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How to Increase FPS in Minecraft: Complete Guide to Fix Low FPS (2025)

Struggling with low FPS in Minecraft? Learn why your FPS is dropping and how to increase it with settings optimizations, performance mods, JVM arguments, and hardware tips. Boost your frame rate and eliminate lag.

Milo G.January 4, 20265 min read
How to Increase FPS in Minecraft: Complete Guide to Fix Low FPS (2025)

Struggling with low FPS in Minecraft can turn your fun gameplay into lag and stutters. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to boost Minecraft FPS fast — with settings adjustments, performance mods, JVM tweaks, and hardware tips. This guide works for Vanilla, Fabric, Forge, and heavy modpacks — choose the sections relevant to your setup.

Quick FPS Boost Summary

  • Lower render distance (8-12 chunks for most systems)
  • Disable V Sync and limit FPS to 60-144
  • Use performance mods (OptiFine, Sodium, Iris)
  • Allocate 4-8 GB RAM (not more—over-allocation hurts FPS)
  • Update graphics drivers and Java

Table of Contents

Why Is My FPS So Low in Minecraft?

Before diving into fixes, understanding the root causes helps you target the right solutions. Minecraft is more CPU-intensive than GPU-intensive, which is different from most modern games. Here are the most common reasons for low FPS:

1. High Render Distance

Render distance is the biggest FPS killer in Minecraft. Every chunk within your render distance needs to be loaded, rendered, and updated. Increasing render distance from 12 to 32 chunks can reduce FPS by 50-70%, especially on lower-end systems.

Impact: Render distance has an exponential performance cost. 16 chunks loads 256 chunks, 32 chunks loads 1,024 chunks—four times more processing.

Minecraft render distance FPS impact chart - Visual comparison of render distance settings showing visible chunks and FPS impact

2. Graphics Settings Too High

Fancy graphics, smooth lighting, fancy leaves, and particles all consume GPU resources. While Minecraft isn't as GPU-bound as other games, these settings still impact frame rate, especially on integrated graphics.

  • Smooth Lighting: "Maximum" uses more CPU/GPU than "Minimum"
  • Particles: "All" spawns particles for every block break, explosion, and effect
  • Graphics: "Fancy" renders more detailed blocks and transparency
  • Entity Shadows: Adds shadow rendering for all mobs and players
  • Biome Blend: Higher values blend biome colors but cost performance

3. Insufficient RAM Allocation

Too little RAM causes stuttering as the game swaps data in and out of memory. However, over-allocating RAM (more than 8-10 GB for vanilla) can also hurt FPS because Java's garbage collector takes longer to clean up larger memory pools.

Too Little RAM

  • Frequent stuttering
  • Chunk loading delays
  • Out of memory errors
  • Game freezes

Too Much RAM

  • Longer garbage collection pauses
  • FPS drops during GC
  • Wasted system resources
  • Reduced available RAM for OS

4. Outdated Java or Graphics Drivers

Minecraft runs on Java, and using an outdated Java version can miss performance improvements. Similarly, outdated graphics drivers can cause significant FPS drops, especially on newer GPUs.

  • Java: Use Java 17 or Java 21 (LTS versions). Java 8 is outdated and slower.
  • Graphics Drivers: Update NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers from their official websites.
  • Java Architecture: Use 64-bit Java, not 32-bit, to access more than 4 GB RAM.

5. Too Many Entities or Chunks

Areas with hundreds of mobs, item frames, armor stands, or other entities tank FPS. Similarly, exploring new terrain loads many chunks, which temporarily reduces FPS until chunks are fully generated.

6. Modded Minecraft Overhead

Modded Minecraft (especially large modpacks) adds significant overhead. More mods mean more entities, block updates, rendering, and processing. Modded servers often require performance mods to maintain playable FPS.

FPS comparison chart showing vanilla Minecraft vs light modpack vs heavy modpack performance

How to Increase FPS in Minecraft: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Optimize Video Settings for Best Minecraft FPS

Start with in-game video settings—they provide the biggest FPS gains with minimal effort.

Recommended Video Settings for Maximum FPS

Render Distance

8-12 chunks for most systems. Lower for integrated graphics, higher for powerful GPUs.

Graphics

Fast instead of Fancy. Minimal visual difference, significant FPS gain.

Smooth Lighting

Minimum or Off. Maximum smooth lighting is expensive.

Particles

Minimal or Reduced. Particles are cosmetic but costly.

VSync

Off. Limits FPS to monitor refresh rate, can cause input lag.

Max FPS

Unlimited or 60-144 (match your monitor). Prevents unnecessary frame limiting.

Entity Shadows

Off. Adds shadows for all entities, reduces FPS.

Biome Blend

3x3 or lower. Higher values are expensive for minimal visual benefit.

Distortion Effects

Off. Portal and nether effects reduce FPS.

