Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world, with over 200 million copies sold and more than 130 million monthly active users.
However, playing Minecraft online can sometimes be frustrating due to lag, which is a delay or disruption in the game’s performance.
Lag can affect your gameplay in various ways, such as making your actions delayed, causing your screen to freeze or stutter, or disconnecting you from the server. Lag can ruin your fun and make you lose your progress or items.
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce or eliminate lag on your Minecraft server, whether you are playing on a PC, console, or mobile device.
In this guide, we will show you how to optimize your system, network, and game settings to boost your FPS (frames per second) and reduce latency (the time it takes for data to travel between your device and the server).
We will also provide you with some useful tips and tricks to enhance your Minecraft experience and avoid common lag issues. By following this guide, you will be able to enjoy Minecraft without lag and have a smooth and seamless gameplay.
What Causes Lag in Minecraft?
Before we dive into the solutions, let’s first understand what causes lag in Minecraft. There are two main types of lag that can affect your game: server lag and client lag.
Server Lag
Server lag is when the server that hosts the game world is overloaded or has a poor connection. This can cause the game to run slowly or inconsistently for all players on that server. Server lag can be caused by various factors, such as:
Too many players or entities (such as mobs, animals, items, etc.) on the server
Too many plugins or mods that add extra features or functionality to the game
Too large or complex worlds that require more processing power and memory
Outdated or poorly optimized server software or hardware
Poor network quality or bandwidth between the server and the players
Client Lag
Client lag is when your device that runs the game is struggling to keep up with the game’s demands. This can cause the game to look choppy or blurry, or have low FPS. Client lag can be caused by various factors, such as:
Low-end or outdated device specifications (such as CPU, GPU, RAM, etc.)
High graphics settings that require more resources from your device
Background processes or applications that consume CPU or RAM
Outdated or corrupted drivers or software
Poor network quality or bandwidth between your device and the server
How to Reduce Server Lag in Minecraft
If you are experiencing server lag in Minecraft, there are several things you can do to improve the performance and stability of your server. Here are some of the most effective ways to reduce server lag in Minecraft:
Remove Tick/Lag Machines
Tick/lag machines are devices that use redstone circuits or commands to create a lot of activity on the server. For example, some players may use tick machines to generate infinite items, spawn mobs, change weather, etc.
While these machines may seem fun or useful, they can also cause a lot of stress on the server and lower its TPS (ticks per second), which is how fast the server updates the game world.
To reduce server lag caused by tick machines, you should remove them from your world or disable them when not in use. You can also use plugins or mods that limit the amount of redstone activity or commands that players can use on your server.
Pre-generate Your World
A common cause of server lag is when players explore new areas of the world that have not been generated yet.
This can cause the server to work harder to create new chunks (sections of the world) and load them into memory. This can also cause chunk errors or corruption that can affect your world’s integrity.
To reduce server lag caused by world generation, you should pre-generate your world before opening it to players.
This means that you should load all the chunks of your world in advance so that they are ready when players visit them. You can use plugins or mods that allow you to pre-generate your world automatically or manually.
Optimize Your Config Files
Config files are files that store various settings and options for your server. They can affect how your server runs and behaves. Some of the main config files that you will want to modify to optimize your server are:
Bukkit.yml: This file contains settings for Bukkit, which is a software that allows you to run plugins on your server.
Paper-World-Defaults.yml: This file contains settings for PaperMC, which is a software that improves the performance and compatibility of Bukkit servers.
Spigot.yml: This file contains settings for SpigotMC, which is a software that enhances the performance and features of Bukkit servers.
By tweaking these config files, you can adjust various aspects of your server such as:
View Distance: This is how far players can see in the game world. Lowering this value can reduce the amount of chunks that need to be loaded by the server.
Entity Activation Range: This is how far entities (such as mobs) will be active and interact with players. Lowering this value can reduce the amount of entities that need to be processed by the server.
Entity Tracking Range: This is how far entities will be visible and send updates to players. Lowering this value can reduce the amount of data that needs to be sent by the server.
Max Tick Time: This is how long a tick (a unit of time in Minecraft) can take before the server stops responding. Increasing this value can prevent crashes caused by long ticks.
Save Interval: This is how often the server saves its data to disk. Increasing this value can reduce disk usage and improve performance.
You can find more information on how to optimize these config files here.
