Minecraft Color Codes: How to Change Text Color for Signs

Minecraft color codes let you change the color and style of text on signs, in chat, and in commands — in both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition. This guide covers every code you need, how to enter the section symbol (§) on any device, and exactly where each code works.

Version note: This guide covers Minecraft Java Edition (1.20+) and Bedrock Edition. Hex color codes require Java Edition 1.16 or later.

Java vs. Bedrock — quick difference: In Java Edition, color codes work natively in chat, on signs, and in commands. In Bedrock Edition, color codes work on signs, but colored chat is more restricted and depends on the server or platform. Hex color codes (custom RGB colors) are a Java-only feature.

The Section symbol

To apply a color or style, you type the section symbol (§) immediately followed by the color or format code — no space between them. The symbol tells Minecraft to treat the next character as a formatting instruction rather than regular text.

The quickest method for most users is to copy and paste the symbol directly: §

If you prefer to type it natively on your device, here are the methods by platform:

In our testing, copy-paste is the most consistent method across all platforms — especially on mobile, where keyboard layouts vary widely.

Minecraft color codes

The game supports 16 built-in colors. Enter the § symbol followed by the code immediately before your text to apply a color. For the full technical reference, see the Official Minecraft Wiki — Formatting Codes.

Hex Color Codes in Minecraft (Java Edition 1.16+)

If you’re running Java Edition 1.16 or later, you can use any custom RGB hex color — not just the 16 built-in ones. This works through JSON text components in commands like /tellraw and /title. It does not work on regular signs or in standard chat.

The syntax uses a JSON format with a "color" key:

/tellraw @a {"text":"Hello world!","color":"#FF6600"}

Replace #FF6600 with any valid hex color code. This is useful for server operators and map makers who want precise color control beyond the standard 16 options.

Using Minecraft Color Codes

Changing Text Color on Signs

• Place a sign and enter text editing mode.
• Type the § symbol followed immediately by your color code (no space).
• Type your text right after — again, no space between the code and the text.

If your text wraps to a new line, re-enter the color code at the start of that line.

Example:

§fThis is a test §fsign

You can also combine color codes with style codes (bold, italic, etc.) — more on that in the style codes section below.

Changing Chat Text Color

The same rules apply in chat. Open the chat window, type the § symbol followed by your color code, then type your message immediately after — no space.

§5Hello!

This displays “Hello!” in dark purple. You can also stack a color and style code together:

§a§lGreen Bold Text

Note: Some servers disable colored chat for moderation reasons, so it may not always work online. If your color code isn’t showing up, check the troubleshooting FAQ at the bottom of this page.

Using Color Codes in Commands

In Java Edition, you can use § codes inside commands like /title, /tellraw, and /scoreboard. This is especially useful for server operators and command block builds.

For /title, use JSON text with the color name or hex value:

/title @a title {"text":"Welcome!","color":"gold"}

For /tellraw, the same JSON format applies:

/tellraw @a {"text":"Server message","color":"red"}

The color names in JSON commands correspond directly to the 16 built-in colors (e.g., "dark_red", "aqua", "light_purple"). Use underscores instead of spaces for multi-word color names.

Using Color Codes for Teams

In Java Edition, you can assign a color to a team using the /team command. This changes the color of team members’ names in chat and above their heads.

/team modify [teamName] color [colorName]

For example, to set a team called “red_team” to red:

/team modify red_team color red

Valid color names are the same as the 16 built-in Minecraft colors (e.g., dark_red, gold, aqua).

Using Color Codes on Minecraft Servers (& Symbol)

If you run or play on a Bukkit, Spigot, or Paper server with plugins like EssentialsX installed, you typically use the & symbol instead of § to enter color codes. The plugin converts & codes into the proper § formatting automatically.

For example, in a server config file or plugin message:

&aThis text will be green

&c&lThis text will be bold red

The & syntax is the standard for most server plugins and is much easier to type than §. Check your server’s plugin documentation to confirm which symbol it uses — most modern plugins support & by default.

Armor Color Customization (Bedrock Edition)

In Bedrock Edition, leather armor can be dyed custom colors using the crafting table with dyes. While this isn’t directly tied to the § color code system, the hex values in the color codes table above can help you match in-game dye colors to specific shades. This feature is Bedrock-specific and works differently from Java Edition’s item NBT data approach.

Minecraft Style codes

Minecraft Style Codes

Style codes work the same way as color codes — type § followed by the code letter. You can combine them with color codes to create styled, colored text.

Always apply the color code before the style code. Putting the style first can cause the color to override it on some versions.

Combination examples:

§f§lBold white text

§c§nRed underlined text

§a§oGreen italic text

§6§lGold bold text

Use §r to stop formatting mid-line. For example:

§aGreen text §rBack to default

If your text continues onto a new line, re-enter the color and style codes at the start of that line — formatting doesn’t carry over automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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