MOTD Generator

Create a readable Minecraft server list description

Your MOTD tells players what to expect before they join a Minecraft server. A server name, a clear game mode and a useful second line can communicate more than a crowded collection of symbols. This generator combines an editable description, a server list preview and a copyable output so you can plan the message before changing your configuration.

MOTD means “Message of the Day”. On this page, it refers to the description shown in the multiplayer server list. A welcome message sent in chat after joining, the tab list header and the server icon are separate features with their own settings or plugins.

How to use the MOTD generator

1. Edit the preview text. Replace the example with your server name and a short description of its main activity.
2. Select a text section. Use the toolbar to apply colors or styles to the selected words rather than coloring the entire message indiscriminately.
3. Plan the second line. Add a line break to separate the server identity from practical details. The output represents that break as \n.
4. Review the result. Check the line width and contrast. Use undo and redo to compare changes.
5. Copy or share. Copy the generated value for your configuration, or use the link icon to discuss the draft with your team.

To revise an existing description, enter a server address in the IP field and request its MOTD. Retrieval depends on the server and lookup service being reachable. Importing a description creates an editable draft; changes in the browser are not written back to the server.

Apply a MOTD in server.properties

A Java server normally stores its description in server.properties. Stop the server cleanly, back up the file and find motd=. Replace its value with your output, save the file and restart. Refresh the multiplayer list to request the updated description.

A simple legacy-color example is motd=\u00A7aRootsSMP\u00A7r\nCommunity Survival. The first code selects green, the reset ends that formatting and \n separates the visible lines. A hosting panel may manage the file itself or handle escaping differently, so follow its instructions when using a dedicated MOTD field.

A proxy or server list plugin may answer the ping instead of the backend server. If your message does not change, identify which component supplies it before editing several configurations. Repeatedly changing the backend will not help if a proxy overrides its description.

Understand color syntax and preview limitations

Legacy colors and RGB use different formats

Legacy Minecraft formatting uses a section sign followed by a code character. In a compatible properties file, \u00A7 represents that sign. Plugins may instead accept ampersand codes, MiniMessage or structured components. These are different input formats, even when they produce a similar-looking message.

The editor also includes a custom color picker. Its §#RRGGBB representation is not a universally supported Vanilla MOTD syntax. Seeing that color in the browser does not prove your server will interpret it. Start with classic colors for a straightforward server.properties description, and check your plugin or proxy documentation before using custom RGB output.

Text width depends on the font

Minecraft’s normal font is proportional: a W occupies more space than an i. Bold text, client resolution and resource packs can change the available space further. A fixed character count therefore cannot guarantee that a line fits. Alignment controls help with drafting, but the real client is the final check.

Use the first line for identity and the second for useful information such as “Vanilla Survival · Public Community”. Keep temporary event announcements current and use obfuscated text sparingly. If you only need to look up an individual code, the color code table provides a quicker reference.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• PaperMC: server.properties and the MOTD setting
• Minecraft Wiki: Formatting codes