Minecraft Color Codes: Ultimate 16-Color Easy Guide

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. Understanding Minecraft color codes is essential for anyone who wants to customize their in-game text. 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 Bedrock Edition, the § formatting system works directly in a wide range of end-user text fields: signs, book and quills, anvils, cartography tables, chat input, and some command and resource-pack text. In Java Edition, the legacy § system is used primarily in server-side and config contexts — server.properties, pack.mcmeta, splashes.txt, language files, world titles, and server names — and in JSON or command contexts such as /tellraw and /title.

Typing § directly into normal vanilla Java Edition chat or onto a sign does not produce colored text the way it does in Bedrock. Hex color codes (custom RGB colors) are a Java-only feature, available from version 1.16 onward.

The Section symbol

To apply a color or style using Minecraft color codes, 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. These Minecraft color codes are the foundation of all in-game text formatting. For the full technical reference, see the Official Minecraft Wiki — Formatting Codes.

The table below includes all the code variants you may need depending on where you are applying formatting. Here is what each column means: § Code — the legacy formatting prefix used in Bedrock end-user fields, server config files, and resource packs; Plugin & Alias — the shorthand used by most Bukkit, Spigot, and Paper plugins such as EssentialsX, which convert it to § automatically.

JSON / Name Code — the color name used in commands like /title, /tellraw, and /team; MOTD / Unicode — the escaped Unicode form required in server.properties, pack.mcmeta, and similar config files; Hex Value — the RGB hex color for reference and Java Edition JSON usage.

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 Minecraft color codes options.

Using Minecraft Color Codes

Changing Text Color on Signs

Edition note: Typing § codes directly onto signs works natively in Bedrock Edition — this is one of the most common places Bedrock players use formatting. In Java Edition vanilla, § does not produce colored sign text when typed directly; sign colors in Java are handled through commands (such as /data or adventure-map tools) or server-side plugins rather than by typing the symbol in the sign editor.

• 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. Minecraft color codes on signs do not carry over to the next line automatically.

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

Edition note: Typing § codes directly into the chat box works in Bedrock Edition, where the client accepts § formatting in chat input. In Java Edition vanilla, typing § in the chat box does not color your messages — colored chat in Java is a server-side feature handled by plugins (using the & alias) or server operators, not something the vanilla client processes from a player’s typed input.

The same rules apply in Bedrock chat. Open the chat window, type the § symbol followed by your color code, then type your message immediately after — no space. Using Minecraft color codes in chat is a quick way to make your messages stand out.

§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 Minecraft color codes (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 color codes (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.

Using Color Codes in server.properties, MOTD, pack.mcmeta, and Other Files

A large share of people looking up Minecraft color codes are trying to color a server MOTD, a resource pack description, or another config file — not just signs or chat. These file-based contexts use a slightly different format that is worth understanding on its own.

server.properties (MOTD): The server’s message of the day, displayed in the multiplayer server list, is set in the server.properties file. This file does not accept the raw § character reliably across all systems, so you use the escaped Unicode form \u00A7 instead of § directly. The color and format codes that follow are identical to the standard table above.

For example, to display a green “Welcome” followed by bold “Survival”:

motd=\u00A7aWelcome \u00A7lSurvival

Here \u00A7a applies green and \u00A7l applies bold. You can chain as many codes as you like. The MOTD / Unicode column in the color table above gives you the ready-to-paste form for every color.

pack.mcmeta (resource pack description): The description field in a resource pack’s pack.mcmeta file also supports the \u00A7 Unicode form, letting you add color or style to the text shown in the resource pack selection screen.

splashes.txt and language files: The splashes.txt file (which controls the random splash text on the main menu) and custom language files in resource packs both accept § codes directly, making them straightforward to colorize.

World names and server names: World folder names and server list names displayed in the client can also use § codes on some platforms and launchers, allowing colored labels in your server list or world selection screen.

Commands vs. config files — which format to use: When you are working inside commands such as /title, /tellraw, and /team, use the JSON name code format (for example "color":"dark_red") rather than § or \u00A7. When you are editing a config or properties file such as server.properties or pack.mcmeta, use the \u00A7 Unicode escape form. When you are typing directly into a Bedrock Edition text field (sign, book, chat), use § directly.

Leather Armor Dyeing

Leather armor can be dyed custom colors in both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition using dyes at a crafting table (or a cauldron in Bedrock). This mechanic is entirely separate from the § text formatting system — it does not use § codes or the hex values from the color table above, and it is not exclusive to either edition. If you arrived here looking for armor colors specifically, note that armor dyeing is a crafting mechanic rather than a text-formatting feature.

Minecraft Style codes

Minecraft Style Codes

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

Edition note — formatting behavior after a color code: In Java Edition, applying a new color code cancels any active style formatting (bold, italic, underline, etc.) that was set before it. This means if you want bold green text, you need to apply the color first and the style second: §a§l. If you add a new color code mid-string, you will need to re-apply your style codes after it.

In Bedrock Edition, formatting persists after a color code — active style codes remain in effect even when a new color code is inserted — so the interaction between color and style is more forgiving on that platform.

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 Wahab

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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