How to Fix Rubber Banding and Desync on a Palworld Server
Rubber banding is when players snap back to an earlier position, and Pals or enemies appear to lag. It usually comes from the server falling behind or from a poor connection.
Is it the server or the player?
Ask several players. If only one person has trouble, suspect their network or distance from the server. If everyone has it, the server is under load.
Server-side causes
- High uptime. Memory use can grow over days.
- Too many bases and active Pals.
- High PalSpawnNumRate.
- Many players in one place.
- Not enough RAM or CPU for the player count.
Things to try
- Restart the server. This often gives instant improvement.
- Lower PalSpawnNumRate toward 1.000000.
- Lower BaseCampMaxNum or worker counts if the map is crowded.
- Remove abandoned bases.
- Schedule restarts in the Schedules tab.
Change one thing at a time so you can see what helped.
Check the load
Watch the CPU and memory graphs in the panel. If memory sits near the limit, you may need a larger plan. If CPU is pinned at its maximum when players gather, the world is too busy for the current size. A REST API metrics endpoint may also report server frame rate on newer builds, which is worth checking if you have enabled it.
Player-side causes
- Wi-Fi instead of a wired connection.
- Background downloads.
- A long distance to the server location.
- VPNs.
Ask affected players to test with a wired connection and close other programs.
Regular maintenance
A daily restart during quiet hours keeps memory use under control. Save the world first, then restart. Announce the time in Discord.
Still happening?
If the problem continues after a restart and lower settings, send us a note in Discord with the player count, the time it happens, and a screenshot of the resource graphs. We can help judge whether you need more resources.