Why Is My Server Lagging – Minecraft

While playing on your Minecraft server, you and other players might notice lagging or performance issues. These may include chunks taking a long time to load, blocks not breaking or placing right away, decreased frame rates, and many other problems. Troubleshooting these issues depends entirely on what type of server you host with Nitrado.
 
Whether you’re playing on Vanilla with datapacks, Spigot/Paper with plugins, or Forge/Fabric with mods, there are specific causes and fixes for lag on each type of server. Some of these can crossover, such as not enough memory being allocated – while others remain exclusive.
 
In this guide, we will cover the common causes and fixes for lag on your Minecraft server. When you’re ready to begin, review the sections below. If you ever get stuck trying to troubleshoot, contact our Support Team for extra assistance.

Universal Lag Causes & Solutions

• Resource & Memory Limits
  • Causes: Hitting allocated RAM limits, memory accumulation without restarts, or lage amounts of log and backup files (disk consumption).
  • Fixes: Upgrading RAM allocation, setting up scheduled automated server restarts in the Nitrado Web Interface, and deleting old log files or excess world backups.
• World & Entity Overload
  • Causes: Rapid player exploration in new chunks, mob overcrowding, excessive tile entities (hoppers, chests, furnaces), or advanced redstone clocks.
  • Fixes: Pre-generating world chunks, capping active mob counts, limiting tile entities per chunk, reducing server-wide simulation distance, and setting up optimization plugins or mods.

Vanilla & Plugin Servers

• Engine & Pathfinding Bottlenecks
  • Causes: Vanilla engine limits, unoptimized mob AI pathfinding, unthrottled entity tracking distances.
  • Fixes: Changing server software from Vanilla to Paper, tuning entity activation ranges, and freezing or throttling inactive mob AI.
• Config File Optimization
  • Causes: Unoptimized default values across server.properties, spigot.yml, and paper.yml.
  • Fix: Access these files via the File Browser or through Settings to lower view distance, simulation distance, enable async chunk loading/saving, and adjust mob despawn ranges.
• Plugin Diagnostics & Remediation
  • Causes: Resource-heavy plugins, synchronous database checks blocking tick loops, leaky event listeners.
  • Fixes: Running Spark or Timing profiler to pinpoint lagging plugins, removing or swapping heavy plugins, and offloading plugin tasks to async threads.

Modded Servers

• Memory & Modpack Allocation
  • Causes: Heavy modpacks, Java Garbage Collection pause spikes, memory leaks from mod interactions.
  • Fixes: Upgrading to higher RAM to prevent out-of-memory crashes, installing server-side optimization mods (e.g., FerriteCore, or ModernFix), or reducing the number of players connected at once.
• Automation, Machinery & Tile Entities
  • Causes: Infinite loops in item transport pipes, runaway automated factories, unmonitored chunk loaders, tick-heavy modded block entities.
  • Fixes: Restricting or capping chunk-loading blocks, adjusting machinery limits in individual mod configs, and clearing corrupted tile entities.
• Diagnostics & Modded Profiling
  • Causes: Unoptimized modded block handlers, tick cascades from custom dimension generation, heavy modded worldgen logic.
  • Fixes: Running profiling tools (Spark or Observable) to isolate specific lagging mod IDs, removing problematic mods, and installing performance mods (e.g., Lithium).

Helpful Resources

• How to Reduce Lag on a Minecraft Server
• Minecraft server.properties Guide
• Minecraft Server Optimization
• How to Allocate More RAM to Minecraft

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Minecraft server still lagging?

If you’ve attempted to troubleshoot and apply fixes, but the Minecraft server is still lagging, then try generating a new world. If the problem goes away after that, then the world is the confirmed issue. Restoring a backup, deleting corrupted chunks, or deleting unnecessary entities will normally resolve the issue.

However, if the lag persists – then check if other players are experiencing the same problem. If they aren’t, then that suggests your game is lagging. If they are, then it points to mods, plugins, or unoptimized config files being the issue.

Is my Minecraft client (game) lagging?

You can confirm this by checking if other players are lagging or by testing the modpack/mods in singleplayer. If confirmed, then we strongly recommend allocating more memory to your launcher/profile, installing client-side optimization mods, and closing any unnecessary applications on your computer to free up space.

How do I increase performance on my Minecraft server?

The best way to increase performance depends on what type of Minecraft server you want. For those running on Vanilla, we suggest switching to Spigot or Paper. This will optimize your in-game experience and give you more config files to tweak for optimization. For those running a modded server, try installing optimization mods or edit existing config files related to entities or chunk loading.
 
If you still have issues or aren’t too happy with the performance of your server, then contacting our support team is recommended. Our agents will help you determine the lag and provide information to help you. Keep in mind that we normally do not assist with client-sided lag.