Minecraft colour codes are formatting identifies used to change the colour and style of text displayed in chat, signs, books, server messages, and in some custom plugins. They allow administrators and players to make text stand out, differentiate roles, and improve visibility in both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.
What Are Colour Codes?
Colour code are special prefix symbols that modify the appearance of text. They are represented by either:
| Game Edition | Prefix | Second Prefix |
| Java Edition | Section Symbol - § | Ampersand Symbol - & |
| Bedrock Edition | Section Symbol - § |
Each colour or format is represented by a single hexadecimal character (0-9, a-f), while text styles, like bold or italic, use letters k-o and r. You can find more information about the different codes in a section below.
Minecraft: Java Edition Colour Codes
Where can these be used?
In Java Edition, colour and formatting codes use the section symbol §, followed by a code value.
These codes work in:
- Chat (If the server allows it)
- Command blocks
- Signs
- Server configuration files (MOTD, plugin messages)
- Books and JSON text components
Java Colour Codes
| Code | Colour / Format | Example Appearance |
| §0 | Black | |
| §1 | Dark Blue | |
| §2 | Dark Green | |
| §3 | Dark Aqua | |
| §4 | Dark Red | |
| §5 | Dark Purple | |
| §6 | Gold | |
| §7 | Gray | |
| §8 | Dark Gray | |
| §9 | Blue | |
| §a | Green | |
| §b | Aqua | |
| §c | Red | |
| §d | Light Purple | |
| §e | Yellow | |
| §f | White |
Formatting Codes:
| Code | Colour / Format | Example Appearance |
| §k | Obfuscated | "glitch" text effect |
| §l | Bold | Example |
| §m | Strikethrough | Example |
| §n | Underline | Example |
| §o | Italic | Example |
| §r | Reset | Clears all formatting |
Examples:
/title @a title §c§lDANGER!
Displays 2 red, bold, "DANGER!" title on everyone's screen
§6Welcome §ato §bSpawn!
Displays "Welcome to Spawn" in gold, green, and aqua.
Minecraft: Bedrock Edition Colour Codes
In Bedrock Edition, the same system exists but uses the ampersand symbol (&) instead of §.
These codes are commonly used in:
- Chat
- Signs
- Command Blocks
- Add-on scripting and plugins
Bedrock Colour CodeS:
| Code | Colour / Format | Example Appearance |
| &0 | Black | |
| &1 | Dark Blue | |
| &2 | Dark Green | |
| &3 | Dark Aqua | |
| &4 | Dark Red | |
| &5 | Dark Purple | |
| &6 | Gold | |
| &7 | Gray | |
| &8 | Dark Gray | |
| &9 | Blue | |
| &a | Green | |
| &b | Aqua | |
| &c | Red | |
| &d | Light Purple | |
| &e | Yellow | |
| &f | White |
Formatting Codes:
| Code | Colour / Format | Example Appearance |
| &k | Obfuscated | "glitch" text effect |
| &l | Bold | Example |
| &m | Strikethrough | Example |
| &n | Underline | Example |
| &o | Italic | Example |
| &r | Reset | Resets all formatting |
Examples:
/say &6Welcome to the Server!
Displays "Welcome to the server!" in gold text.
&bWelcome &ato &eMinecraft!
Displays "Welcome to Minecraft!" in a mix of Aqua, Green, and Yellow.
Notes:
- The section symbol (§) can be entered on Windows using Alt+2+1 on the numeric keypad, or copied directly into the game.
- Many Java plugins (like EssentialsX) translate
&into§automatically for convenience, although the base game does not. - the reset code (§r or &r) is crucial to preventing unwanted colour or formatting bleed into the following text.
