This wikiHow teaches you how to increase the amount of memory (RAM) Minecraft can use to resolve memory errors. If you're using a personal version of Minecraft, you can easily allocate RAM through the launcher program or launcher versions 1.6 to 2.0. X. You can check the program version number in the lower left corner of the program window. If you want to edit server RAM, you will need to create a file that will launch Minecraft with more memory. However, it's a good idea not to allocate more than 2/3 of your computer's total RAM for this game.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Launcher Version 2.0. X
Step 1. Check the available RAM on the computer
The amount of RAM available will determine how much memory can be allocated to Minecraft. To check RAM:
- Windows - Open menu " Start ", click " Settings ” (marked by the gear icon), select “ System ", click " About ”, and pay attention to the number displayed next to the text "Installed RAM".
- Mac - Open menu " Apple ", click " About This Mac ”, and note the number displayed to the right of the " Memory " heading.
Step 2. Update the Java program on the computer
Visit the Java website at https://www.java.com/en/download/ and click the "Download" button located under the latest version of the program. This step is done to make sure the Java program is running in the latest version and ready to allocate RAM.
If you are using a Windows computer, make sure you download the appropriate bit version for the operating system
Step 3. Open the Minecraft launcher program
Double-click the Minecraft icon to open it.
If the program window shows the number "1.6…" in the lower-left corner (or at the top of the window), use the launcher method version 1.6. X
Step 4. Click the Launch options tab
This tab is at the top of the program window.
Step 5. Make sure the Advanced settings switch is on
It's in the upper-right corner of the “Launch Options” page. If the switch is not green, click the switch before continuing.
Step 6. Click the profile you want to change
If you only see one option on this page, click it.
Step 7. Enable the JVM arguments switch
Click the toggle next to the " JVM arguments " text to enable the feature.
Step 8. Edit the amount of RAM Minecraft can use
You can see a line of text in the " JVM arguments " column, with the first segment -Xm1G. Change the number "1" to another number, depending on how much RAM (in gigabytes) you want Minecraft to use.
For example, if you want to allocate 4 gigabytes of RAM for Minecraft, change the segment to "-Xm4G"
Step 9. Click SAVE
It's at the bottom of the window. Now, Minecraft will use the amount of RAM you have specified for the selected profile.
Method 2 of 3: Using Launcher Version 1.6. X
Step 1. Check the available RAM on the computer
The amount of RAM available will determine how much memory can be allocated to Minecraft. To check RAM:
- Windows - Open menu " Start ", click " Settings ” (marked by the gear icon), select “ System ", click " About ”, and pay attention to the number displayed next to the text "Installed RAM".
- Mac - Open menu " Apple ", click " About This Mac ”, and note the number displayed to the right of the " Memory " heading.
Step 2. Update the Java program on the computer
Visit the Java website at https://www.java.com/en/download/ and click the "Download" button located under the latest version of the program. This step is done to make sure the Java program is running in the latest version and is ready to allocate RAM.
If you are using a Windows computer, make sure you download the appropriate bit version for the operating system
Step 3. Run the Minecraft launcher program
In version 1.6. X and later, you can allocate more RAM directly through the launcher program. If you are using an older version, read the next method.
If the number "2.0…" is displayed in the lower-left corner of the program window, follow the version 2.0. X launcher method
Step 4. Select a profile
Click” Edit Profile ” and select a profile from the list.
Step 5. Enable the “JVM Arguments” feature
In the " Java Settings (Advanced) " section, check the " JVM Arguments " box. With this option, you can enter commands to modify the Minecraft program.
Step 6. Allocate more RAM for the game
By default, Minecraft will use 1 GB of RAM. You can increase the amount of RAM by typing -Xmx#G. Replace # with the amount of RAM you want to allocate (in gigabytes). For example, if you want to allocate 18 GB of RAM, type -Xmx18G.
Step 7. Save the profile
Click the Save Profile button to save the settings. Now, the preset amount of RAM will be applied to the selected profile.
Method 3 of 3: Using Minecraft Servers
Step 1. Check the amount of RAM available on the computer RAM
The amount of RAM available will determine the amount of memory that can be allocated to Minecraft. To check it out:
- Windows - Open menu " Start ", click " Settings ” (marked by the gear icon), select “ System ", click " About ”, and pay attention to the number displayed next to the text "Installed RAM".
- Mac - Open menu " Apple ", click " About This Mac ”, and note the number displayed to the right of the " Memory " heading.
Step 2. Update the Java program
Visit the Java website at https://www.java.com/en/download/ and click the "Download" button located under the latest version of the program. This step is done to make sure the Java program is running in the latest version and is ready to allocate RAM.
If you are using a Windows computer, make sure you download the appropriate bit version for the operating system. For 32-bit computer users, you can only allocate 1 GB of RAM
Step 3. Open the Minecraft server directory
This folder contains the Minecraft_server.exe file that you open to run the Minecraft server.
The easiest way to find this file is to browse to the "Minecraft_server" file and navigate to the location/folder where the file is stored
Create a text document on the server folder. Click the button " Home ” (Windows) or “ File ” (Mac), select “ New items ” (Windows) or “ New ” (Mac), then click “ Text Documents " After that, a new text document will be created in the same location/folder as the minecraft_server.exe file.
Enter the code to allocate more RAM. Type the following code into a text document, depending on the operating system you are using:
Windows
java -Xmx####M -Xms####M -exe Minecraft_Server.exe -o true
PAUSE
OS X
#!/bin/bash
cd "$(dirname "$0")"
java -Xms####M -Xmx####M -exe Minecraft_Server.exe -o true
Linux
#!/bin/sh
BINDIR=$(dirname "$(readlink -fn "$0")")
cd "$BINDIR"
java -Xms####M -Xmx####M -exe Minecraft_Server.exe -o true
Change #### to the amount of RAM you want to allocate (in gigabytes). To allocate 2 GB of RAM, type 2048. To allocate 3 GB, type 3072. To allocate 4 GB, type 4096. To allocate 5 GB, type 5120
Save the text file. If you are using Windows, save the file with a ".bat" extension. Click " File" and select " Save As…" Change the file extension from ".txt" to ".bat". If you're using OS X, save the file with the ".command" extension. If you are using Linux, save the file with the ".sh" extension.
You may need to enable viewing of file extensions in Windows first for extensions to be visible
Run the new file to start Minecraft. The file you create will be the new launcher program for the Minecraft server. With this new file (.bat for Windows,.command for Mac, or.sh for Linux), a new amount of RAM will be allocated to the server.
