How to Fix Tick Rate Issues (1.20.5+)
/tick changes how fast the whole server runs, and the change isn't saved. How to check the rate, unfreeze the game and see why a high rate lags.
Quick Fix
Run /tick query to see the status and target rate, then /tick rate 20 and /tick unfreeze to go back to normal. Restarting the server resets both as well.
Error Message
The game is running, but can't keep up with the target tick rateHow to Fix
Run /tick query. It shows the status, the target rate and how long ticks take, with P50, P95 and P99 times.
Run /tick rate 20 to return to the default of 20 ticks per second.
Run /tick unfreeze when the status says The game is frozen, or /tick sprint stop to end a sprint early.
Restart the server if nobody can run commands. The tick rate and frozen state aren't stored with the world, so the server always starts at 20 ticks per second, unfrozen.
/tick needs operator level 3 and can't be run from a command block, so use the server console or an operator with that level.
Since 1.21.11 a moving world border follows the game's ticks, so a different tick rate also changes how fast it moves.
Common Causes
- Someone ran /tick rate with a value other than 20. The rate can be set from 1 to 10000 ticks per second and applies to the whole server.
- The game is frozen with /tick freeze. Everything except players, and whatever a player is riding, stops until someone runs /tick unfreeze.
- The target rate is higher than the server can manage. /tick query then says The game is running, but can't keep up with the target tick rate.
- A /tick sprint is running. The game runs as fast as it can until the sprint ends, then returns to its previous state and reports how fast it went.
Diagnostic Steps
- Run /tick query.
- Run /tick unfreeze or /tick sprint stop if needed.
- Run /tick rate 20.
- Run /tick query again and check for The game is running normally.
FAQ
What is the normal tick rate?
20 ticks per second, so one tick every 50 milliseconds. /tick rate accepts anything from 1 to 10000.
Is the tick rate saved with the world?
No. It only exists while the server runs, so a restart sets it back to 20 and unfreezes the game.
Does a higher tick rate make players faster?
No. Players aren't affected by rates above 20, but the rest of the game, such as mobs and crops, speeds up.