FOV Effects

Off. Speed and sprint FOV changes can cause motion sickness and slight performance hit.

Best Minecraft settings for FPS - Screenshot of Minecraft video settings menu with optimized settings highlighted

Step 2: Performance Mods That Increase Minecraft FPS

Mods like OptiFine, Sodium, and Iris are proven to boost your FPS — often doubling performance on low‑end systems while keeping visuals smooth. These mods optimize rendering, chunk loading, and game logic without changing visual quality.

For Vanilla & OptiFine Users

  • OptiFine: The classic FPS booster. Adds zoom, shader support, and extensive performance options. Download from OptiFine downloads page.
  • Expected FPS Gain: 20-50% improvement on most systems.

For Fabric Modded (Best Performance)

  • Sodium: Modern rendering optimization (download on Modrinth) - often 2-3x FPS boost
  • Iris: Shader support with Sodium compatibility (download on Modrinth)
  • Lithium: Server-side performance (reduces lag) - see our modded server RAM guide for more performance tips
  • FerriteCore: Reduces memory usage
  • Expected FPS Gain: 50-200% improvement, especially on lower-end systems.

For Forge Modded

  • Rubidium: Sodium port for Forge
  • Oculus: Iris shaders for Forge
  • FerriteCore: Memory optimization
  • Expected FPS Gain: 40-150% improvement.

Other Performance Mods

  • Entity Culling: Only renders visible entities
  • Lazy DFU: Faster startup and world loading
  • Starlight: Faster lighting engine (Fabric/Forge)
  • C2ME: Faster chunk generation (Fabric)

Step 3: Memory & Java Performance: JVM Arguments & RAM Allocation

Proper memory management is crucial for Minecraft FPS. Both RAM allocation and JVM arguments work together to optimize performance. Too little RAM causes stuttering, but too much RAM can actually hurt FPS because Java's garbage collector takes longer to clean up larger memory pools.

Recommended RAM Allocation by Setup

Vanilla Minecraft

2-4 GB is usually sufficient. More than 4 GB rarely helps and can hurt performance.

Light Modpack (50-100 mods)

4-6 GB. Start with 4 GB and increase if you see "out of memory" errors.

Medium Modpack (100-200 mods)

6-8 GB. Most modpacks work well with 6-8 GB.

Heavy Modpack (200+ mods)

8-12 GB. Very large modpacks may need up to 12 GB, but rarely more.

⚠️ Important: Allocating more than 12 GB for Minecraft is almost never beneficial. Java's garbage collector scans all allocated memory, so more RAM = longer GC pauses = FPS drops. For server RAM requirements, see our modded server RAM guide.

Easy JVM Setup (Copy & Paste)

Recommended for most players: This simple setup provides good performance without complexity.

-Xmx4G -Xms4G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch

Adjust RAM: Change -Xmx4G -Xms4G to match your allocated RAM (e.g., -Xmx8G -Xms8G for 8 GB). See RAM recommendations above.

Advanced JVM Arguments (Pro Tweaks Only If You Understand JVM)

For experienced users who want maximum performance tuning:

-Xmx4G -Xms4G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:G1NewSizePercent=30 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=40 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=8M -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 -XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 -XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 -XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 -XX:SurvivorRatio=32 -XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem -XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1
Key Arguments Explained
  • -Xmx/-Xms: RAM allocation
  • -XX:+UseG1GC: G1 garbage collector
  • -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis: Target GC pause time
  • -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch: Pre-allocate memory
How to Add JVM Arguments
  • Official Launcher: Installations → Edit → More Options → JVM Arguments
  • CurseForge/Overwolf: Settings → Minecraft → Java Arguments
  • MultiMC/Prism: Instance Settings → Settings → Java → JVM Arguments

Step 4: Update Java & Graphics Drivers to Fix Minecraft FPS Drops

Updating to Java 17/21 (64-bit) and the latest GPU drivers can improve FPS by up to 30%, especially on newer hardware. Outdated software is a common cause of performance issues.

Update Java

Update Graphics Drivers

  • NVIDIA: Download from NVIDIA Drivers or use GeForce Experience
  • AMD: Download from AMD Support or use AMD Software
  • Intel: Download from Intel Downloads
  • Expected Gain: 10-30% FPS improvement, especially on newer GPUs or after major driver updates.
Low vs high FPS gameplay screenshot - FPS comparison showing performance improvement after updating graphics drivers

Advanced FPS Optimization Tips: How to Make Minecraft Run Smoother

Close Background Applications

Background applications consume CPU, RAM, and GPU resources. Close unnecessary programs, especially:

  • Web browsers with many tabs (Chrome/Firefox use significant RAM)
  • Discord overlay (can reduce FPS by 5-15%)
  • OBS/streaming software (when not streaming)
  • Antivirus real-time scanning (add Minecraft folder to exclusions)
  • Unnecessary startup programs

Use Fullscreen Mode

Fullscreen mode (F11) typically provides better FPS than windowed or borderless windowed mode because it gives Minecraft exclusive GPU access and reduces desktop compositor overhead.

