{"id":15392,"date":"2025-04-07T22:44:27","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T22:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/?post_type=ht_kb&p=15392"},"modified":"2025-04-07T22:44:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T22:44:28","slug":"chunk-loading-and-lazy-chunks-in-minecraft-java-edition","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/article\/chunk-loading-and-lazy-chunks-in-minecraft-java-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Chunk Loading and Lazy Chunks in Minecraft Java Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Understanding how chunk loading works is crucial, especially when working with farms, machines, or automation. This guide explains everything about chunk loading, lazy chunks<\/strong>, and how to properly use simulation distance, entity ticking, and tools to visualize chunks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2705 Don\u2019t forget \u2014 you can get 30% off<\/strong> your Minecraft server at GGServers using the code KB30<\/strong> at checkout!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What Are Chunks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Minecraft, the world is divided into chunks. Each chunk is a 16×16 block area and is 384 blocks tall (as of Minecraft 1.18+). Chunks are the core of how the game loads and simulates the world.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Minecraft
Minecraft Chunk loading<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There are different levels of chunk loading<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Fully Ticked Chunks<\/strong>: These are closest to the player and process everything \u2014 redstone, entities, crops, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Entity-Ticking Chunks<\/strong>: These still handle entities (like mobs and dropped items), but not full block updates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Lazy Chunks<\/strong>: These chunks are loaded in memory, but don’t process any entities or block updates. They are essentially passive<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Simulation Distance vs Render Distance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Simulation Distance<\/strong> controls how many chunks around the player are ticked<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Render Distance<\/strong> controls how far you can see<\/em> and how many chunks are kept loaded for rendering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
      \n
      \"Minecraft
      Minecraft Simulation Distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      Example:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      If you have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Simulation distance = 12<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Render distance = 20<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Chunks 0 to 11<\/strong> around you are fully ticked<\/strong> (machines work, mobs move).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Chunks 12 to 19<\/strong> are lazy chunks<\/strong> (they\u2019re loaded, but no entity\/block ticking).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Beyond chunk 20<\/strong>, chunks are unloaded<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n\n\n\n

          What Works in Lazy Chunks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Lazy chunks will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Keep chunks loaded<\/em> in memory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Allow block display and structure rendering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            But won\u2019t<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Tick redstone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Grow crops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Move mobs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Activate minecart loaders or pistons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              That means any redstone machines or mob farms must be within simulation distance<\/strong> of a player to function properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n\n\n\n

              \ud83d\udccc Chunk Load Radius Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
              Chunk Type<\/th>Tick Entities<\/th>Tick Blocks<\/th>Player Required Nearby<\/th>Use Case<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
              Fully Ticked<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u2705<\/td>Yes<\/td>Redstone, farms, machines<\/td><\/tr>
              Entity-Ticking<\/td>\u2705<\/td>\u274c<\/td>Yes<\/td>Mob-based contraptions<\/td><\/tr>
              Lazy Chunks<\/td>\u274c<\/td>\u274c<\/td>Yes<\/td>Aesthetic only<\/td><\/tr>
              Unloaded Chunks<\/td>\u274c<\/td>\u274c<\/td>No<\/td>Not in memory<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n

              How to View Chunk Boundaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              In Vanilla Minecraft:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Press F3 + G<\/code> to view chunk borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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