Use Plugins
Plugins are extensions that add extra functionality or features to your server. They can also help you reduce lag by improving performance, managing resources, fixing errors, etc. Some of the most popular plugins for reducing lag on Minecraft servers are:
ClearLagg: This plugin allows you to remove excess entities (such as items, mobs, etc.) from your world with commands or automatically.
EssentialsX: This plugin provides essential commands and features for your server such as warps, homes, kits, etc. It also allows you to limit certain commands or actions that may cause lag such as TNT explosions, fire spread, etc.
LagAssist: This plugin monitors and optimizes various aspects of your server such as memory usage, CPU usage, TPS, etc. It also provides useful tools and commands for diagnosing and fixing lag issues.
NoCheatPlus: This plugin prevents players from cheating or exploiting glitches that may cause lag such as flying, speed hacks, item duplication, etc.
You can find more plugins for reducing lag on Minecraft servers here.
Upgrade Your Server RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of memory that stores data temporarily for fast access by your device.
Your server’s RAM affects how much data it can process at once and how fast it can do so. Having more RAM means having more space for your server to store and handle data such as chunks, entities, plugins, etc.
To reduce server lag caused by insufficient RAM, you should upgrade your server’s RAM capacity if possible. You can check how much RAM your server is using and how much it needs by using commands such as /lagg mem /lagg tps /gc etc.
You should also make sure that you allocate enough RAM for your server when launching it. You can do this by using flags such as -Xmx -Xms -XX:+UseG1GC etc.
You can find more information on how to upgrade and allocate RAM for your Minecraft server here.
Switch Your Jar File
A jar file is a file that contains all the code and data for running your Minecraft server. There are different types of jar files that offer different levels of performance and compatibility for your server. Some of the most common types of jar files are:
Vanilla: This is the original jar file provided by Mojang Studios. It offers basic functionality and features for running a Minecraft server.
CraftBukkit: This is a modified jar file that allows you to run plugins on your Minecraft server.
SpigotMC: This is an improved version of CraftBukkit that offers better performance and features for running a Minecraft server.
PaperMC: This is an enhanced version of SpigotMC that offers even better performance and features for running a Minecraft server.
To reduce server lag caused by outdated or poorly optimized jar files, you should switch your jar file to a more recent and efficient version if possible.
You can do this by downloading the jar file from its official website23 and replacing it with your current jar file.
You should also make sure that you update your jar file regularly to get the latest bug fixes and improvements.
How to Reduce Client Lag in Minecraft
If you are experiencing client lag in Minecraft, there are several things you can do to improve the performance and quality of your game. Here are some of the most effective ways to reduce client lag in Minecraft:
Optimize Your PC
Before you tweak your Minecraft settings, make sure your PC is running optimally and updated. To optimize your PC for gaming, you should:
Update Your OS: Make sure you are running the latest version of Windows by checking for updates in Settings > Windows Update.
Update Minecraft: Make sure you are running the latest version of Minecraft by using the Minecraft Launcher. You can also try playing on older or newer versions of the game by using the Installations tab in the launcher.
Update Your Graphics Drivers: Make sure you are running the latest drivers for your GPU by using its proprietary software or downloading them manually from its website. Drivers can improve performance and fix bugs for specific games.
Close Resource-Draining Applications: Make sure you close any unnecessary programs or processes that consume CPU or RAM while playing Minecraft. You can use Task Manager to monitor and end them.
Reduce Minecraft’s Load on Your PC
Now that your PC is running smoothly, the next step is to calibrate Minecraft’s video settings to boost your FPS and reduce lag.
You can access these settings by going to Options > Video Settings in the game menu. Here are some of the settings that you should adjust:
Graphics: This setting controls how detailed the game world looks. Setting it to Fast will disable some graphical effects such as transparent leaves and smooth lighting, which can improve performance.
Render Distance: This setting controls how far you can see in the game world. Setting it to a lower value will reduce the amount of chunks that need to be rendered by your PC, which can improve performance. However, setting it too low may affect your gameplay experience.
Smooth Lighting: This setting controls how smooth and realistic the lighting looks in the game world. Setting it to Off will disable this effect, which can improve performance.
Max Framerate: This setting controls how many frames per second your game can display. Setting it to a higher value will make your game look smoother, but it may also cause more lag if your PC cannot keep up. Setting it to a lower value will limit your FPS, but it may also reduce lag by making your PC work less hard. You can also set it to Unlimited or VSync, which will sync your FPS with your monitor’s refresh rate.
Clouds: This setting controls whether clouds are visible in the sky. Setting it to Off will disable this feature, which can improve performance.
