Fix Ark Survival Error 51 Connection Timeout On Join (2025)

Updated: 11/29/2025

You finally find the perfect Ark Survival server, click join, watch the loading bar crawl along, and then everything freezes with a message like Error 51 or Connection timeout. The server list still shows players online, so it feels like the game is singling you out. Most of the time this problem is not the server itself, but a mix of cached data, blocked ports, or broken files on your own PC, and you can usually fix it without wiping your game.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Clear Steam Download Cache And Verify Ark Files

When the scan finishes, restart Steam once more, open Ark, and add your target server to Favorites if you have not already. Try joining from that list instead of the main browser, which often produces a cleaner connection and avoids cached server entries that can trigger Error 51.

Method 2: Reset Local Network Cache And Steam Client Routing

When the commands finish, restart your computer so the network stack reloads with the new settings. For an even cleaner reset unplug your router from power for 20 seconds and plug it back in, then launch Steam and Ark again to test if Error 51 or connection timeout still appears.

Warning: These commands temporarily remove custom IP or DNS settings, so if you are on a work or campus network talk to your admin before changing anything.

Method 3: Check Ark Server Ports, Mods, And BattleEye

From your Ark installation folder locate the BattleEye subfolder and run the installer file as administrator to repair or reinstall the anti cheat. If the server requires BattleEye and your local component is damaged or out of date, connection attempts can silently fail and return Error 51 instead of a clearer message.