ARK: Survival Evolved constantly crashes on startup or during gameplay? You’re certainly not alone! Many gamers have reported this exact problem.
But the good news is, you can fix it. Here are some known fixes for gamers on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. Read on to find out what they are…
Select your gaming platform:
Before you try any of these solutions, perform a restart on your device first. A restart will refresh the operating system and fix almost any software-related glitches.
Fix ARK crashing on PC
You may not have to try them all. Just work down the list until you find the one that works for you.
- Meet the minimum system requirements
- Update your graphics driver
- Verify the integrity of ARK files
- Install the latest ARK patch
- Set the launch option
- Reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved
Fix 1: Meet the minimum system requirements
ARK is extremely intensive compared to a lot of games. You might run into issues running the game if your computer can’t handle it. Luckily, the developers make it very easy to tell if your computer is up to the task. They publish a list of minimum requirements (see below). If your computer isn’t at least this good, that’s probably the reason why ARK won’t work.
ARK’s Minimum Requirements:
| OS: | Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit versions) |
| Processor: | Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better |
| Memory: | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: | NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better |
| Storage: | 60 GB available space |
To check your hardware information, follow the steps below:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to invoke the Run dialog.
- Type dxdiag and click OK.
- Check the information of your operating system, processor, and memory.
- Click the Display tab, and then check your graphics card’s information.
The minimum system requirements need to be met to run ARK: Survival Evolved correctly; otherwise, you’ll need to play the game on another computer.
Fix 2: Update your graphics driver
Game issues, such as crashing, freezing, lagging, low FPS, etc. are likely to occur if you’re using a wrong or outdated graphics driver. To keep ARK running smoothly, it’s essential that you have the latest graphics driver at all times.
You can update your graphics driver manually by going to the manufacturer’s website for your graphics product, and searching for the most recent correct driver. Be sure to choose only driver that is compatible with your Windows version.
If you don’t have the time, patience, or computer skills to update your graphics driver manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making mistakes when installing.
You can update your drivers automatically with either the 7 days free trial or the Pro version of Driver Easy. It takes just 2 clicks, and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee with the Pro version:
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Click the Activate & Update button next to the flagged device to automatically download and install the correct version of this driver.
Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (You’ll need the Pro version for this – when you select Update All, you’ll get a prompt to upgrade. If you’re not prepared to purchase the Pro version yet, Driver Easy provides a 7-day trial at no cost, granting access to all Pro features like fast downloads and easy installation. No charges will occur until after your 7-day trial period ends.)
- After updating, restart your computer to take effect.
If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at support@drivereasy.com.
If not, then go ahead with the next fix.
Fix 3: Verify the integrity of ARK files
One of the possible reasons why ARK keeps crashing is damaged game files. To see if that’s the core issue, you can verify the game files from Steam to make sure any corrupt files fixed and missing files installed.
Follow the instructions below:
- Launch Steam.
- In the LIBRARY, right-click ARK: Survival Evolved and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Installed Files tab and click on the Verified integrity of game files button.
- Steam will verify the game’s files – this process may take several minutes.
If your issue still exists, try the fix, below.
Fix 4: Install the latest ARK patch
The developers of ARK release regular game patches to fix bugs. It’s possible that a recent patch has stopped your game from running smoothly, and that a new patch is required to fix it.
To check if there is any update, go to the ARK: Survival Evolved website and search for the latest patch. If a patch is available, install it, then run your game again to check whether your problem has been resolved. If it hasn’t, or there was no new game patch available, go ahead with fix 8, below.
Fix 5: Set the launch option
The ARK crashing issue could be caused by incompatible game settings. To see if that’s the problem for you, try launching it with a different launch option. Follow the instructions below:
- Launch Steam. In the LIBRARY, right-click ARK: Survival Evolved and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
- Remove any launch options currently shown.
- On your keyboard, press the Windows key and X key and select Task Manager.
- Go to Performance > CPU, then check the Logical Processors number here. For instance, I have 16 here,
- Then type -high -useallavailablecores -preferredprocessor * -sm4 -d3d10, then click OK.
The * here is the Logical processors you have noted down. I have 16, so my command is -high -useallavailablecores -preferredprocessor 16 -sm4 -d3d10. If you have 8 Logical processors, your command should be -high -useallavailablecores -preferredprocessor 8 -sm4 -d3d10. - Relaunch your game to see if this worked for you.
