How to improve FPS in Minecraft 1.21

Despite being a great game, Minecraft's Java version is quite infamous for being a poorly optimized resource hog. There are a few reasons why this is the case, including that terrain is always rendered in full detail, regardless of the player's distance, and also because Java just is a slower-running programming language. That being said, there are a few things that can be done to make the game run better.

All of the different ways to boost the game's performance can be found in detail below. This should make it much easier to get high FPS even on moderately powerful machines.

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How to increase performance in Minecraft Java 1.21

Lower settings

Java Edition with the settings lowered (Image via Mojang)

One of the easiest and most significant ways to boost in-game performance is to lower the graphics settings. High render and simulation distances are huge contributors to lag, as they cause more terrain to render and entities to act, respectively. The graphics setting also has a large impact on the game, as it controls things like transparent leaves on Minecraft trees and weather effects.

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Close other programs

The task manager helps see which background processes are most problematic (Image via Mojang)

A very common thing to do while playing Mojang's blocky masterpiece is to have other videos or music playing in the background. This helps pass the time when grinding for rare Minecraft items or exploring. However, having extra programs open can have a huge impact on performance, especially on lower-end rigs. Closing these programs will help the game run, as it frees up resources.

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Increase RAM

Where to find the argument to increase RAM (Image via Mojang)

Another great way to boost performance is to give the game installation extra RAM to use. By default, the game is set to only use two gigs of RAM. To change this, open the "Edit installation" screen and modify the two in the "-Xmx2g" argument to a larger number. However, make sure not to go above four or six gigs, as, ironically, too much RAM can hinder performance.

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Install performance mods

By far the best way to boost performance for Java Edition is to install Minecraft performance mods. These are community-made modifications designed from the ground up to make the game run better by optimizing various aspects such as entity culling, terrain loading, light rendering, and more.

Oftentimes, these Minecraft mods can turn an unplayable game into a crisp, clean, and smooth gameplay experience. This is the most involved way to fix the game's performance, requiring multiple third-party modifications, but will get the job done better than anything else.