This is one of the most frustrating errors in ARK — you load up the game, try to join a server, and boom: "Joining Failed — could not retrieve address." I've been there. Here's what actually fixed it for me on Xbox Series X.
This is an updated guide from my original 2020 video. The DNS trick still works in 2026, but there are a few extra steps that help more consistently now.
Watch the full fix video — follow along step by step for best results.
What Causes This Error?
The "could not retrieve address" error in ARK is usually caused by:
- Your Xbox DNS settings not being able to resolve ARK's server addresses
- A conflict between your ISP's DNS and Epic/Studio Wildcard's servers
- Network congestion or a temporary outage on Epic's side
- Incorrect NAT type (you need Open NAT for ARK)
The Fix — Change Your Xbox DNS
The fastest fix is to switch your Xbox DNS from automatic to Google's (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare's (1.1.1.1) DNS servers. Here's how:
- Go to Settings → General → Network Settings → Advanced Settings
- Select DNS Settings → Manual
- Set Primary DNS to
8.8.8.8(Google) or1.1.1.1(Cloudflare) - Set Secondary DNS to
8.8.4.4(Google) or1.0.0.1(Cloudflare) - Save and restart your Xbox
- Launch ARK and try joining again
Still Not Working?
- Try clearing the Xbox cache: hold the power button for 10 seconds until it fully shuts down, then unplug for 2 minutes
- Check if ARK servers are down at Epic's status page
- Make sure your NAT is Open (not Strict or Moderate) in Network Settings
Did this fix work for you? Drop a message in the Discord — Danny and the community love hearing when guides actually help!
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