Disable Windows Game Mode (If It Causes Issues)

Windows Game Mode can help or hurt performance depending on your system. If you're experiencing stuttering, try disabling it:

  • Windows Settings → Gaming → Game Mode → Off
  • Test FPS with it on and off to see which works better for your system

Reduce Entity Count

Areas with many mobs, item frames, armor stands, or other entities tank FPS. If you're experiencing low FPS in specific areas:

  • Clear out mob farms that aren't needed
  • Reduce the number of item frames and armor stands in builds
  • Use commands like /kill @e[type=item] to remove dropped items
  • Increase entity cramming gamerule to auto-kill excess mobs: /gamerule maxEntityCramming 24
Graph showing FPS decrease as entity count increases (0 entities, 50 entities, 100 entities, 200+ entities)

Use Resource Packs Wisely

High-resolution resource packs (128x, 256x, 512x) require more VRAM and can reduce FPS. Lower resolution packs (16x, 32x, 64x) have minimal performance impact.

  • 16x-32x: Minimal FPS impact, good for most systems
  • 64x: Small FPS impact, usually fine on mid-range GPUs
  • 128x+: Significant FPS impact, requires powerful GPU
  • 512x+: Major FPS drop, only for high-end systems

Shader Performance Tips

Shaders dramatically reduce FPS but look amazing. If you want shaders with better performance:

  • Use lightweight shaders: Complementary Reimagined, Sildur's Vibrant Lite, or Vanilla Plus
  • Lower shader quality: Most shader packs have quality presets (Low, Medium, High)
  • Disable expensive effects: Volumetric lighting, reflections, and god rays are expensive
  • Use Iris Shaders: More performant than OptiFine shaders (Fabric only)
Side-by-side comparison showing vanilla, lightweight shader, and high-end shader with FPS for each

Hardware Upgrades for Better FPS: Does Minecraft Use CPU or GPU More?

If software optimizations aren't enough, hardware upgrades can help. However, Minecraft is CPU-bound, so prioritize CPU over GPU.

CPU Upgrades (Highest Impact)

Minecraft benefits from single-core performance and high clock speeds. Multi-core CPUs help but aren't as important.

  • Best CPUs: Intel Core i5/i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 5/7/9
  • Look for: High single-core performance, 4+ cores
  • Expected Gain: 30-100% FPS improvement on older CPUs

GPU Upgrades (Moderate Impact)

GPU matters less than CPU for vanilla Minecraft, but becomes more important with shaders, high render distance, and resource packs.

  • For Vanilla: Any modern GPU (GTX 1050 Ti or better)
  • For Shaders: RTX 3060 or better for high-end shaders
  • Expected Gain: 10-50% with shaders, minimal for vanilla

RAM Upgrades (Low Impact for FPS)

More RAM doesn't directly increase FPS, but insufficient RAM causes stuttering. 8-16 GB system RAM is sufficient.

  • Minimum: 8 GB system RAM
  • Recommended: 16 GB system RAM
  • Expected Gain: Prevents stuttering, minimal FPS gain if you already have enough

SSD Upgrades (Loading Speed)

SSDs don't improve FPS, but they significantly reduce world loading times and chunk generation lag.

  • Benefit: Faster world loading, less stuttering when exploring
  • Recommended: NVMe SSD for best performance
  • Expected Gain: No FPS improvement, but smoother exploration

Common FPS Issues and Solutions: Why Does Minecraft Lag Even With Good Hardware?

FPS Drops When Looking at Certain Directions

This usually indicates too many loaded chunks or entities in that direction. Solutions:

  • Lower render distance
  • Check for large mob farms or entity-heavy builds in that direction
  • Use performance mods like Entity Culling

FPS Drops During Combat

Particles and entity updates during combat can reduce FPS. Solutions:

  • Set particles to "Minimal" or "Reduced"
  • Lower entity rendering distance
  • Disable entity shadows

FPS Drops When Exploring New Terrain

Chunk generation is CPU-intensive. This is normal but can be minimized:

  • Lower render distance when exploring
  • Use performance mods like C2ME (Fabric) or Chunk Pregen (Forge)
  • Pre-generate chunks on a server if possible

Sudden FPS Drops (Stuttering)

Random stuttering is often caused by garbage collection or insufficient RAM:

  • Optimize JVM arguments (use G1GC)
  • Ensure proper RAM allocation (not too much, not too little)
  • Close background applications
  • Check for Windows updates or antivirus scans running

Low FPS on High-End Hardware

If you have good hardware but low FPS, check:

  • Ensure Minecraft is using your dedicated GPU (not integrated graphics)
  • Update graphics drivers
  • Check if you've over-allocated RAM (reduce to 4-8 GB)
  • Verify Java version (use Java 17 or 21, 64-bit)
  • Disable V Sync and set max FPS to unlimited

Frequently Asked Questions About Minecraft FPS

Does OptiFine Really Improve Minecraft FPS?

