Prevent Minecraft from Automatically Pausing: A Quick Guide

Gamers often seek solutions to prevent Minecraft from automatically pausing. This typically happens when switching applications or when the game loses focus, disrupting the gameplay experience. Such interruptions can be particularly frustrating for those wanting to engage fully in survival or realistic game modes, where immersion is key, especially in the newly introduced hardcore mode.

Here are several methods to stop Minecraft from pausing.

Methods to Prevent Minecraft from Pausing

1) Enable LAN Mode to Avoid Pausing

Activating LAN mode helps prevent Minecraft from pausing (Image via Mojang Studios)

A highly effective approach to eliminate unwanted pauses in Minecraft is to enable the LAN mode. Simply pause the game and select the Open to LAN option. After that, click on the Start LAN World button. There is no need to enter any specific values or port numbers to implement this.

By enabling LAN mode, the game avoids losing focus and consequently pausing when you switch to another tab or when playing in windowed mode. Keep in mind that this will make your game session visible to other users on your local network.

2) Utilize the Debug Command to Disable Pausing

Use the debug command to prevent pausing when Minecraft loses focus (Image via Mojang Studios)

Another effective method to maintain focus in your game is by using a debug command that disables focus-related pauses. Press F3 and P together to turn off the Pause feature for lost focus.

This adjustment resolves the issue of the game pausing unexpectedly, allowing you to enjoy playing in windowed mode without being distracted by constant pauses.

3) Modify the Config File to Stop Unnecessary Pausing

Adjust LostFocus values in the config file to keep your game running (Image via Mojang Studios)

Navigate to the Minecraft installation folder and locate the options.txt file, which can be edited to adjust in-game settings. Here’s how to make the necessary changes:

Open the options.txt file by double-clicking it
Search for pauseOnLostFocus
Change the value from true to false
Save the modifications

This change will disable the automatic pause feature for lost focus, allowing you to shift between tabs or launch other applications without encountering interruptions. For players with multiple game instances for different mods or shaders, remember to update this setting for each one individually.

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