How to Fix Minecraft Server Lag

What Does “Lag” Actually Mean?

In Minecraft, “lag” is a word players use for many different problems. However, for a server owner, lag usually refers to TPS (Ticks Per Second). A healthy Minecraft server runs at a steady 20 TPS. This means the server calculates everything in the world 20 times every second.

When the server has too much work to do, it cannot finish those calculations in time. The TPS drops, and the game slows down. Blocks might reappear after you break them, or mobs might move in slow motion. This guide will help you find these bottlenecks and fix them using a step-by-step method.

The Three Main Performance Killers

Before fixing the lag, you must know what causes it. Most server lag comes from three areas:

Entities: This includes mobs, cows, villagers, and even dropped items on the floor. If too many entities are in one spot, the server struggles to track them all.
Chunk Loading: When players fly across the map, the server has to generate new land. This is one of the heaviest tasks a CPU can perform.
Complex Machines: Redstone clocks, hoppers, and massive automated farms can eat up your “tick time” very quickly.

Phase 1: High-Impact Fixes (Do These First)

You don’t need to be a coder to see massive gains. Start with these three steps to see an immediate boost in performance.

1. Pick the Right Server Software

The “Vanilla” software from Mojang is not optimized for multiplayer. To get better performance, you should switch to a “fork.” We recommend this order:

Paper: The most stable and popular choice for most servers.
Purpur: Built on top of Paper, it offers even more settings to help you lag-proof your world.
Pufferfish: Great for servers with many entities and complex farms.

2. Lower Your Distances

In your server.properties file, you can change how much of the world the server loads at once.

View Distance: Change this to 6 or 8. High values like 12 or 16 will slow down almost any server.
Simulation Distance: This controls how far away mobs and crops actually “tick.” Setting this to 4 or 5 is the best way to save CPU power without ruining the player experience.

3. Pre-Generate Your World

Instead of letting the server create chunks while players are exploring, create them all beforehand. Use a plugin called Chunky. By generating a 5,000-block radius while no one is online, you remove the “exploration lag” entirely.

Phase 2: Optimizing Your Hardware and Memory

Even the best software needs the right fuel. Minecraft relies mostly on single-core CPU speed. This is why Firecone uses high-frequency Ryzen processors.

Memory (RAM) Tips: Many owners think “more RAM equals less lag.” This is a myth. If you give a server 16GB of RAM when it only needs 4GB, the “Garbage Collector” (the system that cleans up memory) has to work harder. This can cause tiny stutters called “GC lag.” For a standard survival server with a few friends, 4GB to 8GB is usually the “sweet spot.”

Phase 3: Using the Right Tools

To fix lag, you have to measure it. We recommend using a plugin called Spark. It is the industry standard for finding performance leaks.

Run /spark profiler for a few minutes.
It will give you a web link showing exactly which plugin or mob is eating your CPU.
Instead of guessing, you can see the truth.

Working with the Community

At Firecone, we believe performance is a team effort. We don’t just provide the hardware; we provide the knowledge. Our Discord community is a great place to find custom “forks” of server software that are tuned for high-performance workloads.

We also maintain a public roadmap. We are always looking for new ways to improve our infrastructure. By moving your server to a platform designed for Minecraft’s unique needs, you spend less time fixing lag and more time playing the game.

Final Checklist for Success

Check TPS regularly: Use /tps or /spark tps.
Limit Mobs: Use plugins to prevent players from cramming 500 cows into a single chunk.
Keep it Clean: Use a plugin to clear ground items or limit how long they stay on the floor.
Communicate: Tell your players why you have limits on redstone or farms. Most players prefer a smooth game over a laggy, infinite farm.