You are describing normal game behavior. Minecraft worlds are divided into chunks measuring 16x16 blocks. Only loaded chunks are active at any given time. This is based on distance from a player. If an entity enters an unloaded chunk, it is also unloaded and frozen in that state until the chunk it entered is loaded. Simulation distance is set by either the server you are on or your world settings if it is a local world. This is not the same as render distance which is how far away blocks are loaded into view.
I would recommend looking at ticking areas if things like crop growth and redstone operation need to continue working. Some things like mob spawning do not work in ticking areas as that only occurs in player-based simulation areas.
Ticking areas may not be desirable in all situations, but you should be able to read enough about them to determine if you would like to try them.
Blocker1024
You are describing normal game behavior. Minecraft worlds are divided into chunks measuring 16x16 blocks. Only loaded chunks are active at any given time. This is based on distance from a player. If an entity enters an unloaded chunk, it is also unloaded and frozen in that state until the chunk it entered is loaded. Simulation distance is set by either the server you are on or your world settings if it is a local world. This is not the same as render distance which is how far away blocks are loaded into view.
I would recommend looking at ticking areas if things like crop growth and redstone operation need to continue working. Some things like mob spawning do not work in ticking areas as that only occurs in player-based simulation areas.
Ticking areas may not be desirable in all situations, but you should be able to read enough about them to determine if you would like to try them.