Yes, OptiFine typically improves FPS by 20-50% on most systems. It optimizes rendering, adds chunk loading improvements, and provides extensive graphics settings. However, for Fabric users, Sodium offers better performance (often 2-3x FPS boost) and is more actively maintained.

Should I Allocate More Than 8GB of RAM?

Generally, no. For vanilla Minecraft, 2-4 GB is usually sufficient. For modded, 4-8 GB works well for most modpacks, and only very heavy modpacks (200+ mods) may need 8-12 GB. Allocating more than 12 GB almost never helps and can hurt performance because Java's garbage collector takes longer to clean larger memory pools, causing FPS drops.

Does Minecraft Use CPU or GPU More?

Minecraft is primarily CPU-bound, especially for vanilla gameplay. The CPU handles chunk generation, entity AI, block updates, and game logic. The GPU becomes more important with shaders, high render distances, and high-resolution resource packs. For best FPS, prioritize CPU upgrades (single-core performance matters most), then GPU if you use shaders.

Why Does FPS Drop in Combat or Caves?

FPS drops during combat are usually caused by particles from hits, explosions, and potion effects. Set particles to "Minimal" to reduce this. In caves, FPS drops can occur due to many torch entities, mob spawning, or tight spaces with many blocks. Lowering entity shadows and reducing render distance when exploring can help.

Are Shaders Always Bad for Performance?

Shaders significantly reduce FPS (often by 50-70%), but you can minimize the impact. Use lightweight shader packs (Complementary Reimagined, Sildur's Vibrant Lite), lower shader quality settings, disable expensive effects (volumetric lighting, reflections), and use Iris Shaders (more performant than OptiFine shaders for Fabric users).

Does Fullscreen Improve FPS?

Yes, fullscreen mode (F11) typically provides better FPS than windowed or borderless windowed mode. Fullscreen gives Minecraft exclusive GPU access and reduces desktop compositor overhead, which can improve FPS by 5-15% depending on your system.

How Can I Increase Minecraft FPS Without Mods?

You can boost FPS significantly without mods by: lowering render distance to 8-12 chunks, setting graphics to "Fast", disabling V Sync, setting smooth lighting to "Minimum", reducing particles, disabling entity shadows, updating Java and graphics drivers, optimizing JVM arguments, and closing background applications. These changes alone can improve FPS by 30-50%.

What Are the Best Minecraft Settings for Low-End PCs?

For low-end PCs: render distance 6-8 chunks, graphics "Fast", smooth lighting "Minimum", particles "Minimal", entity shadows off, biome blend 1x1, V Sync off, max FPS unlimited, and consider using performance mods like Sodium (Fabric) or OptiFine (vanilla). These settings can make Minecraft playable on systems with integrated graphics or older hardware.

Quick Reference: FPS Optimization Summary Table

Optimization TypeDifficultyExpected FPS Boost
Lower Render DistanceEasy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (50-70%)
Install Sodium/OptiFineMedium⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (50-200%)
Optimize Video SettingsEasy⭐⭐⭐⭐ (30-50%)
Update Drivers & JavaEasy⭐⭐⭐ (10-30%)
JVM TuningAdvanced⭐⭐ (5-15%)
Hardware Upgrade (CPU)Hard⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (30-100%)

Quick Checklist

Must-Do (Biggest Impact)

  • Lower render distance (8-12 chunks)
  • Set graphics to "Fast"
  • Disable V Sync
  • Install performance mods
  • Allocate proper RAM (4-8 GB)
  • Update Java & drivers

Recommended (Good Impact)

  • Set smooth lighting to "Minimum"
  • Set particles to "Minimal"
  • Disable entity shadows
  • Lower biome blend
  • Use optimized JVM arguments
  • Close background apps
  • Use fullscreen mode

Advanced (Moderate Impact)

  • Additional performance mods
  • Reduce entity count
  • Lower resolution resource packs
  • Pre-generate chunks
  • Consider CPU upgrade

Test each step incrementally to find what works best for your system. Not every tip will benefit every setup — start from settings → mods → JVM → hardware. Most players see the biggest FPS improvements from lowering render distance, using performance mods, and optimizing video settings. If you're still experiencing low FPS after trying these optimizations, check if your hardware meets Minecraft's requirements or consider upgrading your CPU (the most impactful hardware upgrade for Minecraft).

Need Help with Server Performance?

While client FPS is important, server performance (TPS) also affects your experience. Check our guides on modded server RAM requirements and CPU vs RAM for servers.

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