--- title: "How to change the MOTD and icon of your Minecraft server | StreetHosting" description: "Give your Minecraft server a professional look: customize the MOTD, add colors, and set a 64x64 server-icon that shows up in the server list." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- Minecraft · 3 min · Beginner Published on Jun 17, 2026 · Updated on Aug 26, 2026 # Change your server's MOTD and icon The MOTD and the icon are your server's first impression in the game list. Here is how to edit the text, add colors and upload a 64 by 64 pixel image. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Minecraft server administration](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/minecraft-administration) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "ChatGPT") [](https://claude.ai/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. 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"Perplexity") Share: [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20change%20the%20MOTD%20and%20icon%20of%20your%20Minecraft%20server&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd "Share on X") [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd "Share on Facebook") [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd "Share on LinkedIn") [](https://wa.me/?text=How%20to%20change%20the%20MOTD%20and%20icon%20of%20your%20Minecraft%20server%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fminecraft%2Fchange-minecraft-server-motd "Share on WhatsApp") For agents: Copy as Markdown [.md](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd.md) In this guide 5 sections * [What the MOTD is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#o-que-e-motd) * [Change the MOTD](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#mudar-a-motd) * [Colors in the MOTD](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#cores-na-motd) * [Add the icon](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#adicionar-icone) * [First impression](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#primeira-impressao) Quick answer To change the **MOTD**, edit the `motd` line in the `server.properties` file through the panel and restart. For the **icon**, upload a 64 by 64 pixel PNG image named `server-icon.png`to the server's root folder. Both show up in the game's server list. ## What the MOTD is[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#o-que-e-motd) MOTD stands for message of the day. It is the short text that appears under the server name in the game list, next to the icon. It is your storefront: a good MOTD with colors and a nice icon look serious and attract more players. ## Change the MOTD[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#mudar-a-motd) 1. Open the panel and go to settings or the file editor. 2. Find the `server.properties` file. 3. Edit the `motd=` line with the text you want. 4. Save and restart the server to apply it. Keep the MOTD short and direct. A strong name and one punchy phrase work better than a long text that gets cut off in the list. To see how the two lines look before restarting, build the text in [MOTD Lab](https://motdlab.streethosting.com.br/?utm%5Fsource=streethosting&utm%5Fmedium=site&utm%5Fcampaign=tools&utm%5Fcontent=guia%3Acomo-mudar-motd-icone-servidor-minecraft) and copy the finished line into `server.properties`. ## Colors in the MOTD[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#cores-na-motd) To add color, use the section sign followed by the color code before the text. Many panels offer a visual MOTD generator that builds this code for you to copy and paste. Use colors sparingly so the text stays readable. Memorizing color codes is a waste of time. [MOTD Lab](https://motdlab.streethosting.com.br/?utm%5Fsource=streethosting&utm%5Fmedium=site&utm%5Fcampaign=tools&utm%5Fcontent=guia%3Acomo-mudar-motd-icone-servidor-minecraft) handles classic colors, hex colors and gradients in a visual editor and shows the result the way players see it in the list, so you just tweak it until it is readable and paste the generated code. ## Add the icon[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#adicionar-icone) * Image in PNG format * Exact size of 64 by 64 pixels * File name equal to server-icon.png * Placed in the root folder, next to server.properties After uploading the file, restart the server. The icon then appears next to the name in the list. If it does not show up, check the size and the file name, which must be exact. ## First impression[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#primeira-impressao) A polished MOTD and icon, combined with good stability, make players click to join. To make sure they can connect on the first try, review [how to connect by IP](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/connect-to-minecraft-server-by-ip). If you are setting everything up now, start with [how to create a server](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/how-to-create-a-minecraft-server) or get a plan on [Minecraft hosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/minecraft). In this guide * [What the MOTD is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#o-que-e-motd) * [Change the MOTD](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#mudar-a-motd) * [Colors in the MOTD](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#cores-na-motd) * [Add the icon](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#adicionar-icone) * [First impression](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/change-minecraft-server-motd#primeira-impressao) ## Frequently asked questions Where is the MOTD setting? In the server.properties file, on the motd line. You edit it through the panel, in the settings section or the file editor, and restart the server to apply it. How do I add colors to the MOTD? Use the section sign followed by a color code, for example a code for blue or green. On Bedrock and in some panels there is a visual picker that does this for you. What is the right icon size? The icon must be a PNG image of exactly 64 by 64 pixels named server-icon.png, placed in the server's root folder. Other sizes do not show up. I changed the MOTD but the old one is still there. Why? Either the server was not restarted or the game cached the information. Restart the server and, on the client, remove the server from the list and add it again. Next step Create a Minecraft server Simple plans for beginners, with activation within 60 seconds, Anti-DDoS and support in Portuguese. [Create a Minecraft server](https://streethosting.com.br/en/minecraft-facil) [Minecraft plans Compare Minecraft hosting options in Brazil.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/minecraft) [See Minecraft Pro Managed hosting on Ryzen with modpacks, optimized Paper and technical support.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/minecraft-pro) ## Related guides [Minecraft Beginner How to create a Minecraft server from scratch (step by step) This guide lays out server creation in a logical order: picking the right resources, launching the jar, accepting the EULA, pointing a domain, setting up the world and inviting players safely. 6 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/minecraft/how-to-create-a-minecraft-server) [Minecraft Beginner How to connect to a Minecraft server by IP Connecting by IP is easy once you know the right address, port and version. 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