How Much Bandwidth Does a Minecraft Server Use?

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Written By Allan Brooks

Minecraft enthusiast sharing insights on servers, hosts, and crafting epic gaming experiences.

The amount of bandwidth used by a Minecraft server depends on a number of factors, including the number of players, the server’s setup, and game activity. Each user on a standard Minecraft server consumes 1 to 5 Mbps of bandwidth. 

A Minecraft server uses around 1-5 Mbps (megabits per second) of bandwidth per player on average.

Explore the world of Minecraft servers and their bandwidth needs. The demand varies with server size, players, and mods. Let’s go through the blog and learn about the bandwidth requirements.

What Are the Minecraft Server Requirements for Bandwidth and Performance?

The quantity of data that may be sent between the server and the players is the bandwidth requirement for a Minecraft server. This comprises information about the globe as well as information about the player’s position, health, and inventory. The amount of data being transferred and the number of players will both raise the bandwidth consumption.

  • Every connected participant receives 100 Mbps of bandwidth
  • Ten players linked require 2 GB of RAM
  • 10 linked gamers per CPU core

The processing power required to operate a Minecraft server is the performance requirement for the server. This covers handling plugins, processing player actions, and creating the world. The complexity of the world, the number of plugins being utilized, and the player count all have an impact on the performance need.

How Does Internet Connection Affect Minecraft Server Bandwidth Usage?

The number of Internet-based processes you employ on your computer has an immediate impact on how much bandwidth you need. The speed of each activity may decrease as the number of concurrent Internet operations rises. This occurs because your downstream usage’s data needs are beginning to exceed the physically feasible bandwidth. 

You can serialize the jobs rather than execute them simultaneously to boost the apparent speed and enable each process to use as much bandwidth as it requires.

What Upload and Download Speeds Are Recommended for Hosting a Minecraft Server?

Suggested download and upload speeds for various server sizes:

  • 1 Mbps upload and 2 Mbps download for 1 to 10 players
  • 2 Mbps upload and 4 Mbps download for 10 to 20 players
  • 20 to 50 players: 10 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload
  • 10 Mbps upload and 20 Mbps download for 50 to 100 players
  • 20 Mbps upload and 40 Mbps download for 100+ players

The geographic location of your server should also be taken into account. You will need a faster upload speed to make up for the latency if your server is far from your players.

How Much Bandwidth Does a Minecraft Server Use Per Hour and Per Player?

The normal amount of data you should prepare to consume when playing the game is between 80 and 200 MB every hour, depending on the server you choose. Servers with fewer players generally use less bandwidth, whereas larger, busier servers need more data.

The amount of data used by each player during an hour of playtime in Minecraft Realms ranges between 10 and 20 MB. It’s crucial to note that these figures are approximations and may change based on the number of players online and their game-playing habits. 

What Factors Affect the Bandwidth Usage of a Minecraft Server?

A Minecraft server’s bandwidth consumption is influenced by several variables, including player count, server configuration, and game activity. A typical Minecraft server uses 1 to 5 Mbps (Megabits per second) of bandwidth for each user. 

Depending on the number of players connected at once and how actively they are playing, this figure may change. The amount of bandwidth used, for instance, may drastically rise if participants are taking part in intensive combat or exploring vast areas.

How Do Modpacks and Plugins Influence Bandwidth Consumption?

Numerous factors can affect how much bandwidth is used by modpacks and plugins. Here are a few of the most typical approaches:

  1. Data Transmission And Reception: 

Between the server and the clients, mods and plugins frequently need to send and receive data. Player positions, block updates, and chat messages are some examples of the data that may be included. The amount of bandwidth required will increase as more data is sent and received.

  1. Loading Textures And Models: 

Mods and plugins frequently update the game’s models and textures. The clients must download these graphics and models when they initially connect to the server. More bandwidth will be utilised the bigger the textures and models are.

  1. Creating New World Data:

A few modifications and plugins can create new world data. New biomes, buildings, and entities could all be part of this data. The requirement for greater world data means that more bandwidth will be required.

  1. Sound And Video Streaming:

Some add-ons and plugins enable clients to broadcast audio and video. Music, sound effects, and video chat are a few examples of this. More streaming of audio and video will need more bandwidth.

Depending on the modpack or plugin in issue, different modules and plugins will have different effects on bandwidth usage. But generally speaking, modpacks and plugins that significantly increase the number of new features or content will tend to consume more bandwidth than modpacks and plugins that are more minimalist.

How Does View Distance Impact Data Usage on a Minecraft Server?

The amount of world data that the server will communicate to the client is known as the server view distance. This will be calculated as a radius in sections, one in each direction. We may use the default view distance of 10 and double it to get the diameter of the view distance as an example of how many pieces are loaded.

The view distance and simulation distance parameters can force a restriction on how much world data the server provides to every computer or player connected to a Minecraft server, even though users can customize the render distance on their client.

How Can I Reduce the Bandwidth Usage of My Minecraft Server?

  1. Don’t Overuse Plugins And Mods:

The features that mods and plugins can offer to a Minecraft server are numerous, but they can also use up more bandwidth. To conserve bandwidth, you can turn off any installed plugins and mods that you are not currently using.

