Minecraft Server Error: Outofmemoryerror Java Heap Space
Last modified on Jun 8, 2022 in server errors
When we think about running a Minecraft server, one of the first things we need to consider is the amount of RAM that is assigned to it. Unbeknownst to those just starting off in the realm of hosting, Minecraft servers can require a significant amount of RAM just to start. Once it has loaded up, even more RAM is required to hold players on the server as they load in chunks (parts of the world). Without enough RAM, your server may stall out as it tries to load in everything. When this happens we refer to is as the “Out of memory” error.
The “Outofmemoryerror Java Heap Space” error states that the server ran out of memory (RAM) while starting up or while it was running. The nature of this error is very simple, you do not have enough RAM to run the server or you ran out of RAM while the server was loading in its processes.
To fix this, you should first figure out if you have enough RAM to start the server. The servers pre-initialization (start-up) phase is when it will use the most RAM concurrently as it loads up all the files that make the server. If you encounter this error before the server “Start Up Done” message displays and is confirmed online, then your server will most likely need more RAM in order to start. You can either upgrade your server plan or your will need to downsize your servers intended function. I.e if your trying to run a modded server with only 512mb or 1GB then you will need to downsize to something less intensive like a Bukkit or Vanilla server.
If you server starts and you are able to connect to it but then stops with the “Outofmemoryerror Java Heap Space” error, then your server ran out of RAM. This error is common with servers that are barely making it by to load the server files while also trying to fulfil the tentative loads. These tentative loads include loading in players, the chunks they load in, amount of mobs, items on the ground, plugins, and practically anything else the server loads in to perform its respective actions.
