What KeepChunks works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, Spigot |
| Minecraft versions | 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.1, 1.21.1 |
KeepChunks is a Bukkit and Paper plugin that keeps chosen chunks loaded and simulating even when nobody is standing in them. A chunk loader like this matters because vanilla Minecraft normally pauses everything in a chunk, redstone, hoppers, crop growth, once every player walks far enough away. KeepChunks lets you pick chunks to exempt from that pause, so a farm or a redstone build keeps ticking while you are elsewhere on the server.
What KeepChunks is for
- Large redstone circuits that need to keep running unattended
- Automatic farms (crop, mob, or item) that should keep producing while players are away
- Minecart rail networks and item transport lines
- Command block systems tied to a specific location
- Reducing teleport lag by pre-loading a destination chunk
Installation
- 1.Download the KeepChunks JAR from its Modrinth page
- 2.Drop the JAR into your server's plugins folder
- 3.Restart or reload the server
- 4.Grant the relevant permission nodes to the staff who will manage loaded chunks
- 5.Use the plugin's in-game commands to select and mark chunks to keep loaded
Supported server software and versions
KeepChunks supports Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, and Purpur. Its most recent build, v1.7.3, was published on 11 October 2024 and lists Minecraft versions up to 1.21.1 across all four platforms, with no split between them. There is no dependency on another plugin; it installs standalone.
Known limitations
Because updates stopped in late 2024, admins running newer server cores have started looking elsewhere. A live Reddit thread from server admins is titled "Looking for recommendation for a KeepChunks alternative", which reflects the same gap: the plugin works as documented through 1.21.1, but nobody has confirmed it against 26.x server software. If you need chunk loading on a current server build, check your server software's own tools or another actively maintained plugin before committing a live world to KeepChunks.
Questions about KeepChunks.
5 questions
What does KeepChunks do?
KeepChunks lets a server admin select specific chunks and keep them loaded and simulating in server memory, even when no player is standing nearby. That keeps redstone circuits, farms, minecart rail lines, and command block systems running instead of pausing, which is what vanilla Minecraft normally does once every player leaves the area.
Which server software does KeepChunks support?
KeepChunks runs on Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, and Purpur. Every published build tops out at Minecraft 1.21.1, so confirm your server's game version before installing it on a newer core.
Is KeepChunks still updated?
No. The last release, v1.7.3, went out on 11 October 2024 and supports Minecraft versions up to 1.21.1. There is no build confirmed for the current 26.x game versions, so treat it as unmaintained rather than actively developed.
Does KeepChunks need any other plugins installed?
No. KeepChunks has no declared dependencies on Modrinth and installs as a standalone drag-and-drop JAR in your server's plugins folder.
Is there an alternative if KeepChunks stops working on my server?
Server admins have been discussing this exact gap on Reddit, since KeepChunks has not shipped a build for current game versions. If your server runs past 1.21.1, check your server software's own changelog and other actively maintained chunk-loading plugins before relying on KeepChunks.
