Emily Bennett
How To Fix ARK Survival Ascended Fatal Error and LowLevelFatalError on PC
If ARK Survival Ascended suddenly throws some nasty FATAL errors or the game crashes with LowLevelFatalError, you’re likely pulling your hair out trying to fix it. These errors can pop up for all sorts of reasons—corrupted files, driver issues, or invalid settings—and sometimes it’s just Windows being uncooperative. Luckily, there are a handful of solid troubleshooting tricks you can try that might finally get you past that crash loop. No guarantees, but these methods have worked for others, and some are just plain common sense but worth doing.
How to Fix ARK Survival Ascended FATAL Error and LowLevelFatalError on PC
Modify Launch Options in Steam
This is surprisingly effective, especially if your game’s choking on graphics API conflicts or certain settings. Opening your Steam library, right-click on ARK Survival Ascended, then go to Properties. Under the General tab, there’s a box called Launch Options. Here, you can add commands like:
-dx11— forces DirectX 11, which can fix issues if your game defaults to a problematic graphics mode.-d3d11— another way to force DirectX 11.-force-d3d11— sometimes needed for NVIDIA cards.-windowed -d3d11— try this if full screen crashes happen.-dx12— switch to DirectX 12 if you’ve got a newer GPU, but beware, it’s a bit experimental.
Try launching after adding each one — on some setups, one of these flags makes all the difference and stops the errors from kicking in.
Reinstall BattlEye Anti-Cheat
Some crashes happen because BattlEye, the anti-cheat software, gets corrupted or stuck. Head over to your game folder, usually inside C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK Survival Ascended. Open the Binaries\Win64 folder and find the BattlEye folder. Right-click on Uninstall_BattlEye.bat (or equivalent) and run it as administrator to remove the driver. Then, relaunch the game — it should reinstall BattlEye automatically (on one machine, it failed the first time, but after a reboot, all good). If things still aren’t smooth, grab the latest BattlEye install from their site or from the ARK forums and run it manually.
Run the Game as Administrator and Adjust Compatibility Settings
Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than it should, right? Find the ARKSurvivalAscended.exe inside the game folder, right-click, and select Properties. Under Compatibility, check Run this program as an administrator. Also, toggle off Fullscreen Optimization, and if you’re feeling extra cautious, try enabling compatibility mode for Windows 8 or 7. Sometimes, this helps with permission issues or conflicts caused by security software.
Whitelist the Game in Antivirus and Windows Security
Antivirus programs or Windows Defender can mistakenly flag or block vital game files, causing crashes or errors. Open your antivirus’ settings (like Windows Security, Norton, or Avast), and add your ARK folder or game executable to the allowed list. For Windows Defender, go to Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Ransomware Protection, then turn on Controlled Folder Access, and add the game’s folder there. Doing this reduces the chance of key game files being quarantined or restricted, which can lead to fatal crashes.
Verify Integrity of Game Files in Steam
This is a classic move but still worth mentioning. Right-click on ARK within your Steam library, choose Properties, then go to Local Files and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. Steam will scan for missing or corrupted files and replace them. On some setups, this fixes strange crashes or errors caused by corrupted data or failed updates.
Clear Config and Backup Saves
Sometimes, problematic configs or corrupted saved files mess everything up. Head to your game’s save folder, typically under C:\Users\[YourName]\Saved Games\ARKSurvivalAscended. Backup your save files somewhere safe, like a desktop folder, then delete the Config folder inside. Resetting configs can fix issues stemming from incompatible settings, but be aware it resets your preferences. Afterward, start the game fresh and see if it gets past the errors. The quirkiest part? On some setups, the crash is caused by corrupt config files that don’t regenerate properly until reset.
Disable Mods (if installed)
If mods are active, they’re often a root cause of crashes, especially if they haven’t been updated after a game patch. Remove all mods via the ARK launcher or manually delete their files inside the game’s mod folder. This can clarify whether the issue is with the game itself or a mod conflict.
Lower Graphics Settings & Performance Tweaks
When you do get a chance to launch, dial down your graphics: lower resolution, disable high-end features like Ray Tracing, and set to Windowed Mode if full screen is problematic. Limit your max frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate; this can stabilize the game. Turning off overlays from Steam, Discord, or GeForce Experience is another good idea — they tend to conflict with ARK or cause input lag and crashes.
Adjust Power and Driver Settings
Switch your PC to Power Saver Mode in Control Panel. It sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes your GPU or CPU overclocking settings cause instability. Also, make sure your graphics drivers are up-to-date. For NVIDIA, go to NVIDIA Drivers. AMD users should check their support page. If the latest drivers are flaky, try rolling back to an earlier stable version like 566.36, which some users report as more reliable for ARK.
Update Windows and Hardware Checks
Keeping Windows up to date is crucial—go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for Updates. Outdated OS components can cause compatibility issues. Also, disconnect any unnecessary peripherals like controllers or extra monitors. Sometimes, external devices interfere. Disable onboard graphics if you’re on a desktop with a dedicated card—just head to Device Manager, expand Display Adapters, and disable the integrated GPU temporarily.
Memory & Redistributables
Boost your virtual memory—search for Advanced System Settings, then under the Advanced tab, click Change in Virtual Memory. Set your Initial size to about 1.5 times your total RAM and the maximum to about 3 times. Also, install the latest Visual C++ Redistributables from Microsoft’s official page. This can help fix runtime errors that lead to crashes.
Reinstall the Game if Necessary
When nothing else works, consider a clean reinstall—delete all game files and folders, then reinstall on your fastest drive, maybe a solid-state drive (SSD). Sometimes, lingering files or a bad install can cause errors that stubborn troubleshooting won’t fix.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Always double-check your settings after making changes. Windows can revert some tweaks after updates or restarts without notice. Regularly clean your system and keep drivers updated to prevent conflicts, especially after big Windows updates.
Wrap-up
All these steps cover the usual culprits behind those game-breaking errors. It’s kinda annoying that troubleshooting ARK can require so many tweaks, but most people see improvements after one or two of these. If it still refuses to run, support forums or official help might be the next stop. Still, hope this gets one update moving—that’s really all that matters.
Summary
- Try changing launch options to force DX11 or DX12
- Reinstall BattlEye anti-cheat
- Run the game as admin and tweak compatibility
- Whitelist in antivirus and Windows Security
- Verify game files through Steam
- Reset configs and back up saves
- Disable mods if any
- Lower graphics and overlay settings
- Update drivers, Windows, and install redistributables
- Do a clean reinstall if really stuck