ARK: Survival Evolved save location (PC & Steam Deck)

Q: Where are ARK: Survival Evolved saves on Steam Deck?

In ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksLocal . If you play the native Linux version instead, look in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxNoEditor .

ARK: Survival Evolved keeps its saves in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal on Windows. It supports Steam Cloud, which keeps the latest save on your Steam account. Hoard finds that folder on its own, backs it up every time the game saves and keeps it in sync between your PCs and a Steam Deck.

Where ARK: Survival Evolved keeps its saves

Windows

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArksLocal

Steam Deck and Linux (Proton)

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksLocal

Native Linux version

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxNoEditor

Paths under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam assume Steam is in its default folder.

These locations come from PCGamingWiki, through the community save database Hoard uses for detection.

Settings files

ARK: Survival Evolved keeps settings such as graphics and controls apart from the saves, in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config.

Keep it backed up and in sync with Hoard

Hoard is free and open source. It backs up your ARK: Survival Evolved saves every time the game writes one and again when you quit, keeps a history you can go back to, and syncs the folder between your PCs and a Steam Deck. Only the files that changed travel, compressed, and every file is checked against its SHA-256 hash when it comes back.

Install Hoard and sign in to Hoard One, recommended for everyone, or point it at your own server.
Open the Library. ARK: Survival Evolved is detected from your Steam library and the community save database.
Play. When you quit, the first version appears in the history.

Frequently asked questions

Does ARK: Survival Evolved have cloud saves?

Yes, according to the save database: Steam Cloud. A store's cloud keeps only the latest save for that account, though, with no versions to go back to. Hoard keeps every version on top, on Hoard One or your own server.

Where are ARK: Survival Evolved saves on Steam Deck?

In ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArksLocal. If you play the native Linux version instead, look in ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxNoEditor.

Is Hoard free?

Yes. The app, the command line and the server are free and open source (AGPL-3.0), and running your own server costs nothing but the machine. Hoard One, the managed server we recommend for everyone, is free too with 2 GB and three devices; Pro adds room for €1.99 a month.

Does self-hosting send anything to Hoard?

No. On your own server there's no account with us and no telemetry to us: your saves, your users and your logs stay on your machine and never touch ours.