Last updated: March 2026
What Is a Minecraft Server MOTD?
A Minecraft server MOTD (Message of the Day) is the text displayed beneath your server's name in the multiplayer server list. It is the first thing players see when browsing for servers to join. The MOTD supports color codes, bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and obfuscated formatting, letting you create eye-catching messages that communicate your server's theme and attract new players.
All Minecraft Color Codes Reference
Minecraft provides 16 built-in color codes that you can use in your MOTD. Each code is a section sign followed by a character. In server.properties, you use the section sign directly or the \u00A7 escape sequence. In plugins, you typically use & as the prefix.
| Code | Color | Hex Value | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| &0 | Black | #000000 | |
| &1 | Dark Blue | #0000AA | |
| &2 | Dark Green | #00AA00 | |
| &3 | Dark Aqua | #00AAAA | |
| &4 | Dark Red | #AA0000 | |
| &5 | Dark Purple | #AA00AA | |
| &6 | Gold | #FFAA00 | |
| &7 | Gray | #AAAAAA | |
| &8 | Dark Gray | #555555 | |
| &9 | Blue | #5555FF | |
| &a | Green | #55FF55 | |
| &b | Aqua | #55FFFF | |
| &c | Red | #FF5555 | |
| &d | Light Purple | #FF55FF | |
| &e | Yellow | #FFFF55 | |
| &f | White | #FFFFFF |
Formatting Codes: Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough
In addition to colors, Minecraft supports formatting codes that change text style. These codes can be combined with color codes to create rich, visually distinct MOTDs. Apply a color first, then the formatting code.
| Code | Effect | Example Input | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| &l | Bold | &c&lBold Red | Bold Red |
| &o | Italic | &a&oItalic Green | Italic Green |
| &n | Underline | &b&nUnderlined | Underlined |
| &m | Strikethrough | &7&mOld Price | Old Price |
| &k | Obfuscated | &k??? | Randomly cycling characters (animated) |
| &r | Reset | &c&lBold &rNormal | Bold Normal |
The reset code (&r) is essential when switching between styles. Without it, formatting codes stack and carry over to subsequent text. Always reset before applying a new color or style combination.
How to Set Your Server MOTD
Setting your MOTD is straightforward once you have created it with the generator above. Follow these steps:
- Create your MOTD using the generator above. Add colors, formatting, and your server's message. Use the live preview to see exactly how it will look in the server list.
- Copy the output. Click the copy button to get the formatted MOTD string ready for server.properties.
- Stop your server before editing config files. Editing server.properties while the server is running will cause your changes to be overwritten on shutdown.
- Open server.properties using a text editor or your hosting panel's file manager. Find the
motd=line. - Paste your MOTD after the equals sign. The line should look like:
motd=Your formatted MOTD here - Save and restart your server. Check the server list in your Minecraft client to verify the MOTD displays correctly.
If you are using CraftRift hosting, you can edit server.properties directly through the Pterodactyl panel's file editor. Need to generate your full server configuration? Use our Config Generator to create optimized configs for all your server files at once.
MOTD Best Practices: Making Your Server Stand Out
Your MOTD is your server's advertisement in the multiplayer list. A well-crafted MOTD can significantly increase click-through rates and player joins. Here is what works:
- Lead with your server type: Put your game mode or server type on line one. Players scanning the server list need to instantly know if your server matches what they are looking for. "Survival SMP" or "KitPvP" immediately communicates what you offer.
- Use line two for a call-to-action: The second line is perfect for announcements, events, or a compelling reason to join now. "Season 4 just started" or "New maps live" creates urgency and curiosity.
- Use 2-3 colors maximum: Too many colors make your MOTD look chaotic and hard to read. Pick a primary color for your server name, a secondary color for details, and optionally gold or yellow for highlights. Consistency looks professional.
- Bold your server name: Make your server name stand out with bold formatting. This is the most important text in your MOTD and should be immediately visible.
- Update regularly: A stale MOTD suggests an inactive server. Change your MOTD when seasons change, events start, or updates go live. Returning players notice fresh messaging.
- Test on different clients: Check your MOTD on both the vanilla launcher and third-party launchers. Font rendering can vary slightly, and what looks perfect on your screen might be slightly different elsewhere.
Common MOTD Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most frequent MOTD mistakes we see from server owners. Avoiding them will make your server list entry look polished and professional:
Using too many colors
Rainbow text looks like a mess in the server list. Every color change adds code characters that eat into your character limit. Stick to a cohesive 2-3 color palette that matches your server's branding. A clean, readable MOTD always outperforms a rainbow one.
Forgetting to reset formatting
If you apply bold on line one and do not reset it, line two will also be bold. Always use &r at the end of a formatting sequence before switching styles. The generator handles this automatically, but watch for it when editing manually.
Making the MOTD too long
Long MOTDs get truncated in the server list, cutting off your message mid-word. Keep each line under 50 visible characters. Remember that color and formatting codes are invisible but still count toward the raw string length in server.properties.
Low contrast color combinations
Dark blue (&1) and black (&0) are nearly invisible against the dark server list background. Avoid dark colors for text. Use bright colors like green (&a), aqua (&b), yellow (&e), and white (&f) for maximum readability.
Not testing after editing
Always refresh your server list in Minecraft after changing the MOTD. A misplaced color code can break the entire formatting. Verify your MOTD using our Server Status Checker to see exactly what players see without opening Minecraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a Minecraft MOTD be?
A Minecraft MOTD supports up to two lines of text. Each line can hold approximately 45-60 visible characters depending on the characters used, though the raw string (including color codes) can be longer. The total combined length of both lines should not exceed around 200 characters including formatting codes. If your MOTD is too long, the server will truncate it in the server list, so keep it concise and impactful.
Do MOTD color codes work on Bedrock servers?
Bedrock Edition uses a different formatting system. Instead of the section sign, Bedrock uses its own set of formatting codes. However, if you run a crossplay server with GeyserMC, the Java MOTD will be converted for Bedrock players automatically. For dedicated Bedrock servers (BDS), you need to use Bedrock-specific formatting in the server.properties file.
Can I use hex colors in my MOTD?
Yes, but only on servers running Paper, Spigot 1.16+, or their forks. Hex colors use the format '&#RRGGBB' or the MiniMessage format '<color:#RRGGBB>'. Vanilla servers and older versions only support the 16 built-in color codes. Hex colors give you access to over 16 million colors, allowing for smooth gradients and precise brand color matching in your MOTD.
Why does my MOTD look different in the server list vs in-game?
The server list MOTD and the in-game display are rendered differently. The server list uses the motd value from server.properties, while the in-game MOTD depends on your server software and plugins. Some plugins override the MOTD with their own messages. Also, server list rendering may clip long lines or display formatting slightly differently than in-game chat. Always test your MOTD by refreshing the server list in your Minecraft client.
How do I add a second line to my MOTD?
In server.properties, use '\n' (backslash followed by the letter n) to create a line break. For example: 'motd=First Line\nSecond Line'. In plugins that manage the MOTD (like ServerListPlus or MiniMOTD), you typically use an actual new line in the config file or a specific line break syntax defined by the plugin. Our generator handles this automatically when you enter text on the second line.