Minecraft Formatting Code

Formatting Codes

This article covers the older §-based formatting system (see text components for the newer system). It is deprecated in Minecraft — still usable, but not recommended; the Java text system and Bedrock Ore UI no longer support formatting codes.

Formatting codes (color codes) add style (color, bold, italic, underline, etc.) to text via the section sign §. In Bedrock, § can be typed into signs, world names, rename fields, and chat.

Usage

Append a character after § to format text; hexadecimal digits switch colors. In Java, a color code resets prior format codes — §cX§nY shows XY underlined, §nX§cY shows plain XY. Use color first and repeat format codes after color changes. In Bedrock, format codes after color codes remain effective. §r resets the style (e.g. §nXXX§rYYY → XXXYYY).

Color codes

§0–§f (black, dark blue, dark green, dark aqua, dark red, dark purple, gold, gray, dark gray, blue, green, aqua, red, light purple, yellow, white), plus §g (Minecoin gold; renders incorrectly on PlayStation).

Format codes

• §k obfuscated (random characters keep the original character width)
• §l bold, §m strikethrough, §n underline, §o italic, §r reset

Input

• Windows: Alt+Numpad 21 (CP437) or Alt+Numpad 0167; with EnableHexNumpad: Alt+Numpad+A7.
• Mac: ⌥ Option+6 (US); other layouts ⌥ Option+00a7.
• Linux: Compose s o or Ctrl+Shift+U 00a7.
• Mobile/consoles: various keypad paths to the § symbol (see wiki).
• In text components write \u00A7 (or \u00a7).

Compatibility: In Java the only in-game place to enter § is signs, via pasting — the filter deletes §+one character unless the §§ trick is used (paste §§ then the code so §§-a becomes §a after filtering). In Bedrock, codes work in nearly all non-Ore UI text inputs.

Usage in files

• server.properties motd and pack.mcmeta: use \u00A7 instead of § (e.g. \u00A75); raw § gets converted to \u00C2\u00A7 (§) which displays as an error.
• Language files: format codes apply to any string, e.g. {"item.minecraft.diamond":"§dDiamond§r"}.
• World names: edit level.dat LevelName tag (e.g. §1R§2e§3d...), or use a resource pack.
• Server names: edit Name in servers.dat (e.g. §4§lMinecraft §6§l Server).

Trivia

• The 16 color codes nearly match the 1981 CGA palette (color 6 differs: #FFAA00 vs #AA5500).
• With fonts other than Mojangles on Bedrock, obfuscated §k shows as dots.
• In Classic, the format symbol was & instead of §.