Minecraft color codes and MOTD generator
A § sign plus a code changes the text under your server name: §6 is gold, §l makes it bold. Type your MOTD below, click a color and copy the line for server.properties. Free, no account needed.
MOTD generator
Two lines, colors and formatting, with a live preview just like the server list.
The MOTD generator needs JavaScript. Without it, use the codes in the table below. In server.properties you write the § sign as \u00A7, like this:
motd=\u00A76\u00A7lThe Cake Factory \u00A7r\u00A77Survival with friends\n\u00A7aNow open!Codes go into line 1, where your cursor is. Pick a color first, then the formatting.
How players see your server
Minecraft Server0/20
Copy your MOTD
Replace the line that starts with motd= and restart your server.
For plugins and config files that read the § sign themselves.
Paste this into the MOTD tab of our game panel. Both lines sit on one line, with \n in between.
All Minecraft color codes
Sixteen colors, the same in Java and Bedrock.
| Code | Color | In-game name | Hex code |
|---|---|---|---|
§0 | Black | black | #000000 |
§1 | Dark blue | dark_blue | #0000AA |
§2 | Dark green | dark_green | #00AA00 |
§3 | Dark aqua | dark_aqua | #00AAAA |
§4 | Dark red | dark_red | #AA0000 |
§5 | Dark purple | dark_purple | #AA00AA |
§6 | Gold | gold | #FFAA00 |
§7 | Gray | gray | #AAAAAA |
§8 | Dark gray | dark_gray | #555555 |
§9 | Blue | blue | #5555FF |
§a | Green | green | #55FF55 |
§b | Aqua | aqua | #55FFFF |
§c | Red | red | #FF5555 |
§d | Light purple | light_purple | #FF55FF |
§e | Yellow | yellow | #FFFF55 |
§f | White | white | #FFFFFF |
Formatting codes
| Code | What it does | In-game name |
|---|---|---|
§k | Random characters that keep changing | obfuscated |
§l | Bold | bold |
§m | Strikethrough (Java only) | strikethrough |
§n | Underline (Java only) | underline |
§o | Italic | italic |
§r | Reset: back to normal color and formatting | reset |
Extra colors in Bedrock
| Code | In-game name | Hex code |
|---|---|---|
§g | minecoin_gold | #EFCE16 |
§h | material_quartz | #D9CCB8 |
§i | material_iron | #A9B4B7 |
§j | material_netherite | #8F727D |
§m | material_redstone | #EE222C |
§n | material_copper | #C87363 |
§p | material_gold | #FFBF1E |
§q | material_emerald | #13A045 |
§s | material_diamond | #5FECFF |
§t | material_lapis | #577BFF |
§u | material_amethyst | #B66CDD |
§v | material_resin | #FF6A00 |
In Bedrock, §m and §n are colors instead of strikethrough and underline.
Sources: Minecraft Wiki: Formatting codes, Minecraft Wiki: server.properties, MiniMOTD (GitHub).
How to set the MOTD on your server
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Step 1: Make your MOTD
Type your two lines above and copy the line for server.properties.
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Step 2: Paste it into server.properties
In the game panel, open Files and then server.properties. Replace the line that starts with motd=.
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Step 3: Restart your server
The new MOTD shows up after a restart. Then refresh the server list in Minecraft.
Tips for a good-looking MOTD
- Color first, formatting second. In Java Edition a color code switches bold, italic and the rest off again. So write §6§l, not §l§6.
- Keep each line short. Anything that does not fit falls off the server list.
- Use \u00A7 in server.properties. It works in every version. Minecraft Java only reads a plain § sign correctly from version 1.20.
- Finish it with an icon. The server icon maker puts a picture next to your name. The cherry on the cake.
Further reading
-
Minecraft
Edit the settings in server.properties
What the key lines in your Minecraft server.properties do: players, difficulty, view distance, PvP and more, with recommended values.
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Minecraft
Useful Minecraft commands with examples
The most useful Minecraft commands with examples: time and weather, teleporting, game mode, keep inventory and more, for Java, Bedrock and servers.
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Getting started
Use your server console
The console in the game panel shows what your server is doing live and lets you send commands. How to start and stop your server and track down errors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the § sign?
In the MOTD generator you do not have to: just click a color. To type it yourself, use Alt+0167 on the number pad in Windows, or Option+6 on a Mac with a US keyboard layout.
Why are my colors not showing?
Check three things: is the color in front of the formatting (§6§l, not §l§6), do you write \u00A7 in server.properties, and did you restart the server? Then refresh the server list.
Can I use hex colors or gradients?
Not in server.properties: only the sixteen fixed colors work there. A plugin such as MiniMOTD can do it, and players on Minecraft 1.16 or newer will see those colors.
Do these codes work in Bedrock?
Mostly. Bedrock has the same sixteen colors plus a few extra ones, such as §g for minecoin gold. Strikethrough and underline do not exist there: §m and §n are colors in Bedrock.
What is the difference between § and &?
Minecraft itself only reads §. Many plugins and the MOTD tab in our game panel let you type & and turn it into §. The generator gives you both.
No server for your MOTD yet?
Rent a Minecraft server and put your MOTD on it straight away.