Troubleshooting
YARK will not start (corrupt profile database)
Section titled “YARK will not start (corrupt profile database)”Boot shows a recovery dialog instead of the normal UI when yark-server-manager.db cannot open or migrate:
| Choice | Effect |
|---|---|
| Open folder | Opens App data so you can copy or inspect the DB (and WAL/SHM) |
| Quit | Leaves files unchanged |
| Start empty… | Quarantines the broken files as *.corrupt.<timestamp> and opens a blank database |
ASA installs on disk are not deleted. Prefer copying the DB out before Start empty if you hope to recover profiles later. See Settings → Profile database recovery.
Server will not become “running”
Section titled “Server will not become “running””| Check | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ports | Unique game/query/RCON; free on the host; not colliding with another profile |
| RCON | Enabled in INI with the profile password; readiness waits for RCON ListPlayers |
| Install files | Binary exists under ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkAscendedServer.exe |
| Events | Open Logs → Events for structured Try next hints |
Timeout after ~10 minutes → status error and process terminated.
Update / verify failed
Section titled “Update / verify failed”- Confirm SteamCMD path in Settings
- Free disk for cache + install
- Read Logs → Updates file for that job
- If safe update rolled back, worlds should match
pre_updatearchives — confirm in Backups - Retry when Steam / network is healthy (jobs retry a few times automatically)
Backup / restore issues
Section titled “Backup / restore issues”| Symptom | Try |
|---|---|
| Cannot restore | Server must be stopped; backup must be completed |
| Schedule never fires | Enabled? Interval elapsed? Process active? |
| Disk warnings | Fleet Backups page — free space / destination path |
| Restart refused to start | pre_restart failed — fix disk/path, then start manually after checking backups |
Empty or thin Runtime logs
Section titled “Empty or thin Runtime logs”- Turn native console off (piped mode) to capture process +
ShooterGame.logtail - Confirm
ShooterGame/Saved/Logs/ShooterGame.logexists after a run - Use Source filter; System vs Server log vs Process
Mods “not working”
Section titled “Mods “not working””YARK only passes Project IDs on the command line. Confirm IDs, enable flags, restart, and that mod files actually exist for the dedicated server outside YARK. Newly added mods start disabled until you enable them.
Custom / Maps pack will not start
Section titled “Custom / Maps pack will not start”| Check | Detail |
|---|---|
| Map selection | Server Information → Map is the pack under Map mods, or Custom… with the author token (e.g. Svartalfheim_WP) |
| Mods enable | The same Project ID is enabled on the Mods tab (appears in Launch -mods=) |
| Start / Launch alert | Yellow Launch warning or Start blocked → fix missing / disabled / unset map-mod link |
| Mod files | YARK does not download map packs — content must exist for the dedicated server as usual |
Official maps do not need a linked map-mod ID. See Mods → Maps / custom worlds.
Still stuck?
Section titled “Still stuck?”- Note YARK version (About / installer)
- Export or copy relevant Events (redact passwords)
- Open a GitHub issue: gabomarin/yark/issues