Minecraft formatting codes aka ”color codes” are a set of codes that are used in the game for modification of the in-game text such as text in chat. However, in order to use these codes in the game, you need to use the section sign (§). A section sign helps you in formatting these codes and you can get different types of colors by putting the section sign followed by an alphabet and a digit number.
To change a color you just have to change the hex digit number and it tells the client to switch colors while displaying text. In multi-platform versions of Minecraft (also known as Bedrock Edition) you can use the section sign (§) into signs, world names, books, renaming items, and in the chat.
While on the other hand, Minecraft: Java Edition that’s also the original version of Minecraft. Section signs can be used for coloring in server.properties, pack.mcmeta, splashes.txt, world titles, books, and server names.
Minecraft Color Codes
Now, let’s have a look at the list of pre-defined Color Codes for Minecraft and Formatting codes which you can use by copying them into the system directly.
| Code | Name | Foreground color | Background color | Version | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | G | B | Hex | R | G | B | Hex | |||
| §0 | black ***** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 000000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 000000 | |
| §1 | dark_blue | 0 | 0 | 170 | 0000AA | 0 | 0 | 42 | 00002A | |
| §2 | dark_green | 0 | 170 | 0 | 00AA00 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 002A00 | |
| §3 | dark_aqua | 0 | 170 | 170 | 00AAAA | 0 | 42 | 42 | 002A2A | |
| §4 | dark_red | 170 | 0 | 0 | AA0000 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 2A0000 | |
| §5 | dark_purple | 170 | 0 | 170 | AA00AA | 42 | 0 | 42 | 2A002A | |
| §6 | gold | 255 | 170 | 0 | FFAA00 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 2A2A00 | [JE only] |
| 64 | 42 | 0 | 402A00 | [BE only] | ||||||
| §7 | gray | 170 | 170 | 170 | AAAAAA | 42 | 42 | 42 | 2A2A2A | |
| §8 | dark_gray | 85 | 85 | 85 | 555555 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 151515 | |
| §9 | blue | 85 | 85 | 255 | 5555FF | 21 | 21 | 63 | 15153F | |
| §a | green | 85 | 255 | 85 | 55FF55 | 21 | 63 | 21 | 153F15 | |
| §b | aqua | 85 | 255 | 255 | 55FFFF | 21 | 63 | 63 | 153F3F | |
| §c | red | 255 | 85 | 85 | FF5555 | 63 | 21 | 21 | 3F1515 | |
| §d | light_purple | 255 | 85 | 255 | FF55FF | 63 | 21 | 63 | 3F153F | |
| §e | yellow | 255 | 255 | 85 | FFFF55 | 63 | 63 | 21 | 3F3F15 | |
| §f | white | 255 | 255 | 255 | FFFFFF | 63 | 63 | 63 | 3F3F3F | |
| §g | minecoin_gold | 221 | 214 | 5 | DDD605 | 55 | 53 | 1 | 373501 | [BE only] |
| Code | Name | Compatible with Bedrock | Compatible with Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| §k | Obfuscated | Yes | Yes |
| §l | Bold | Yes | Yes |
| §m | No | Yes | |
| §n | Underline | No | Yes |
| §o | Italic | Yes | Yes |
| §r | Reset | Yes | Yes |
How to enter section sign § to use color codes on Different Platforms?
- To enter “§” on Windows with most US/UK English keyboards type Alt + NUMPAD 2, NUMPAD 1 (alt code on cp437).
- For any other keyboard, the Windows ANSI version type Alt + NUMPAD 0 NUMPAD 1 NUMPAD 6 NUMPAD7 often works.
- If Hex Numpad is enabled in the Windows registry, Alt + NUMPAD+ANUMPAD 7 (using the main keyboard for “A”) works for any language due to it being Unicode.
- On a Mac with a US keyboard, type ⌥ Option + 6 (or ⌥ Option + 5 for US Extended). For any other keyboard, type ⌥ Option + 00a7.
- To enter section sign (§) on a Nintendo Switch, select languages (globe icon), scroll to the bottom to find the “Symbols” language, and then select Page 2 to find the symbol to the right in the bottom line.
- For various Android keyboards:
- On Google Keyboard (GBoard): tap the number/symbol button, tap button above “ABC” to access more symbols, then hold down the paragraph key.
- On iOS:
- On the iPad, tap the number/symbol button and then swipe down on the percent sign.
- On the iPhone, tap the number/symbol button then hold down the ampersand key and slide over to the “§” mark.
- On Xbox:
- On the Xbox One, use left trigger, hold down A while on ¶ until other options pop up. Move the cursor over to the “§” mark and use A to select.
Minecraft MOTD Color Codes
MOTD is a short ”Message of the Day” text that appears under a server name in your multiplayer server list. If you own this server, you can change the color of MOTD aka Message of the Day using MOTD color codes.
Chat Color Codes and MOTD Color Codes: The Difference
MOTD color codes can be used in the motd line in a server.properties file. The difference here in order to make the MOTD colored or formatted, you need to use \u00A7 instead of a section sign §; for example §5 would be \u00A75. Below you can find the list of MOTD color codes for different colors.
List of MOTD Color Codes
| Code | Official Name | |
|---|---|---|
| MOTD code | ||
| §0 | Black | \u00A70 |
| §1 | Dark Blue | \u00A71 |
| §2 | Dark Green | \u00A72 |
| §3 | Dark Aqua | \u00A73 |
| §4 | Dark Red | \u00A74 |
| §5 | Dark Purple | \u00A75 |
| §6 | Gold | \u00A76 |
| §7 | Gray | \u00A77 |
| §8 | Dark Gray | \u00A78 |
| §9 | Blue | \u00A79 |
| §a | Green | \u00A7a |
| §b | Aqua | \u00A7b |
| §c | Red | \u00A7c |
| §d | Light Purple | \u00A7d |
| §e | Yellow | \u00A7e |
| §f | White | \u00A7f |
| §k | Obfuscated | \u00A7k |
| §l | Bold | \u00A7l |
| §m[Java Edition only] | \u00A7m | |
| §n[Java Edition only] | Underline | \u00A7n |
| §o | Italic | \u00A7o |
| §r | Reset | \u00A7r |
| \n | New line | \n |
To use these Minecraft color codes you can also take the help of the following YouTube tutorial video.
More details on the Minecraft color codes can be found here.
You can buy and download Minecraft Java Edition for free after purchasing it from the official website here for $26.95. You can also find additional help with programming on alternative web resources.
Check out other Minecraft guides.
- How to Make a Grindstone in Minecraft
- What is Anvil in Minecraft, How to Make or Craft It?
- How to Make a Conduit in Minecraft
- Minecraft Crossbow: All You Need to Know
- What Does SMP and SSP Mean in Minecraft?
- How to Fix io.netty.channel.abstractchannel$annotatedconnectexception Error in Minecraft
- Planet Minecraft: The Largest Minecraft Community on the Internet