  1. Cut Back On The View Distance:

Players can see a certain distance away depending on the view distance. More bandwidth will be needed if the view distance is greater. You can decrease the view distance to conserve bandwidth if you are not playing on a vast map.

  1. Keep The World As Simple As You Can:

Data transmission and reception will need more bandwidth as the globe becomes more complicated. Keep the environment as simple as you can to conserve bandwidth if you are not creating many substantial structures or new terrain.

  1. Leverage Compression:

Compression can be used by Minecraft servers to lessen the amount of data that needs to be sent. Gzip compression can be enabled in the server.properties file to achieve this.

  1. Keep Track Of Bandwidth Usage:

Regularly checking your server’s bandwidth utilization is a smart idea. You can use this to pinpoint any areas where you can improve.

What Optimization Techniques Can Improve Minecraft Server Performance?

To enhance the speed of a Minecraft server, a variety of optimization approaches can be applied. Here are a few of the most successful:

  • Select The Appropriate Server Application

Various server software alternatives are available, some of which are better optimized than others. Paper, Pufferfish, and Purpur are a few of the well-liked choices.

  • Set The Server Up Appropriately

Performance may be impacted by several server parameters. The amount of RAM allotted to the server, the number of threads, and the garbage collection settings are a few crucial factors that must be adjusted.

  • Don’t Misuse Plugins

The performance of a Minecraft server might be slowed down by plugins, but they can also offer many functionalities. Plugins should be used carefully, and any that are not necessary should be turned off.

  • World Optimization 

Performance can be significantly impacted by the size and complexity of the world. The world may need to be optimized by deleting superfluous entities and blocks if you are managing a huge server.

  • Employ a CDN

By storing static materials, including graphics and music, closer to the gamers, a CDN (Content Delivery Network) can aid in performance improvement.

  • Observe The Server

The performance of the server must be closely watched so that any issues may be found quickly. You can keep an eye on the performance of your server using a variety of tools.

How Can I Troubleshoot Common Minecraft Server Problems?

Software, which refers to the plugins, modifications, or worlds on your server, is usually always to blame for Minecraft server issues. This article demonstrates how to solve any problem and identify its root cause each time.

  1. The first thing to do when something goes wrong is to check your console for any problems. Your console’s errors will be able to explain what’s wrong.
  1. For complete logs of the past and present, you can also consult your error logs, which can be found in the /logs folder in your server’s directory.
  1. If your server has crashed, check your console to see if any crash reports have been issued; if they have, look at the most recent crash report as this will be able to explain exactly what went wrong.
  1. Start your server again after temporarily renaming your plugins directory. If the issue is fixed as a result of doing this, you will know a plugin is to blame. This will load your server without any plugins.
  1. Repetition of step 4 for your mods directory is necessary if your server is running mods.
  1. Restart your server after stopping it, renaming all of your world files temporarily. If doing so fixes the problem, you’ll know that the problem is being caused by your world data.

What Should I Consider When Comparing Minecraft Server Hosts?

If you want to play Minecraft with friends, you’ll need a server because it lets players connect to a single computer that stores the game’s files for everyone to utilize. You must consider the following elements to determine which ones apply to your scenario before selecting a Minecraft server.

  1. Minecraft’s Versions

Java and Bedrock are the two main iterations of Minecraft. Additionally, since the pricing of the various Minecraft Servers can vary based on whatever version you want to run, you should pick a suitable host.

  1. Pricing Options

Because Minecraft requires basic mechanics if you want to play with peers, cost is the key consideration when selecting a Minecraft server hosting company.

  1. Effortless Upgrade

For 1-to-5 players, the vanilla version of Minecraft, 1.14, requires as little as 1.5GB of RAM. The bare minimum amount of RAM for a Minecraft server is this, but if you want to run plugins or mods or play with additional players, you’ll need more RAM to make room for it.

  1. Count Of Participants

It can be difficult to decide how many players to have on your Minecraft server, so attempt to figure it out. However, since the server can accommodate more users with greater RAM, a best guess would be 250MB of RAM per user.

  1. 100% Uptime Promise

A 100% uptime guarantee indicates that a server is being monitored round-the-clock. Considering any potential weak areas and the expense of upkeep, this is the key factor that leads many players to choose Minecraft server hosting over running it themselves.

  1. Geographical Proximity to the Players

The geographic area of your players must be taken into consideration when choosing a Minecraft server hosting because the location of your server affects performance and response time.

  1. 24/7 Support

Customer support is available around the clock due to the importance of providing prompt service to clients for a business to succeed.

How Can I Ensure My Minecraft Server Host Provides Adequate Bandwidth and Performance?

There are numerous techniques to guarantee sufficient bandwidth and performance for hosting Minecraft servers. 

  • Make sure your hosting setup can accommodate the number of gamers and mods/plugins you intend to employ.
  • As each plugin and mod puts a demand on your server, you might want to reduce the quantity you utilize. 
  • choose the appropriate server software. The most well-known server software, called Paper, tries to boost performance while addressing gameplay and mechanics issues. 
  • RAM on the server should be increased. Finally, adhere to a server optimization guide.

