What is a Ticking Entity error?
A 'Ticking Entity' error occurs when the Minecraft server engine encounters an entity (a mob, item, or projectile) that it cannot process correctly during a game tick. When the server tries to calculate the entity's movement or logic and fails, it crashes to prevent further world corruption.
Common causes
- Corrupted chunks or entity data.
- Mod conflicts involving custom entities.
- An entity trapped in a loop or an invalid state (e.g., an item frame or mob stuck in a block).
How to fix it
On AwakeNode
- Use the File Manager: Navigate to your server files via the AwakeNode panel. Locate the
crash-reportsfolder to identify the specific entity or coordinate mentioned in the latest file. - Remove the entity: If the error identifies a specific entity type, you can use the File Manager to delete the region file containing the entity, or use the console to kill all entities of that type if the server can stay online long enough.
- Contact Support: If you are unable to locate the entity or the crash persists, open a ticket via the AwakeNode Support tab. Our team can assist in identifying the problematic chunk or entity causing the loop.
On other hosts / manually
- Identify the location: Open the latest file in your
/crash-reports/directory. Look for the 'Entity' section to find the exact X, Y, and Z coordinates of the offending entity. - Remove the entity via console: If the server boots, quickly run
/kill @e[type=ENTITY_TYPE,x=X,y=Y,z=Z,distance=..5]replacing the values with those from your crash report. - Edit via NBTExplorer: If the entity is persistent, download your world folder via SFTP. Use a tool like NBTExplorer to open the
level.dator specific region files to manually delete the entity data from the chunk. - Check Startup Flags: If the error is caused by memory exhaustion leading to entity processing failure, ensure your
-Xmxflag is set correctly in your startup script. If you are on a managed host, contact your provider to adjust these flags for you.
Questions
Will a Ticking Entity error delete my world?
Not necessarily, but it will prevent the server from starting until the problematic entity is removed or the chunk is reset.
Can I fix this by adding more RAM?
Usually no. Ticking entity errors are caused by logic bugs or data corruption, not a lack of memory. Upgrading your plan will not resolve the underlying entity issue.
How do I find the coordinates of the error?
Open the most recent file inside your server's crash-reports folder and search for the section labeled 'Entity' or 'Stacktrace' to find the specific location.
Should I delete the entire region file?
Only as a last resort. Deleting a region file will reset all chunks within that area to their original generated state, causing you to lose any builds located there.