The Distant Horizons mod has revolutionized Minecraft for players who love expansive views and far-reaching landscapes. By using Level of Detail (LOD) rendering, it allows you to see much further than Minecraft’s default render distance—without tanking your performance. But what happens when Distant Horizons not working on your server? You’re seeing blank skies where terrain should be, distant chunks refuse to load, or your LOD terrain disappears entirely? Don’t worry—this is a common issue and one that can be fixed.
In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn why Distant Horizons doesn’t always work on multiplayer servers, how to troubleshoot it, and how to optimize it for smooth, immersive gameplay.
What Are Distant Horizons and Why it Can Fail on Servers
Distant Horizons is a client-side Minecraft mod designed to simulate massive view distances by rendering simplified terrain (LOD chunks) far beyond normal limits. It works flawlessly in single-player worlds, but using it in multiplayer—especially on modded Minecraft servers—introduces new challenges.
Here’s why:
- Servers only send chunk data within a defined render distance.
- Mods or resource limitations on the server may interfere with LOD generation.
- Cache conflicts and world mismatches cause LOD glitches or terrain pop-ins.
Why Distant Horizons Might Not Be Working on Your Server
1. Low Server Render Distance
If your server only sends a 10-chunk radius, Distant Horizons can’t get enough data to generate LODs beyond that.
2. Mod Conflicts
Mods like Alex’s Caves, terrain generators, or world-altering mods may prevent LODs from rendering properly.
3. World Cache Conflict
If you’ve changed the server’s world file and still have cached data from the previous one, the mod may break due to mismatched data.
4. Not Pre-Generating Chunks
Distant Horizons can’t render terrain that hasn’t been loaded yet. If the server hasn’t generated those chunks before, you’ll only see voids in the distance.
5. Incorrect Installation or Outdated Version
Running an outdated version of Distant Horizons or failing to install it correctly on the client (or server when needed) can break functionality.
Step-by-Step Fix: How to Get Distant Horizons Working on Servers
1. Adjust Server Render Distance
Go into your server config (server.properties) and increase:
iniview-distance=16
simulation-distance=12
Higher view distances allow more chunks to be streamed to clients, which Distant Horizons uses to build LOD terrain.
2. Clear Old Cache When Changing World Files
Navigate to:
arduino.minecraft/config/Distant_Horizons_server_data/
Delete the folder that corresponds to your old world or server. Restart Minecraft to let the mod generate a fresh cache.
3. Pre-Generate the World
Use a tool like Chunky, Forge’s Chunk Pregenerator, or a server-side plugin like WorldBorder (for Paper/Spigot servers) to pre-load the world:
- This ensures Distant Horizons has data to render LOD terrain.
- Run it before connecting as a client using the mod.
4. Verify Correct Installation
- Client-side: You MUST have Distant Horizons installed on your Minecraft client. It’s NOT optional.
- Server-side (Optional but Recommended): Installing Distant Horizons on the server can improve chunk handling and caching for some configurations.
5. Check for Mod Compatibility
Some popular mods may conflict with Distant Horizons. If you’re using:
- Alex’s Caves
- Alternate terrain mods
- Dimension-changing mods
You may need to:
- Temporarily disable these mods to test functionality.
- Check Distant Horizons’ GitHub issues page for specific compatibility workarounds.
Pro Optimization Tips for Distant Horizons Multiplayer
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Server Render Distance | 16+ chunks for best LOD coverage |
| LOD Quality in Settings | Medium-High for good performance |
| World Pregeneration Radius | 3,000+ blocks in all directions |
| Cache Refresh | After any world update or change |
| Memory Allocation | 6–8 GB minimum for heavy modpacks |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I use Distant Horizons without server installation?
Yes. Distant Horizons is a client-only mod, but installing it on the server can assist with chunk and LOD data syncing, especially in modded environments.
Q2: Why is my distant terrain invisible or flickering?
You likely have a cache mismatch or your server isn’t sending chunk data beyond your client view. Clear your cache and ask your admin to increase server render distance.
Q3: Does Distant Horizons work with shaders or OptiFine?
It may conflict with OptiFine or shader packs. Use Sodium + Iris for better compatibility with performance mods.
Q4: My friend can see far distances, but I can’t. Why?
Double-check your client settings. Your LOD render distance may be too low, or your cache folder may be corrupted.
Q5: Do I need to regenerate the world for Distant Horizons to work?
No. But if you’re loading a new world or switching maps, clearing your old Distant Horizons cache is essential.
Final Thoughts
Distant Horizons transforms Minecraft by giving players breathtaking draw distances—perfect for exploration, building, and immersion. But using it on a server adds a few layers of setup that, when done right, provide a smooth and stunning gameplay experience.
- Pre-generate the world
- Clear old caches
- Bump up your server render distance
- Match mod versions carefully
Master these steps and you’ll never have to deal with broken landscapes or missing terrain again.