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MUMinecraft UsernameCheck a name

Minecraft Username Color & Style Checker

Preview how text looks with Minecraft's built-in chat colors and formatting, then copy the exact code to use in-game.

Important: this does not change your actual account username

Mojang only allows plain letters, numbers, and underscores in account usernames — no color or formatting codes. This tool styles displayed text: chat messages, signs, books, server MOTDs, nicknames set by plugins, and similar places where Minecraft renders formatting codes. It is a visual preview and copyable code, not a way to recolor your login name.

Color

Formatting

Live preview

Steve

Section-sign code (in-game chat, signs, books)

§aSteve

Ampersand code (server plugins, MOTD configs)

&aSteve

Where formatting codes actually work

  • Chat messages (if the server allows color codes in chat)
  • Signs and written/lectern books
  • Server MOTDs and tab-list names, when configured by a server admin
  • Nicknames set through server plugins (e.g. Essentials-style nickname commands)
  • Text components in commands, like /tellraw and /title

Vanilla single-player and most servers will not apply these codes to a player's actual username above their head or in the player list — that always shows the plain account name.

Section sign vs. ampersand codes

Minecraft itself reads the section sign (§) followed by a code character. Since § is awkward to type, most server plugins let admins write & instead and translate it internally — that's why we give you both formats to copy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make my username a different color permanently?
No. Account usernames are always displayed in plain text by Minecraft and Mojang — color codes only apply to text rendered in chat, signs, books, and similar formatted-text contexts, not to the username itself.
Why doesn't the obfuscated code do anything in the preview?
The obfuscated format code (k) tells Minecraft to rapidly cycle the displayed characters at random — a live animation that only happens inside the actual game. Our preview shows the underlying text with a note instead of faking the animation.
Will color codes work on every server?
It depends on the server's configuration. Some servers disable color codes in chat entirely, while others enable them fully. Signs and books generally support formatting in both single-player and most servers.

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