# How to Change Your Minecraft Server MOTD (/docs/minecraft/change-motd)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

The MOTD (Message of the Day) is the text that appears below your server name in the Minecraft multiplayer server list. You can customize it with colors, formatting, and up to **two lines** of text.

Change the MOTD [#change-the-motd]

<Tabs items={['Via Startup (Recommended)', 'Via server.properties']}>
  <Tab value="Via Startup (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open Startup [#open-startup]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Startup** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set the MOTD field [#set-the-motd-field]

        Find the **MOTD** variable and enter your desired text. Use `\n` to create a second line.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart from **Console** for the change to appear in the server list.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via server.properties">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server [#stop-the-server]
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open server.properties [#open-serverproperties]

        Click **Files** and open `server.properties`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set the motd line [#set-the-motd-line]

        Find the `motd=` line and enter your text. Use `\n` for line breaks:

        ```
        motd=Welcome to My Server!\nPvP | Survival | Minigames
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start [#save-and-start]
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Add Color and Formatting [#add-color-and-formatting]

Use the `§` symbol followed by a code to add color or formatting. Color codes can be combined with formatting codes.

```
motd=§a§lMy Server §7- §ePvP Enabled\n§bJoin us today!
```

This produces: **Green bold "My Server"** — gray "-" — yellow "PvP Enabled" — newline — aqua "Join us today!"

Color Codes [#color-codes]

| Code | Color       | Code | Color        |
| ---- | ----------- | ---- | ------------ |
| `§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 [#formatting-codes]

| Code | Effect                                   |
| ---- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `§l` | **Bold**                                 |
| `§o` | *Italic*                                 |
| `§n` | Underline                                |
| `§m` | ~~Strikethrough~~                        |
| `§k` | Obfuscated (random scrambled characters) |
| `§r` | Reset all formatting                     |

Tips [#tips]

| Tip                          | Detail                                                                                                               |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Use an MOTD generator**    | [mctools.org/motd-creator](https://mctools.org/motd-creator) gives you a live preview before copying                 |
| **Two-line limit**           | The MOTD is limited to 2 lines. Anything after a second `\n` is truncated                                            |
| **Test in your own browser** | Add your server to your favorites and check how it looks                                                             |
| **Width matters**            | The MOTD has limited horizontal space — don't write paragraphs                                                       |
| **§ symbol**                 | If you can't type `§`, copy-paste it from this page or use a generator                                               |
| **Escape `\n`**              | Use literal `\n` in `server.properties` (Java reads the escape sequence). Some panel UIs may handle this differently |

Common MOTD Examples [#common-motd-examples]

Simple [#simple]

```
motd=A friendly Minecraft server\nVanilla survival
```

With colors [#with-colors]

```
motd=§l§eAwesome Server\n§7Survival §8| §aSMP §8| §bWhitelist
```

Highlighting events [#highlighting-events]

```
motd=§l§cMy Server §7- §6Halloween Event!\n§eDouble XP this weekend!
```

Rainbow [#rainbow]

```
motd=§cR§6a§ei§an§bb§9o§5w §dServer\n§fJoin the chaos
```

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)
* [Add Server Icon](/docs/minecraft/add-server-icon)
* [Color Codes](/docs/minecraft/use-color-codes)
* [MOTD vs Server Name](/docs/minecraft/server-name-motd)