Minecraft MOTD Generator
Type your two MOTD lines, add colors and formatting, and see a live preview of how your server will look in the multiplayer list. Copy the code for server.properties or for plugins that use & codes.
Your MOTD
Type codes with & (for example &a for green), or click a color or format to insert it where your cursor is.
How Minecraft MOTD color codes work
The MOTD (message of the day) is the two lines under your server’s name in the multiplayer list. It’s often the first thing a player sees, so it’s worth making it clear and readable. Minecraft styles text with formatting codes: a section sign (§) followed by one character. Many plugins and panels let you type & instead, which is easier on a keyboard, and the generator accepts both.
| Code | Color | Code | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
&0 | Black | &8 | Dark gray |
&1 | Dark blue | &9 | Blue |
&2 | Dark green | &a | Green |
&3 | Dark aqua | &b | Aqua |
&4 | Dark red | &c | Red |
&5 | Dark purple | &d | Light purple |
&6 | Gold | &e | Yellow |
&7 | Gray | &f | White |
Formatting codes: &l bold, &o italic, &n underline, &m strikethrough, &k scrambled (obfuscated) and &r reset. A color code also resets formatting, so put formatting after the color: &a&l gives bold green, but &l&a gives plain green.
Putting the MOTD in server.properties
The server.properties file is read as plain ASCII, so the section sign has to be written as an escape code, and the two lines are joined with a line-break code. The first output box above does this for you: copy the whole motd= line and replace the existing motd line in your file, then restart the server. You can also build the whole file with the server.properties generator.
Plugins such as MOTD managers, and many hosting panels, take & codes directly. Modern Paper and Velocity plugins often use MiniMessage tags like <green>, which the third box gives you.
Tips for a good MOTD
- Lead with what makes your server different: the game mode, the version and one hook (“No pay-to-win”, “New season today”).
- Keep each line short. About 59 characters fit before the list cuts them off, and bold text takes more space.
- Use two or three colors, not all sixteen. Gray and white make good base colors on the dark list background.
- Avoid long scrambled text. It catches the eye, but too much is hard to read.