How to color signs in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to dye a sign with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft Java Edition, you can use a dye to change the color of the text on any sign. Let's explore how to dye a sign.

How to color signs in Minecraft
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Required Materials to dye a Sign in Java Edition

In Minecraft Java Edition, these are the materials you can use to dye a sign:

Sign

First, you need to choose a sign:

Dye

Next, you will need to choose a dye (the dye will determine the color of the text on the sign):

TIP: This method of dying a sign only works in Java Edition.

Steps to Dye a Sign in Java Edition

1. Place a Sign

In Minecraft Java Edition, you can dye any sign once it has been placed. By default, the text on all signs is black.

Here is an oak sign that has the text "Hello from DigMinecraft".

How to color signs in Minecraft

To dye a sign, choose your dye and place it in the hotbar. Make sure that the dye is the selected item in the hotbar. In this example, we have chosen red dye to use as our dye color.

2. Use the Dye

Then use the dye on the sign. The game control to use the dye depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click on the sign.

When the sign has been dyed, the text on the sign will change color. In this case, we have used red dye so the color of the writing on the sign is now red.

How to color signs in Minecraft

Congratulations, you just learned how to dye a sign in Minecraft Java Edition.

Other Things to Do with Signs

Here are some other activities that you can do with signs in Minecraft:

Other Beginner Tutorials

Customization plays a huge role in the Minecraft experience. Ask any Minecraft player; they’ll probably agree. The vanilla game is incredibly fun as is, but the freedom players have to mess around with the world with little to no limitations is what has most of them coming back.

How to color signs in Minecraft

We’ve covered Minecraft mods and Minecraft servers. In this article, we’ll take a look at something a little simpler (but no less fun) to pull off: Minecraft Color Codes. 

Let’s get started!

  • What Are Minecraft Color Codes/Formatting Codes?
  • How do I Use Minecraft Color Codes?
  • Colored Text for Minecraft Signs
  • Colored Text for Minecraft Server Messages
  • Minecraft Formatting Codes to Know
  • Minecraft Color Codes
  • Using Minecraft Color Codes
  • Why Use Minecraft Color Codes
  • Conclusion 

What Are Minecraft Color Codes/Formatting Codes?

Minecraft players can customize the format of certain textual elements using Minecraft Color Codes and Minecraft Formatting Codes. 

The former, for instance, can be used to change the color of in-game texts. It can also be used to assign colors to different teams or change the color of dyed leather armor. 

How to color signs in Minecraft

How to color signs in Minecraft

These color codes can also be used to create colored signs or add color to server messages.

The latter can be used to format in-game texts, like making announcements bold or italic.

Helpful Links:

  • Blog Article: Minecraft Adventure Mode
  • Blog Article: Minecraft Potions

How do I Use Minecraft Color Codes?

You can change the color of Minecraft texts by using the Section Sign (§) followed by a Hex Digit. This hex digit is the color code, and each digit is assigned a specific color. 

For instance, the code §0 would result in the color black.

How to color signs in Minecraft
 

Code §6, on the other hand, would result in the color gold.

Take Note: text formatting and text color formatting may lie within the same vein of visual modification, but the game sees them as separate. 

In the Java Edition of Minecraft, a color code used after a formatting code disables the formatting code beyond the color code point. To help you visualize this using text, writing the codes in this order:

Format Text font: Arial, color: green, size: 12pt, bold | Color Text: black

… would cancel out the text formatting after the color indicator. In other words, the text would not be bolded and sized 12.

So when using a color code along with formatting code, always type the color code first. Again, in textual visualization, that would look something like:

Color Text: green | Format Text font: Arial, size: 12pt, bold

You don’t have to worry about this if you’re using the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, though. In Bedrock, formatting codes will still persist even if typed after a color code.

Colored Text for Minecraft Signs

Creating a sign with colored text in Minecraft is pretty easy! If you’re running the Bedrock Edition, all you have to do is:

  1. Place a sign on the ground
  2. Type the “§” sign, followed by the corresponding number for the color you want. This is the color code

Don’t worry: the “§” won’t show on the sign once you exit.

Colored Text for Minecraft Server Messages

You can also change the color of your Minecraft Server’s Message of the Day (MOTD) by inserting a color code before the message. It’s as easy as changing the color in Minecraft. Only the codes are different.

To change the color, access your Server Properties or Server Files how you would normally access them.

Before the message, insert the appropriate color code. 

Ex. \u00A76 “Welcome Back to the Server”!

Save your changes, close your server, and then restart it. If done correctly, you should see the new MOTD in the correct color – which, in our example, should be gold.