What Are the Best Practices for Reducing Lag and Improving TPS (Ticks Per Second)?

These are the most common solutions for Minecraft lag issues: 

  1. Adjust The Video Settings

The RAM and CPU in your system will suffer if you play video games at high settings. As a result, playing online games may cause you to encounter significant lag. The ideal settings are as follows:

  • Run Minecraft 
  • Choose Options to select Video Settings
  • Make the following crucial adjustments
Graphics fast
VSyncoff
Clouds off
FPSLower max framerate
bobbingoff
3D ANaglyphoff
Smooth lighting off
  1. Set Java as a Priority

The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) may slow you down when playing Minecraft because the game is written in Java. Making Java a priority might help with latency problems. This is how it happens:

  • To search for Task Manager, click Windows
  • Go to Details by clicking Task Manager
  • Using the right mouse button, search for Java, then select High Priority
  1. Add RAM

Online games are almost universally CPU-intensive and RAM-intensive. Your gaming experience can suffer greatly from having insufficient RAM. Although the minimum RAM requirements for Minecraft state that 4GB of RAM is sufficient, this won’t provide you with the best possible Minecraft experience. A minimum of 8GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2666 MHz is required.

  1. Disc Cleanup/Terminate Unnecessary Programs

An excessive amount of CPU or GPU use could significantly slow down your gaming pace and cause you to lag a lot. Your CPU power may be being used by several background applications and programs. Here’s a solution to this problem:

  • Open windows and search for task manager 
  • Click End Task after selecting a specific program

Here is the procedure to clean your disc:

  • Open your windows to run the cleanup 
  • Decide which fields you want to remove
  • Click Clean up system files > OK on the bottom left
  1. Upgrading Your Internet Connection

Your ability to play games effectively depends on having a reliable and quick internet connection. A poor internet connection (high ping) might offer your adversary a competitive advantage over you, making it a matter of life and death.

  1. Os And Gpu Driver Updates

Updates are becoming a necessary component of modern technology. Updates with bug fixes and performance enhancements for your apps and devices are released periodically for everything from electric automobiles to household appliances.

  1. Apply a VPN

Your online gaming experience can be significantly enhanced by using a VPN. With the use of a gaming VPN, you can select any location, so you could be physically in Sydney but theoretically present in New York.

  1. TPS

TPS, or ticks per second, is a type of server-side lag that depends on the speed and power of the server. TPS can be improved by reducing the server’s load.

This can be accomplished in several ways, including by boosting the server’s hardware by expanding its RAM or by including a potent CPU. Once you’ve done that, you can raise Minecraft’s RAM allotment to give the game extra resources for a better gameplay experience.

How Can I Improve Ping and Connection Quality on My Minecraft Server?

Your ping indicates how long it takes for data to travel from your computer to the Minecraft game server, which might cause sluggish or unresponsive gaming. An acceptable ping for Minecraft and online games, in general, should be lower than 70; anything greater than this will cause observable delays and might affect game performance and connection quality. Let’s fix this:

Step 1 – Update The Network Drivers

The most crucial action you can do to decrease Minecraft’s ping is to update your network drivers. Your computer can communicate with the internet and other devices connected to the same network thanks to network drivers.

Step 2 – Enhance Network Configurations

A consistent ping and a seamless online gaming experience are significantly influenced by network settings. You can accomplish this by switching the DNS server that Minecraft uses and by turning off any pointless network power-saving features.

Step 3 – Utilise Ethernet Cables

Using an Ethernet cable is another approach to secure a strong internet connection while lowering high ping in Minecraft. With a cable connection, you may connect directly to your router and get rid of any wireless interference that might be interfering with your ping.

Step 4 – Set Up Windows Update Delivery Options

Windows updates are crucial for your computer’s security and speed, but they can also be the cause if your ping in Minecraft is inconsistent. Because Windows updates take a lot of your internet connection, they can make Minecraft ping very high.

Step 5 – Clean Up Your DNS

Another method to reduce ping and unthrottle your internet speed is to flush your DNS. Requiring your computer to obtain new address records from a DNS server, will force your computer to empty the cache of all previous address records and Minecraft game servers to which you have ever connected. This may lower the ping rate.

Step 6 – Alternate DNS Servers

Many ISPs utilize their own DNS servers, which might not be the best for gaming because they don’t give gaming traffic priority. Use a third-party DNS like OpenDNS or Google Public DNS for the best outcomes.

Step 7 – Bios Update

Since manufacturers frequently release updates to address difficulties and fix stability concerns or, in some cases, even enhance performance, it is always advised to run on the most recent BIOS version. 

Step 8 – Deep Scan For Miners And Malware

Malicious software makes use of your computer’s resources to carry out its filthy work, which can significantly slow down your internet and game performance. It’s crucial to perform a deep system scan for malware or miners frequently to minimize any potential effects these programs might have on your online game and your internet connection.

There is a good potential that someone will utilize your gaming accounts, bank accounts, cards, and other personal information you have stored on your computer in addition to your internet connection and computer resources being used.