Minecraft Color Codes

Quick reference for all color and formatting codes. Click any card to copy the code.

Color Codes

Formatting Codes

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Minecraft's Formatting Code System

Minecraft uses a special character called the Section Sign (§) followed by a single character to apply colors and formatting to text. This system has been part of Minecraft since its early development.

The § (Section) Symbol

The section sign (§) is Unicode character U+00A7. It's the control character that tells Minecraft to interpret the following character as a formatting code rather than literal text.

How to type the § symbol:

  • Windows: Alt + 0167 (on numpad) or Alt + 21
  • Mac: Option + 6
  • Linux: Ctrl + Shift + U, then 00A7
  • In-game: You cannot type § directly in the chat. It's used in server configurations, resource packs, and commands.

Code Structure

Each formatting code consists of two parts:

§ + [code character]

For example, §a produces green text, and §l makes text bold.

Color Code Values (0-9, a-f)

Minecraft uses a hexadecimal-inspired system for its 16 colors:

§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 (k-o, r)

  • §k - Obfuscated (randomized characters)
  • §l - Bold
  • §m - Strikethrough
  • §n - Underline
  • §o - Italic
  • §r - Reset (removes all formatting)

Code Precedence and Stacking

Formatting codes can be combined, but color codes reset formatting codes. The correct order is:

§[color]§[format1]§[format2]...Text

For example: §c§lBold Red Text produces bold red text.

Where Formatting Codes Work

  • Signs: In Java Edition 1.14+, you can use dyes on signs to change text color
  • Books: Yes, with § symbol
  • Anvil naming: Limited support
  • MOTD (server list): Yes, in server.properties
  • Commands: Yes, using JSON text components
  • Resource packs: Yes, in lang files and JSON

JSON Text Components (Modern Alternative)

Modern Minecraft versions support JSON text components, which offer more flexibility:

{
  "text": "Hello",
  "color": "green",
  "bold": true
}

JSON components support hex colors (1.16+) with the format "color": "#RRGGBB".

Bedrock Edition Differences

Bedrock Edition uses the same § codes but may have slight differences in implementation. Some formatting options may not be available in all contexts.

The & Alternative

Many Minecraft servers and plugins use & as a substitute for § since the section sign is difficult to type. These are converted server-side using plugins like EssentialsX or ChatColor APIs.

References