--- title: "Setting Up a Custom MOTD and Server Icon | ZCraft Studios" description: "The server list entry is the first thing anyone sees before joining. A default MOTD and missing icon is an easy thing to fix in five minutes." url: "https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-motd-icon-setup" updated: "2026-10-20T07:15:13.005688+00:00" source: "ZCraft Studios" --- > Site index for AI agents: https://www.zcraftstudios.com/llms.txt (full reference: https://www.zcraftstudios.com/llms-full.txt). Every page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL or sending `Accept: text/markdown`. 1. [Home](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/) 2. [Blog](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog) 3. Setting Up a Custom MOTD and Server Icon [ All posts](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog) # Setting Up a Custom MOTD and Server Icon ZCraft StudiosOct 3, 2026Updated Oct 20, 2026 The server list entry is the first thing anyone sees before joining. A default MOTD and missing icon is an easy thing to fix in five minutes. ## In this guide - [Setting a Basic MOTD](#setting-a-basic-motd) - [Using MiniMessage Formatting (Paper)](#using-minimessage-formatting-paper) - [Adding a Server Icon](#adding-a-server-icon) - [Common Icon Mistakes](#common-icon-mistakes) - [Per-Player or Dynamic MOTDs](#per-player-or-dynamic-motds) - [Testing Without Restarting Repeatedly](#testing-without-restarting-repeatedly) - [Preparing a server icon that actually displays](#preparing-a-server-icon-that-actually-displays) - [Official documentation and links](#official-documentation-and-links) - [Test the server list entry on real clients](#test-the-server-list-entry-on-real-clients) ## Setting Up a Custom MOTD and Server Icon _Before anyone joins, they see the server list entry, so the MOTD and icon are doing all the first-impression work at that point._ The MOTD (message of the day) and server icon are what show up in a player's multiplayer server list before they even connect. A generic default MOTD and a missing icon is one of the easiest, lowest-effort things to fix on an otherwise polished server. ## Setting a Basic MOTD In `server.properties`: ``` motd=A Survival Server With Something Different ``` Vanilla MOTD supports basic color codes using `&` followed by a code (`&a` for green, `&c` for red, and so on) and `\n` for a second line. ## Using MiniMessage Formatting (Paper) Modern Paper versions support MiniMessage-formatted MOTDs for gradients and more advanced styling, typically configured via a small plugin or Paper's own config rather than the plain `server.properties` field, since the raw properties file only supports legacy color codes: ``` Welcome to the Network A fresh take on survival Minecraft ``` The exact setup depends on whether a MOTD plugin is used or Paper's native per-version MOTD config supports MiniMessage directly, so it's worth checking current Paper documentation for the server's specific version. ## Adding a Server Icon Minecraft expects a `server-icon.png` file, exactly **64×64 pixels**, placed in the server's root folder (next to `server.properties`). It's picked up automatically. No config entry is needed, just the correctly-named and correctly-sized file in the right place. ## Common Icon Mistakes - **Wrong dimensions.** Anything other than exactly 64×64 either gets rejected or displayed incorrectly. Resizing a logo without checking exact pixel dimensions is the most common cause of an icon not showing up. - **Wrong file name or format.** It must be named exactly `server-icon.png`, not `icon.png`, not `.jpg`, and not with a different case. - **Caching.** Minecraft clients cache server icons per IP, so after changing it, a client may need to remove and re-add the server (or wait for the cache to refresh) to see the updated version. ## Per-Player or Dynamic MOTDs Some setups show a different MOTD depending on server status (maintenance mode, whitelist-only, player count thresholds). This usually comes from a dedicated MOTD plugin reacting to server state, rather than a single static line in `server.properties`. If presentation-level polish across MOTD, TAB, and scoreboard is the goal, ZCraft Studios' [catalog](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/products) has several ready-made configs covering exactly that kind of first-impression detail. ## Testing Without Restarting Repeatedly Most MOTD changes via `server.properties` require a restart to take effect, though some MOTD plugins support live reload. It's worth checking a specific plugin's documentation before assuming a restart is required every time. ## Preparing a server icon that actually displays For Minecraft Java Edition, use a square **64 × 64 PNG** named `server-icon.png`, placed in the server's root directory alongside `server.properties`. Do not use a JPEG renamed to PNG. Restart the server and refresh the multiplayer list to confirm the client shows the icon. The server list description comes from the `motd` property in `server.properties`. Back up the file, change the text, then restart rather than assuming every change updates live. ### Troubleshooting the preview - **Old icon still appears:** Refresh the multiplayer list and check that you edited the correct server instance. - **No icon appears:** Verify the filename, 64 × 64 dimensions, PNG encoding, and root-directory location. - **MOTD is unreadable:** Shorten the text and test its appearance in the real client; formatting support differs by server and plugin. - **Proxy network shows different text:** Check whether the proxy controls the public server-list response instead of the backend server. Make the MOTD useful: tell players the game mode or current season before adding decorative symbols. ## Official documentation and links - [Paper server.properties reference](https://docs.papermc.io/paper/reference/server-properties/) - [Naming and Branding a Minecraft Server](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-branding) ## Test the server list entry on real clients After changing the MOTD or icon, ping the server from the Minecraft client version your audience uses. Verify the icon uses the format and pixel dimensions required by the server software, and keep the text readable without depending on unsupported formatting codes. Compare the appearance on light and dark UI contexts, and avoid promising gameplay features in the MOTD that are not actually enabled. ## Continue reading - [Setting Up Slimefun for Custom Tech and Magic](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/slimefun-custom-tech-magic-setup) - [Setting Up ItemsAdder for Custom Items and Blocks](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/itemsadder-custom-items-blocks-setup) - [Setting Up Custom Enchantments Beyond Vanilla](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/custom-enchantments-plugin-setup) - [Adding Custom Crafting Recipes With a Datapack](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/custom-crafting-recipes-datapack-guide) [ Previous guide Hardening a Minecraft Server With a Firewall](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-firewall-hardening)[ Next guide BlueMap vs Dynmap: Which Minecraft Web Map Plugin Is Better?](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/bluemap-vs-dynmap-comparison)