If it didn’t, you’ll need to reopen the Launch Options box and clear the launch option. Then, try the fix, below.
Fix 6: Reinstall ARK: Survival Evolved
Reinstalling a big game can be frustrating, but some players have found it solves the ARK crashing problem. So it’s definitely worth trying.
- Uninstall ARK from Steam.
- Exit Steam.
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and E at the same time.
- Paste C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common on the address bar.
- Highlight the ARK folder, and then press the Del key on your keyboard to delete the folder.
- Relaunch Steam to download and reinstall ARK. Then, try launching the game again.
Hopefully, you are able to run ARK without crashing now! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.
Fix ARK crashing on Xbox One
You may not have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
Fix 1: Restart your console
In many cases, a simple restart can help address the ARK crashing issue. Follow the instructions below:
- Press and hold the power button on the front of the console for 10 seconds to turn off your Xbox One.
- Wait for 1 minute, then turn your console back on.
- Restart your Xbox One and your game to test your issue.
If ARK still crashes after the reboot, don’t fret. Try the fix, below.
Fix 2: Update your console
ARK: Survival Evolved might crash because your Xbox One system is out of date. To prevent game issues from happening or to fix them, it’s important to keep your Xbox One system up to date. Here is how to do it:
- On the home screen, press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Update console.
After the update, restart ARK to see if it works correctly now. If your problem still exists, then go ahead with the next fix.
Fix 3: Reset your console
Improper console settings can also cause ARK to crash on your Xbox One. If you have changed any game settings recently, resetting your Xbox One to its default factory settings is very likely the solution to your problem.
Follow the instructions below:
- On the home screen, press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Console info.
- Select Reset console.
- Select Reset and keep my games & apps.
Restart your game to see if this worked for you If it didn’t, check the fix below.
Fix 4: Reinstall your game
You’re likely to encounter ARK crashing error when a certain game file is corrupted or damaged. To fix it, try reinstalling your game on Xbox One. Here is how to do it:
- On the home screen, press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select My games & apps.
- Press the A button on your controller.
- Highlight your game, then press the ☰ button on your controller.
- Select Uninstall.
- After your game is uninstalled, insert the game disc into the drive to download and install ARK: Survival Evolved.
Hopefully, you can enjoy the game now! If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below.
Fix ARK crashing on PlayStation 4
You may not have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
- Restart your PS4
- Update your PS4 system software
- Reinstall your game
- Restore your PS4 settings to default
Fix 1: Restart your PS4
One quick fix to common game issues on PS4 is restarting your device. If ARK crashes constantly on your PS4, try rebooting your device, then relaunch your game. Here is how to do it:
- On the front panel of your PS4, press the power button to turn it off.
- After your PS4 is turned off completely, unplug the power cord from the back of the console.
- Wait for 3 minutes, and then plug the power cord back into your PS4.
- Press and hold the power button again to restart your PS4.
Restart your game to check if this fixed your problem. If your game still crashes, don’t worry! There are still 2 more fixes to try.
Fix 2: Update your PS4 system software
Outdated system software could also cause ARK: Survival Evolved to crash. In this case, updating your PlayStation 4 system software is very likely the solution to the issue. Here is how to it:
- On the home screen of your PS4 system, press the up button on your controller to go to the function area.
- Select Settings.
- Select System Software Update, and then follow the on-screen instructions to update the system software for your PS4.
- Restart your game to see if this resolved your issues.
If your problem persists, move on to the fix below.
Fix 3: Reinstall your game
You’re likely to encounter ARK crashing error when a certain game file is corrupted or damaged. To fix it, try reinstalling your game. Here is how to do it:
- On the home screen, select ARK: Survival Evolved.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- Select Delete using your controller.
- Download and install ARK again to test your issue.
If your game still crashes, try the fix below.
Fix 4: Restore your PS4 settings to default
In some cases, the ARK: Survival Evolved crashing issue is triggered by improper PS4 settings. Try restoring your PS4 to its default factory settings to see if that’s the problem for you. Follow the instructions below:
- On the front panel of your PS4, press the power button to turn it off.
- After your PS4 is turned off completely, press and hold the power button.
- After you hear two beeps from your PS4, release the button.
- Connect your controller to your PS4 with a USB cable.
- Press the PS button on your controller.
- Select Restore to Default Settings.
- Select Yes and wait for the process to be complete.
- Restart your game to see if this has resolved your issue.
Hopefully, you can play ARK without crashing now! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll see what more we can do.
