory leaks that cause lag over time.
Running two ARK servers at once doesn’t require fancy expensive hardware, just a bit of careful setup to avoid conflicts. Once you get the hang of the process, you can even run 3 or 4 instances if your machine has enough resources, to cater to every type of player in your community. I still run two servers on my home PC for my group: a casual PvE server for new players and a hard mode PvP server for our weekend raid nights, and we haven’t had a major crash in over a year. If you follow the steps we laid out, you’ll be able to figure out how to start 2 ARK servers at once without any stress, and give your community more ways to enjoy the game together.