How to Fix Lag on a Palworld Multiplayer Server

This guide walks you through the most common causes of lag on a Palworld multiplayer server and gives you clear, actionable fixes. You’ll learn how to adjust server settings, optimize your hardware, and tweak in-game options to get a smoother experience for everyone.

What You’ll Need

• Admin access to the server (either the dedicated server console or the server config files).
• If you’re playing on a rented server, access to the hosting control panel.
• A text editor (like Notepad) for editing config files.

Step-by-Step

1. Check your server’s CPU and RAM usage. Palworld is very CPU-intensive, especially when many players are online and bases are active. Open Task Manager (Windows) or use top (Linux) on the server machine. If CPU is at 90-100% constantly, that’s your bottleneck. If you’re renting, check your provider’s dashboard. If you’re self-hosting, close any other heavy programs on that machine.
2. Reduce the server’s max player count. Even if you have 10 friends, a server with a max of 32 will perform worse. Edit PalWorldSettings.ini (located in PalServer/Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ on Windows, or LinuxServer on Linux). Find ServerPlayerMaxNum and lower it to something realistic like 8 or 16. This reduces the load on the CPU and network.
3. Lower the server’s tick rate and network settings. In the same PalWorldSettings.ini, look for ServerTickRate (default is 30). Lowering it to 20 reduces CPU load but makes the game feel slightly less responsive. Also check NetworkTickRate (default 60) and lower it to 30 if you have many players. These changes require a server restart.
4. Adjust the server’s save and memory settings. Set AutoSaveSpan to a higher value (like 300 seconds) to reduce the frequency of save-induced stutters. Also, if you’re on a dedicated server, make sure you have UsePerfThreads set to True and UseFixedRate set to True in the launch arguments. These are not in the ini but are added as command-line arguments when starting the server.
5. Restart the server regularly. Palworld has memory leaks that cause lag after a few hours. Schedule a daily restart (early morning) to clear the memory. Most hosting panels have an auto-restart feature. If self-hosting, set up a scheduled task or cron job.
6. Check your internet upload speed. If you’re self-hosting, your upload speed is critical. Each player typically needs 5-10 Mbps upload. Run a speed test and if your upload is below 20 Mbps, you’ll struggle with more than a couple of players. If that’s the case, consider renting a server.
7. Optimize in-game settings for players. Ask everyone to lower their in-game graphics settings, especially view distance and shadows. These settings send more data to the server and increase CPU load. Also, disable the “Show Player List” and “Show Map” overlays if they cause stutter.
8. Reduce the number of bases and Pals. Too many bases with many Pals working cause massive CPU load. Ask players to limit the number of Pals per base and to not build too many structures. You can also edit the server settings to reduce the max number of bases per guild (BaseCampMaxNum) and the max Pals per base (BaseCampWorkerMaxNum).
9. Use a wired connection for the server. If you’re self-hosting, avoid Wi-Fi. Use a direct Ethernet cable to the router to reduce packet loss and latency spikes.
10. Update the server software. Make sure you’re running the latest version of the Palworld server. Developers regularly release performance patches. Check the official patch notes and update via Steam or your hosting panel.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring the server’s CPU. Many people blame internet speed when the real issue is CPU. Always check CPU usage first.
• Setting player count too high. A server that says “max 32” doesn’t mean it can handle 32. Start with a lower number and increase only if performance is good.
• Not restarting the server. Palworld’s memory leak is well-known; skipping restarts will inevitably cause lag.
• Editing the wrong config file. Make sure you’re editing PalWorldSettings.ini, not the default file. If you don’t see the file, start the server once and it will be generated.
• Forgetting to restart after changes. Most settings only take effect after a full server restart.

Tips

• If you’re self-hosting, use a dedicated machine, not your gaming PC. Running the server and playing on the same machine doubles the load.
• Use a server manager tool like “PalWorld Server Manager” to easily edit settings and schedule restarts.
• Monitor your server’s performance over time. Keep a log of player count and lag occurrences to identify patterns.
• For rented servers, choose a provider that offers a CPU with high single-thread performance, as Palworld benefits from that.
• Ask players to avoid building massive structures with hundreds of walls – each piece adds to the physics and collision calculations.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t fix the lag, try the following:

• Test with a single player. If the server lags even with one player, the issue is the server itself (hardware or config). If it’s fine, the problem is network bandwidth or player count.
• Check for packet loss. On the server, run a continuous ping to a public IP (like 8.8.8.8) and see if you get timeouts. If you do, your internet connection is unstable.
• Disable all mods. If you’re using mods, they can cause conflicts and lag. Remove them and test again.
• Reinstall the server software. Sometimes files get corrupted. Back up your save files, then reinstall the server and restore the saves.
• Contact your hosting provider. If you’re renting, they can often see resource usage and may suggest a plan upgrade or move to a different node.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Palworld server lag even with 2 players?

This usually indicates a CPU bottleneck. The server’s CPU may be too weak, or you have too many background processes. Check CPU usage and close unnecessary programs.

What is the best tick rate for a Palworld server?

Default is 30. Lowering to 20 reduces CPU load but makes the game feel slightly less responsive. Start with 30 and only lower if you have consistent lag.

How often should I restart my Palworld server?

At least once every 24 hours. Palworld has a known memory leak, and a daily restart prevents it from degrading performance.

Can I fix lag by lowering the max player count?

Yes, absolutely. Reducing the max player count from 32 to 8 or 16 significantly reduces CPU and network load, which directly reduces lag.

Does the server location affect lag?

Yes. The physical distance between players and the server adds latency (ping). Choose a server location that’s geographically close to the majority of your players.

Will adding more RAM fix the lag?

Not usually. Palworld is CPU-bound, not RAM-bound. While 16GB of RAM is recommended, adding more RAM won’t help if the CPU is maxed out.

Related

• Migrate Analytics & Marketing Tags to Google Tag Manager
• Cyberpunk 2077 FAQ: Multiplayer, Platforms, Phantom Liberty
• Active vs Index Funds: How to Compare