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May 13, 2026

Minecraft Server TPS: What It Is and How to Improve It

TPS stands for Ticks Per Second and is the key metric for Minecraft server performance. Learn what causes low TPS and how to fix it.


What Is TPS?

TPS stands for Ticks Per Second. Minecraft runs at 20 TPS by design — this means the game processes 20 game updates every second. If your TPS drops below 20, the game world slows down, mobs behave erratically, and players experience lag.

How to Check TPS

Use the command /tps on Paper and Spigot servers. The output shows 1-minute, 5-minute, and 15-minute TPS averages. Anything above 19.5 is healthy.

Common Causes of Low TPS

  • Too many entities (farms, mob breeders)
  • Redstone contraptions running constantly
  • Large view distance with many players
  • Poorly optimised plugins
  • Insufficient RAM or CPU power

How to Fix Low TPS

Use a plugin like Spark to profile your server. It tells you exactly which chunks, entities, or plugins are causing the problem. Limit mob farms, reduce view distance, and remove or replace laggy plugins.

CraftNodes nodes use Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPUs which provide exceptional single-core performance — the metric that matters most for Minecraft TPS. Choosing the right hardware host is often the most effective fix.


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