Minecraft Exception in Server Tick Loop
Last modified on Jul 22, 2024 in Server Errors
By Nathan Young
While working on your Minecraft server, unexpected errors can arise that trigger an entire crash. There are many different types of them, with one being referred to as ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’. Troubleshooting this particular issue can be challenging for server owners, as it doesn’t reveal too much information. Reading your crash report amplifies this situation, as there are lots of technical details. With this in mind, we’ve created this Apex Hosting guide to help you find the cause and solution to the ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ so you’re able to play Minecraft with friends again!
What is ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’?

Upon loading any Minecraft server, it uses ticks to perform operations. In some cases, there can be problems that cause everything to shut down. This can happen on Forge, Fabric, Spigot, Paper, and other server types. Since there are many unique setups, pinpointing a direct cause is difficult. However, the majority of cases that trigger this crash can be narrowed down to one issue.
Editing .json files is the number one cause for the ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ Minecraft server crash. These configs typically determine which players are banned, opped, whitelisted, etc.. Manually altering these files can make them invalid or corrupted, resulting in a server-wide crash. Reviewing the report from your Minecraft server reveals mentions of JSON errors, but not specific files in most situations.

Other causes might include mods, in-game ticks, or other triggers – which require more troubleshooting.
We strongly suggest contacting our 24/7 Support Team for assistance to resolve this error.
How to Fix ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’
If you’ve recently edited a .json file on your Minecraft server and encountered an issue, then consider regenerating that document. This is accomplished by deleting it and restarting the server – shown down below. However, deleting all these .json files is another solution if you’re unsure about which one is causing the crash. Alternatively, reverting any changes if you know what was altered can also resolve the situation. The following steps below show you how to delete .json files to fix the ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ Minecraft server error.
- Head towards your Apex server panel, then click
FTP File Access
near the top left. - Use your credentials to login, then check mark the following files:
banned-ips.json
,banned-players.json
,ops.json
,usercache.json
,whitelist.json
. - Proceed to click the
Delete
at the top, then click theSubmit
button when prompted. - Return to the main panel and
Restart
the server to regenerate these files.
Try joining the Minecraft server to see if this resolves the situation. However, in some cases, this won’t fix the problem – as there might be other causes. We heavily recommend reaching out to our Support Team for extra assistance, as this may involve other issues. Hosting a Minecraft Forge or Spigot server could result in different ways to fix or troubleshoot the ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ issue.
Minecraft Server Optimization

Preventing further issues from happening on your Minecraft server involves optimization. Depending on your setup, consider reviewing our modded or vanilla guides to learn more about this topic. Whether you install mods, plugins, or edit config files – it should help avoid any server crashes from the ‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ error. On rare occasions, resolving the situation can be extremely challenging. As previously mentioned above, we recommend reaching out to our support team for assistance. Besides this, we hope this guide helped you fix the Minecraft server crash!
‘Exception in Server Tick Loop’ – FAQ
There can be multiple reasons for this to happen, with corrupted or invalid .json files being the primary one. Other examples include missing mods, incorrectly edited mod files, or in-game tick issues.
You’re able to find all reports in the crash-reports directory inside of your FTP panel. Keep in mind that other information can also be found in the console too.
Assuming that the cause is .json files, deleting them and rebooting the server is how to fix the error. However, other triggers might involve other steps to resolve – so reach out to our support team if this is the case.
Yes, but you’re able to download these files to begin fixing if you want. We advise you to make note of any banned, opped, or whitelisted players so you can reinstate them accordingly.
Yes, avoid manually editing any .json files and instead use console or in-game commands. For example, using the /op command is better than attempting to do it yourself in the file. Additionally, optimizing the Minecraft server can also prevent these crashes from happening.
In the event that removing the .json files doesn’t help after restarting the server, then the cause is likely something else. Reviewing the crash report and/or console logs can reveal more information to fix the problem. However, contacting our support team is another way to find a solution.
Useful Links
Understanding Minecraft Crash Reports
Apex Hosting Support Team
Minecraft Optimization Guide
Minecraft Modded Optimization Guide