CraftRank
New Server Swipe, a stock market for servers, weekly quests that pay and your own Minecraft passport. See what's new

How to fix lag when playing on a server

Find out whether your Minecraft lag comes from ping, low FPS or the server itself, and fix it with the right settings, performance mods and a better connection.

5 min read · Updated

“Lag” can mean three different problems, and each one has a different fix. The first step is to work out which one you have.

Ping, FPS and TPS

  • Ping (latency) is how long data takes to travel between you and the server, in milliseconds. High ping feels like delay: blocks you mined pop back, hits register late, you rubber-band back to where you were.
  • FPS (frames per second) is how smoothly your own computer draws the game. Low FPS feels like stutter and choppy movement, even in single player.
  • TPS (ticks per second) is how fast the server runs the game world. A healthy server runs at 20 TPS. Below that, everything slows down for everyone: mobs freeze, crops grow slowly and furnaces take longer.

How to tell which one it is

  • FPS: on Java, press F3; the FPS number is in the top left. If it drops low in busy areas, the problem is your computer.
  • Ping: press Tab to see the player list; the bars next to names show connection quality. Our guide on ping and latency explains the numbers.
  • TPS: many servers have a /tps command. If other players complain about lag at the same moment as you, the server is probably struggling, and only the owner can fix that.

Settings that help

  • Render distance is the biggest one. Lower it a few chunks; on a server you won't see further than the server's own limit anyway.
  • Simulation distance controls how far away the world keeps working around you. Lowering it reduces the load on your computer.
  • Turn down or switch off clouds, particles, entity shadows, smooth lighting and fancy graphics.
  • Close browsers, video calls and other heavy programs while playing.
  • Large resource packs and shaders cost a lot of FPS; try without them to compare.

Performance mods

On Java, client-side performance mods can raise FPS a lot. Sodium is the best known, and there are others that speed up lighting, memory use and loading. They run on a mod loader such as Fabric, and the easiest way to install them is through a launcher like the Modrinth app or Prism Launcher. Performance mods are allowed on almost every server, but check the rules if you are unsure. See how to use mods on a server.

Fixing high ping

  • Pick a server near you. Distance adds ping you can't remove. Server pages on CraftRank show the server's country.
  • Use a cable instead of Wi-Fi, or move closer to the router.
  • Pause downloads, updates and streaming on the same network.
  • Restart your router if ping is suddenly much higher than usual.

Not sure whether the server itself is having trouble? Check it with our server status checker.

We use cookies to measure how our ads perform. Privacy