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how to save off a map backup in nitrado (Ark)

Quick Scoop: To save off a map backup in Nitrado for ARK , the usual method is to stop the server, download the relevant save files from the server’s save directory, and store them locally with a clear date label. Nitrado’s guides and community advice point to the map save files being in the server’s saved game folders, and for custom maps you may need to go through FTP to grab the specific map file before changing anything.

How to back it up

  1. Stop the server first. This helps prevent corrupted saves and makes sure the files are stable before copying.
  1. Open the file browser or connect by FTP. Nitrado’s ARK guides point to the saved-game path where backups live, and FTP is the reliable route for custom maps.
  1. Go to the save folder. For ARK: Survival Ascended, the guide lists the path as arksa/ShooterGame/Saved/SavedArks/, and custom maps may have their own map-named subfolder.
  1. Copy the map save files to your PC. Save the file locally with a date in the filename so you can tell versions apart later.
  1. Keep the backup somewhere separate. A local folder plus cloud storage is safer than leaving only one copy.

If you want to restore later

  • Upload the saved file back to the same folder, overwriting the current one.
  • Make sure the server’s map setting matches the save you restored, then start the server again.
  • If you are using a custom map, Nitrado’s guide says to restore via FTP and then set the backup option in the web interface before restarting.

Small warning

Nitrado backups are not always kept forever, and some community posts note that older backups may only be available for a limited time depending on platform and server setup. So if the map matters, make your own local copy right away.

Example file setup

A simple naming pattern works well:

  • Island_2026-07-07_backup
  • TheCenter_2026-07-07_backup
  • Svartalfheim_2026-07-07_backup

That makes it much easier to restore the right map later without guessing.

TL;DR: Stop the server, copy the map save from the ARK save folder via Nitrado file browser or FTP, store it locally with a date, and restore it by putting it back into the same folder before restarting the server.