How to install Checkpoint on an ARK: Survival Ascended server

This guide takes you from download to a working plugin on an ARK: Survival Ascended server. Most plugin problems come from three things: the wrong folder, a missing or outdated framework, and config syntax errors. Taking a backup and installing on a quiet moment (or a test copy) turns all three into a two minute fix instead of an outage.

Lucas F's screenshot gives you an idea of the end result you are aiming for.

Before you start

Gather these first. Installing Checkpoint with everything ready takes minutes; finding out halfway that something is missing is how servers end up broken.

• An ARK: Survival Ascended server you can upload files to.
• The mod framework your ARK: Survival Ascended server uses (usually AsaApi (ServerAPI)).
• A fresh backup of your server or project, taken right before you start.

Back up first

A backup turns any mistake during setup into a two minute rollback. It takes a moment and is the single best habit a server owner can have.

1. Stop the server, or use your host's one click backup.
2. Copy the whole ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkApi/Plugins folder and the config folder next to it.
3. Copy the world or save folder too if the resource touches player data.
4. Name the backup with today's date so you can find it later.

Where files go on ARK: Survival Ascended

On ARK: Survival Ascended, AsaApi (ServerAPI) usually loads plugins from ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkApi/Plugins. Paths are relative to the server's main folder, the one that holds the server executable. If Checkpoint came as a folder of its own, keep that folder intact: many loaders expect the files inside a folder named after the resource.

When something fails to load, the server console and the API's log files are where the reason shows up.

Install steps

Lucas F has not added step by step instructions to the listing, so these are the usual steps for a plugin on ARK: Survival Ascended. The creator's description has the details specific to Checkpoint; follow it wherever it differs.

1. Download Checkpoint-v0.0.4.zip (3.4 MB) from the resource page while signed in.
2. Extract it on your computer first. Look inside before uploading: some archives contain a single folder that itself holds the files.
3. Stop the server so files are not in use while you copy them.
4. Copy the files to the folder AsaApi (ServerAPI) reads, usually ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkApi/Plugins.
5. Start the server and watch the console as it boots.

Applying the change

When in doubt, restart the server. It is the one method that always loads the latest files and config.

Check it worked

Do not open the server to players until these all hold:

• The console or log mentions Checkpoint loading, with no errors or warnings about missing files (check the server console and the API's log files).
• You can see the change in game, or in Discord for bots.

Compare what you see with the creator's screenshot in Figure 2.

If your setup looks like this, Checkpoint is installed and running.

Installing on a rented server

Most ARK: Survival Ascended hosts give you a web file manager and FTP or SFTP access, which is all Checkpoint needs. Upload the files to the same folder you would use on your own machine, then restart from the host's panel.

After installing

• Write down the version you installed; you will need it when asking for help or updating.
• Keep the original download in your backups so you can reinstall the same version later.
• Tell your players what Checkpoint adds, so they know what to try.

Check the version history from time to time for new releases.

Next steps

• Configuration guide : tune the settings to your server.
• Troubleshooting : if anything above did not go to plan.

Screenshot reference: Figure 1.