Particles: This setting controls how many particles are visible in the game world. Particles are small effects that appear when you do certain actions such as breaking blocks, hitting mobs, etc. Setting it to Minimal will reduce the number of particles, which can improve performance.
Entity Shadows: This setting controls whether entities (such as mobs, animals, items, etc.) cast shadows on the ground. Setting it to Off will disable this feature, which can improve performance.
You can also use other settings such as Fullscreen Mode, Brightness, Biome Blend, etc. to customize your game’s appearance and quality according to your preference.
Get More Frames and Less Lag with a PC Upgrade
If none of the above methods work for you, or if you want to play Minecraft with higher graphics settings and quality, you may need to upgrade your PC’s hardware components. Some of the components that affect your game’s performance are:
CPU (Central Processing Unit): This is the brain of your PC that processes all the data and instructions for running your game. Having a fast and current-gen CPU can boost your FPS and reduce lag in resource-intensive games like Minecraft.
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): This is the component that renders all the graphics and visuals for your game. Having a powerful and dedicated GPU can boost your FPS and reduce lag in high-resolution and high-quality games like Minecraft.
RAM (Random Access Memory): This is a type of memory that stores data temporarily for fast access by your CPU and GPU. Having more RAM means having more space for your game to store and handle data such as chunks, entities, mods, etc.
To upgrade your PC’s hardware components, you should first check what specifications you currently have and what specifications you need for running Minecraft smoothly. You can use tools such as CPU-Z or Speccy to check your PC’s specifications.
You should also check what components are compatible with your PC’s motherboard and power supply before buying them.
You can use tools such as PCPartPicker or UserBenchmark to compare different components and find the best ones for your budget and needs.
How to Reduce Network Lag in Minecraft
If you are experiencing network lag in Minecraft, there are several things you can do to improve the connection and quality of your game.
Network lag is when there is a delay or disruption in the data transfer between your device and the server. This can cause your actions to be delayed, your screen to freeze or stutter, or your game to disconnect.
Network lag can be caused by various factors, such as:
Poor network quality or bandwidth between your device and the server
High ping or latency (the time it takes for data to travel between your device and the server)
Packet loss or jitter (the loss or variation of data during transmission)
Firewall or antivirus interference (the blocking or filtering of data by your security software)
To reduce network lag in Minecraft, you should try the following methods:
Optimize Your Network Settings
To optimize your network settings for Minecraft, you should:
Use a Wired Connection: If possible, use an Ethernet cable to connect your device to your router or modem. This will provide a more stable and faster connection than Wi-Fi.
Use a Wi-Fi 6-Enabled Network: If you have to use Wi-Fi, make sure you have a Wi-Fi 6-enabled router and device. Wi-Fi 6 is the latest wireless standard that offers faster speeds, lower latency, and less interference than previous standards.
Choose a Closer Server: If you are playing on a multiplayer server, make sure you choose one that is close to your physical location. This will reduce the distance that data has to travel and lower your ping and latency.
Avoid Peak Hours: If you are playing on a public server, avoid playing during peak hours when there are more players online. This will reduce the load on the server and improve its performance and stability.
Close Background Programs and Applications
To reduce network lag caused by background programs and applications, you should:
Close any unnecessary programs or processes that consume bandwidth or interfere with your connection. You can use Task Manager to monitor and end them.
Disable any downloads or updates that are running in the background. These can slow down your connection and increase your ping and latency.
Disable any firewall or antivirus software that may block or filter data for Minecraft. You can also add Minecraft as an exception or whitelist it in your security software.
Update Your Drivers and Software
To reduce network lag caused by outdated or corrupted drivers or software, you should:
Update Your Network Drivers: Make sure you are running the latest drivers for your network adapter. You can use Device Manager to check and update them. Drivers can improve performance and fix bugs for specific devices.
Update Your Router Firmware: Make sure you are running the latest firmware for your router. You can check and update it by accessing your router’s web interface. Firmware can improve performance and fix bugs for specific routers.
Update Minecraft: Make sure you are running the latest version of Minecraft by using the Minecraft Launcher. You can also try playing on older or newer versions of the game by using the Installations tab in the launcher.
Conclusion
Minecraft is a fun and creative game that can be enjoyed by millions of players around the world. However, lag can ruin your gameplay experience and make you frustrated.
By following this guide, you will be able to reduce or eliminate lag on your Minecraft server and enjoy a smooth and seamless gameplay.
We hope this guide was helpful for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you.
