If you’re an avid Minecraft fan, you’re probably no stranger to those occasional annoying times when the game lags out on you… Especially if you’re trying to play on a server that isn’t in your country. Luckily we have got you covered and have prepared a guide to optimize the game for the best possible online experience.
Reasons for Minecraft Lag
In the simplest sense, a lag shows the latency you’d experience in transmitting gaming data through the other end i.e. to the intended recipient or network. Latency depends at the rate at which data travels over the internet.
The type of internet connection you have has a major impact on the speed of your gaming data. While fiber internet may have a latency rate of 18 ms, a slow cable internet will get you 26 ms.
Besides this, traffic and application loads on your internet, as well as overloaded routers and client devices may cause lags in gaming.
Another reason that can result in gaming lags is the use of wireless networks. You’d experience more lags if you are in the habit of playing games on iPad or Xbox using Wi-Fi.
6 Tips to Reduce Lagging in Minecraft
By eliminating the causes (mentioned above), you can greatly help with lagging problems in Minecraft or any other online game. In case that does not suffice, here are some supplementary pointers to follow:
- Get the latest version of Java. At present, Minecraft runs best in Java 7.0. You will experience significant reduction in latency by updating to the latest version.
- Open up Windows task manager and under “Processes”, set Java to the highest priority.
- In the game’s settings, set the ‘Limit Frame rate’ to Max FPS (frames per second). This will make the game run smoother and reduce the control input latency to some extent.
- You can also upgrade your LightWeight Java Game Library (LWJGL) from here. LWJGL is what Minecraft uses to process graphics, sound and other inputs.
- Force Minecraft to run with less memory. The optimum memory needed in Minecraft is 350 MB. However, Java application pushes it to extract up to 1GB of your system’s resources. On systems with a low amount of memory, this sometimes causes performance issues. To run Minecraft with less memory, install Magic Launcher and use its memory settings to run in 350MB.
- Finally, and this goes without saying, check your computer for any malware or viruses. These usually take a heavy toll on game performance when running Minecraft.
Reducing Minecraft Lag with VPNs
If you’ve tried all of the above but are still experience lag when playing Minecraft, then the problem probably lies with your connection and the distance between your location and the server you are playing on. Luckily there’s a way to help with this as well. The solution lies in connecting to the Minecraft server while logged into a VPN service. Minecraft lag is a common problem for all gamers outside the US. By routing all your internet traffic via one of US VPN servers, you can improve your ping when connecting to the server in that region.
Here are a few VPN services you can subscribe to have best speeds for Minecraft:
| Rank | Provider | Starting Price | Visit | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PureVPN | $4.16/month |
![]() 2 |
IPVanish | $4.87/month |
| ![]() 3 |
ExpressVPN | $8.32/month |
| ![]() 4 |
Boxpn | $3.81/month |
| ![]() 5 |
IronSocket | $4.16/month |
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We have detailed reviews of each of these VPN providers, so check ‘em out and take your pick.
Proxies Won’t Fix Minecraft Lag
Proxy servers, or proxy services, do not work in the same way as VPN services, thought they may also have US servers with which you can route all of your internet traffic. Though proxies are effective tools to get through geo-restricted sites, using them for gaming can be a nightmare. Read our blog on Why Proxies Are Not as Effective as VPNs.
Conclusion
Minecraft lagging can result from a variety of factors ranging from the type of internet connection, Java settings and versions, through computer resources and user’s location. Alternate solutions available to tackle lagging issues in Minecraft include using a fiber optic internet connection, optimizing your computer resources, and updates and change to Java versions. VPNs can help in scenarios where you are trying to connect to distant servers, so consider that option as well… Depending on your location.
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