If your server feels laggy, the issue is almost always CPU bottlenecks, entity overload, or poor configuration.

This guide focuses on real optimizations used in production servers.

What Causes Lag?

• Too many entities (mobs, items)
• High view distance
• Unoptimized plugins
• Slow disk/database access

Lag = server can't maintain 50ms per tick.

Step 1: Use Paper or Purpur

Vanilla is not optimized. Paper reduces lag significantly.

Step 2: Optimize server.properties

view-distance=6
simulation-distance=4
max-tick-time=60000

Reducing view distance alone can improve TPS by 30%+.

Step 3: Optimize paper.yml

• Disable unnecessary AI
• Reduce mob spawn limits
• Limit hopper transfers

Hoppers are a common hidden lag source.

Step 4: Monitor with Spark

Run:

/spark tps

Look for:

• High entity tick time
• Plugin spikes

Step 5: Fix Entities

• Limit farms
• Use ClearLag carefully
• Reduce mob caps

Entities are the #1 cause of lag on survival servers.

Hardware Matters

Minecraft is single-threaded. CPU speed matters more than core count.

Target Metrics

• TPS: 19.5–20
• Tick time: < 50ms
• No major spikes