Here’s a quick list of Minecraft Color Codes for the Minecraft Server’s MOTD:

\u00A70 – BLACK

\u00A71 – DARK BLUE

\u00A72 – DARK GREEN

\u00A73 – DARK AQUA

\u00A74 – DARK RED

\u00A75 – DARK PURPLE

\u00A76 – GOLD

\u00A77 – GRAY

\u00A78 – DARK GRAY

\u00A79 – INDIGO

\u00A7a – GREEN

\u00A7b – AQUA

\u00A7c – RED

\u00A7d – PINK

\u00A7e – YELLOW

\u00A7f – WHITE

Minecraft Formatting Codes to Know

There are actually fewer formatting codes than color codes in Minecraft, which makes them quite easy to remember. This article will still be focused on color codes, but here are some Minecraft formatting codes that may be useful to know:

  • §l = bold text
  • §m = strikethrough text
  • §o = italicize text
  • §n = underline text

How to color signs in Minecraft

Here is a full list of codes, listed according to Chat Code number (0-9) or letter (alphabetized; a-g).

Color Code Foreground Color Hex Background Color Hex
Black (black) §0 000000  000000 
Dark Blue (dark_blue) §1 0000AA 00002A
Dark Green (dark_green) §2 00AA00 002A00
Dark Aqua (dark_aqua) §3 00AAAA 002A2A
Dark Red (dark_red) §4 AA0000 2A0000
Dark Purple (dark_purple) §5 AA00AA  2A002A 
Gold (gold) §6 FFAA00  2A2A00 | 402A00 
Gray (gray) §7 AAAAAA 2A2A2A
Dark Gray (dark_gray) §8 555555 151515
Blue (blue) §9 5555FF 15153F
Green (green) §a 55FF55 153F15
Aqua (aqua) §b 55FFFF 153F3F
Red (red) §c FF5555 3F1515
Light Purple (light_purple) §d FF55FF FF55FF
Yellow (yellow) §e FFFF55 FFFF55
White (white) §f FFFFFF FFFFFF
Minecoin Gold (minecoin_gold) §g DDD605 DDD605

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Using Minecraft Color Codes

Minecraft will only recognize the color codes as such if the digit is preceded by the “§” symbol. It’s an unusual symbol, to be sure, and not one that can easily be found on a standard keyboard. Here’s how to type it out:

  • On a Windows US/UK English Keyboard: Alt + NUMPAD2, NUMPAD1
  • On a Windows ANSI Keyboard (or any other keyboard): Alt + NUMPAD0, NUMPAD1, NUMPAD6, NUMPAD7
  • On a Mac US English Keyboard: Option + 6 | Option + 5 (for US Extended)
  • On a MAC Keyboard (any other type of keyboard): Option + 00a7
  • On a Linux with Compose Key activated: Compose, s, o

If you wish to copy-paste the character, you can do so on Bedrock Edition using the standard commands (ctrl + v for Windows and cmd + v for Mac). However, do take note that some Minecraft text boxes cannot be pasted into (such as chat windows, command blocks, world names, etc.).

Helpful Articles:

  • Blog Article: Minecraft Texture Packs 
  • Blog Article: Minecraft Forge

Why Use Minecraft Color Codes

Minecraft Color Codes and Minecraft Formatting Codes are just a few more ways Minecraft allows its players to customize their games. Changing text may not directly impact gameplay by imposing advantages (or disadvantages, even). However, it can make people enjoy the game even more. 

How to color signs in Minecraft

As we’ve stated in the beginning, customization and modification have always played a huge role in the Minecraft experience. In fact, there’s a pretty large market for Minecraft mods (although we use that term loosely, as most Minecraft mods are free).

Conclusion 

Learning color codes is just another way for players to spice up their game. If taken in the context of coding for kids, it’s even a viable introduction to hexadecimal codes and coloring for programming with HTML or CSS later on.

Let’s cover the key topics we went over:

Table of Contents

    • What Are Minecraft Color Codes/Formatting Codes?
    • How do I Use Minecraft Color Codes?
    • Colored Text for Minecraft Signs
    • Colored Text for Minecraft Server Messages
    • Minecraft Formatting Codes to Know
    • Minecraft Color Codes
    • Using Minecraft Color Codes
    • Why Use Minecraft Color Codes
    • Conclusion

If you want more related Minecraft articles you can check a list of resources below:

  • Blog Article: 12 Surprising Things Your Child Can Learn From Minecraft
  • Blog Article: What are Minecraft Mods? A Quick Guide for Parents

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Can you dye signs in Minecraft?

In Minecraft Java Edition, you can dye any sign once it has been placed. By default, the text on all signs is black. Here is an oak sign that has the text "Hello from DigMinecraft". To dye a sign, choose your dye and place it in the hotbar.

How do you color signs in Minecraft bedrock?

Here are a few examples of how to enter colored signs in Bedrock Edition:.
Example #1. Using §b changes the color of the text to Aqua: §bColored..
Example #2. Using multiple color codes changes the color for each letter: §cC§6o§el§ao§br..
Example #3. Using format codes such as §l can set the text to bold: §bhi §lhi..

How do you color text in Minecraft?

Changing Text Color in Minecraft on Windows 10.
Find your desired text color in the color code list..
In the chat, enter the section (§) symbol before starting to type. To do that, hold down the Alt key. ... .
Type in the color code in front of your text. ... .
Enter your text and send it..