Minecraft Color & Formatting Codes
The complete § code chart for chat, signs, books, item names and the server MOTD. Click any code to copy it.
Color codes
Formatting codes
Hex & MiniMessage
On Paper/Spigot 1.16+ you can use any color. In the § format a hex color is written §x§R§R§G§G§B§B (each hex digit prefixed with §). Modern plugins and proxies (Velocity, Adventure) use MiniMessage tags such as <#ff8800> or <gradient>. Our MOTD generator outputs both § codes and MiniMessage.
FAQ
What is the § symbol and how do I type it?
The section sign § is the in-game color/format prefix. Type it with Alt+0167 (Windows numpad), Option+6 (Mac), or copy it from here: §. Many config files (like server.properties on some setups) accept & instead, which plugins convert to §.
What’s the difference between § and &?
Minecraft itself uses §. The & sign is a convention used by plugins and config files (e.g. &aHello) that gets translated to § at runtime. Use § where the game reads the text directly, and & where a plugin says to.
How do hex colors work?
On Paper/Spigot 1.16+ you can use any hex color. In vanilla JSON text it’s "color":"#RReGGBB"; in the § format it’s §x§R§R§e§e§G§G§B§B (each digit prefixed with §). Modern plugins/proxies use MiniMessage tags like <#RRGGBB> or <gradient>.
Where do color codes work?
Chat, signs, books, item names/lore, team prefixes, scoreboard, /tellraw and /title, and the server-list MOTD. Some places (like the vanilla MOTD) need the codes written a specific way — our MOTD generator handles that.
Why isn’t my color showing?
Usual causes: you used a plain letter without the § prefix, the plugin expects & not §, the file wasn’t saved as UTF-8, or you’re on a version that doesn’t support hex (hex needs 1.16+ on Paper/Spigot).