How Minecraft Color Codes Converter Works

The converter reads your input, detects (or uses your selected) legacy marker style, and then interprets Minecraft’s standard color and formatting codes. It understands classic 16-color codes, common formatting toggles (bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, obfuscated), and the 1.16+ legacy hex pattern (for example &x&F&F&0&0&F&F). Once parsed, it rewrites the message to the output format you choose—without changing the underlying text.

Behind the scenes, the tool treats color changes as state transitions, so it can accurately model how resets and decorations behave in-game. That matters when you convert long announcements or multi-line MOTDs where a single misplaced reset can make everything after it lose color. The result is deterministic, copy-ready output designed for config files and message editors.

Step-by-Step

• 1. Paste your formatted message into the input box (MOTD line, plugin message, scoreboard text, lore, etc.).
• 2. Pick an Input format (Auto, Ampersand, or Section sign) so the tool knows which markers to interpret.
• 3. Choose an Output format: Ampersand (&), Section sign (§), Stripped (plain text), or MiniMessage tags.
• 4. Toggle optional settings such as uppercase hex to match your configuration style or plugin expectations.
• 5. Click Generate, then copy or download the converted result for immediate use.

Key Features

Convert between & and § legacy formats

Some environments (like many Bukkit/Spigot/Paper plugins) expect ampersand codes, while others store raw section-sign codes. Convert either direction instantly without manually replacing characters or risking missed sequences in long messages.

This is especially helpful when you share text snippets with teammates or copy from guides—one person may write using & codes for convenience while another exports § codes from a running server. The converter normalizes those differences so you can paste confidently.

Strip formatting for clean plain text

Need the message content without colors for documentation, logs, moderation notes, or translation work? The tool can remove both color and style codes, leaving just the readable text.

Stripping is also useful when you want to re-style a message from scratch: remove everything, then reapply a new palette and emphasis with a consistent set of codes. It prevents “formatting drift” that happens when old decoration codes remain hidden inside copied text.

MiniMessage output for modern server stacks

MiniMessage has become a popular standard in modern Minecraft server ecosystems. Generate tag-based output like <green>, <bold>, and <#FF00FF> so you can paste directly into compatible plugins and message pipelines.

Because tags are easier to read than single-letter codes, MiniMessage output is great for maintaining larger configuration files. It also plays well with text components and advanced features in many modern plugins, making it a practical upgrade path from legacy formatting.

Hex color awareness (1.16+ legacy pattern)

The converter recognizes the legacy hex pattern that looks like &x&R&R&G&G&B&B (and the § variant). When converting, it keeps the correct structure, and for MiniMessage it can output a single <#RRGGBB> tag.

If you use gradients or brand colors, hex support saves time and reduces mistakes. Rather than counting characters by hand, you can paste a hex-formatted line and move it between systems while preserving the exact color you intended.

Copy-ready output plus quick preview

After conversion, you get a clean textarea for copying, a downloadable text file, and a lightweight preview that simulates how the message renders with Minecraft-style colors and decorations. This helps you catch issues like accidental resets or missing style toggles before you paste into a config.

The preview is designed for speed and clarity: it focuses on the essentials—color, bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough—so you can quickly confirm hierarchy and emphasis. For long messages, you can also compare the converted output with the “raw” plain-text extraction to ensure nothing was lost.

Use Cases

• Server MOTD editing: Convert your message-of-the-day between plugin-friendly & codes and raw § codes used in certain files or exports.
• Plugin configuration cleanup: Standardize message formatting across multiple plugins so your branding looks consistent.
• Scoreboard and sidebar text: Quickly test how color and bold/underline changes affect readability on compact UI elements.
• Announcements and broadcasts: Prepare formatted messages that remain readable during fast-paced events and server-wide alerts.
• Discord/website documentation: Strip codes to create a plain-text version of announcements or rules without visual noise.
• MiniMessage migrations: Move from legacy formatting into MiniMessage tags when upgrading to newer plugins or message frameworks.
• Item lore and GUI labels: Convert and preview lines with styling so you can ship polished UI text in menus and custom items.

Whether you’re a server owner, a plugin developer, or a content creator building formatted messages, this converter reduces trial-and-error and keeps your formatting predictable across platforms. Use it for quick one-liners or as part of a workflow where you draft copy, convert formats, and then paste into multiple plugin configs that each have slightly different expectations.

Optimization Tips

Use resets intentionally

The reset code (&r or §r) clears both color and decoration. When you want to end bold or underline but keep a color, reset first and then re-apply the color code so the boundary is unambiguous. This makes long messages easier to maintain and prevents a single decoration from leaking into later lines.

Prefer hex for branding, legacy for maximum compatibility

Hex colors can produce modern-looking gradients and exact brand palettes, but not every client or plugin chain handles them equally. If maximum compatibility matters, convert back to the 16-color legacy palette and test the output in-game. When you do use hex, keep the number of color changes reasonable so the message stays readable.

Design for readability first

High-contrast combinations like yellow on black or white on dark gray are generally more readable in chat and scoreboards. Bold is powerful on short headings, but overusing it can reduce clarity; try using bold for one key phrase and use color for the rest of the structure. Always test on both light and dark UI backgrounds where applicable.

FAQ