How to Activate Cheats in ARK: A Complete Guide
ARK: Survival Evolved is a popular survival game that challenges players to navigate a vast open world filled with dinosaurs, resources, and dangers. While the game is designed to be played strategically, some players may want to take advantage of cheats to enhance their experience, whether it’s to test mods, speed up progression, or simply have fun. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to activate cheats in ARK on different platforms, ensuring you can make the most of your gameplay.
Understanding Cheats in ARK
Before diving into the activation process, it’s essential to understand what cheats are and how they work in ARK. Cheats are console commands that allow players to manipulate the game’s mechanics, such as spawning items, taming dinosaurs instantly, or even flying. These commands are typically used in single-player or server settings, as using them in multiplayer games can lead to bans.
When to Use Cheats

Single-Player Mode: Cheats are a great way to experiment with the game or create a more relaxed experience.
Server Administration: If you’re running a private server, cheats can help you manage the game world or troubleshoot issues.
Mod Testing: Developers often use cheats to test mods or custom content without the grind.

How to Activate Cheats in ARK on PC
Activating cheats on PC is relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Open the Console: Press the TAB key to open the console. This is where you’ll input your cheat codes.
Enable Cheats: Before entering any cheats, you need to enable them. Type enablecheats followed by your administrator password (if you set one when creating your world).
Example: enablecheats Password123

Enter Cheats: Once cheats are enabled, you can start using commands. For example:
fly – Enables flying.
god – Toggles invincibility.
giveitem “ItemName” 1 0 0 – Spawns an item (replace “ItemName” with the item’s blueprint path).

Disable Cheats: When you’re done, disable cheats by typing disablecheats.

Popular Cheat Codes

tame – Instantly tames a dinosaur.
summon – Spawns a specific creature or item.
teleport – Teleports your character to a specific location.

Activating Cheats on Consoles
While cheats are more commonly used on PC, console players (PS4 and Xbox) can also activate them in single-player mode.

Pause the Game: Bring up the pause menu.
Open the Console: On PS4, press L1 + R1 + Square + Triangle. On Xbox, press LB + RB + X + Y.
Enable Cheats: Enter enablecheats followed by your administrator password.
Use Cheats: Input the desired cheat codes. For example, fly or god.
Disable Cheats: When finished, type disablecheats.

Using Cheats on a Dedicated Server
If you’re running a dedicated server, you can enable cheats for all players or specific administrators.

Enable Cheats in Settings: In your server settings, set AdminPassword and ensure EnableCheats is set to true.
Log in as Admin: In-game, open the console and type enablecheats AdminPassword.
Use Cheats: Enter your desired commands.

Case Study: Hosting a Fun Server
Imagine you’re hosting a server for friends and want to make it more enjoyable. By enabling cheats, you can spawn in items, teleport players, or even create a “fly day” where everyone can soar through the skies.
Ethical Considerations
While cheats can enhance your experience, it’s crucial to use them responsibly:

Avoid Using Cheats in Multiplayer: Unless it’s your own server, using cheats in public multiplayer games is considered cheating and can result in bans.
Respect Other Players: If you’re playing with friends, ensure everyone agrees to the use of cheats.

Final Thoughts
Cheats in ARK: Survival Evolved offer a way to customize your experience, whether you’re testing mods, creating content, or simply having fun. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily activate cheats on PC, consoles, or dedicated servers. Remember to use them wisely and always prioritize fair play in multiplayer settings. Happy gaming!