news Version 0.8.4.0 Released (27th May 2026) - v0.8.4 Community Hotfix: backup, update, Web Console, and firewall fixes.
Editing Mod Settings ([ModSettings]) (AASM v0.8.3) | ARK Ascended Server Manager

Editing Mod Settings ([ModSettings])

Per-mod configuration captured in snapshots and synced safely

Many ARK mods read their configuration from a dedicated [ModSettings] section of GameUserSettings.ini rather than from the standard sections. The mod author documents their keys (often on the CurseForge page or in a README). AASM v0.8.3 exposes this section through the Mod Manager so you don't have to hand-edit the .ini.

Prerequisites:

  • A mod installed and Active.
  • The mod's documented config keys (from the author's CurseForge page).

Step 1 - Open Mod Manager

Server tab → Mod Manager. Find the mod whose settings you want to edit in the Active list.

Step 2 - Open per-mod settings

Click the gear/settings icon on the mod's card. AASM opens the per-mod settings editor showing every key currently in the [ModSettings] section attributed to this mod, plus any keys you've added previously.

Step 3 - Add or change keys

Use the editor to add new keys or change existing values. Common patterns:

  • SomeFeatureEnabled=True
  • MaxStacks=1000
  • CustomChance=0.5

Mod authors set the key names - copy them verbatim from the mod's docs. AASM doesn't validate them against the mod's expected schema (it can't - the mod hasn't declared one).

Step 4 - Save

Click Save. AASM writes the [ModSettings] section back to GameUserSettings.ini using a case-insensitive section/key matcher (v0.8.2 fix, BUG-ModSettingsCaseInsensitive) so existing keys are updated in place instead of duplicating into a new section.

v0.8.2 / v0.8.3 concurrency: simultaneous mod-settings edits from desktop + Web UI on the same server are now serialised via per-server locks (BUG-ModWriteRace). Earlier builds could lose changes if you saved in two places at once.

Step 5 - Restart to apply

ARK reads GameUserSettings.ini at server startup. Restart the server (or wait for the next scheduled restart) for the mod to pick up new values.

Step 6 - Capture a snapshot if you're happy

Once a mod loadout works, take a Settings Snapshot. Snapshots capture the full [ModSettings] section via ModConfigService.setModSettings() on restore (selective restore was a v0.8.2 polish), so you can roll back per-mod tuning without losing it.

Editing Mod Settings ([ModSettings]) - done

Per-mod settings live in [ModSettings] and AASM edits them safely with case-insensitive matching and per-server locks. Snapshot them once you're happy with the loadout.

Related Guides

Browse CurseForge

Find mods with documented configs.

View Guide
Settings Snapshots

Snapshot a working loadout.

View Guide
Edit GameUserSettings.ini

Edit the rest of the .ini outside [ModSettings].

View Guide