Do hex color codes work in vanilla Minecraft?

Yes, but only in Java Edition and only through JSON text components in commands like /tellraw and /title — not by typing a hex code directly into chat, a sign, or a book.

Does Bedrock Edition support hex colors?

No. Hex color codes are a Java Edition-only feature, added in version 1.16. Bedrock is limited to the 16 standard color codes.

Can I use hex colors in Minecraft chat?

Only if the server is running a chat plugin that specifically parses hex codes (commonly via the Adventure/MiniMessage API). There's no vanilla way for a player to send a hex-colored chat message.

What's the difference between hex codes and the 16 standard color codes?

The 16 standard codes are a fixed palette from Minecraft's original formatting system. Hex codes, added in Java 1.16, allow any RGB value but only work through JSON text components — never as a typed character sequence.

Minecraft Hex Color Codes

Pick any RGB color and preview it, then copy the exact command Minecraft needs to render it.

Text to color

Hex color

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Steve

/tellraw command (vanilla Java)

/tellraw @a {"text":"Steve","color":"#55ffaa"}

Legacy hex code (plugin-dependent)

&#55FFAASteve

The /tellraw command works in vanilla Java Edition. The legacy &#RRGGBB format only works on servers running a chat plugin that specifically parses hex codes — it isn't vanilla syntax.

How to Use Hex Colors in Minecraft

Java Edition 1.16 added support for custom hex colors in JSON text components — the format used by commands like /tellraw and /title. Instead of picking from the 16 preset colors, you set a color field to any hex value:

/tellraw @a {"text":"Welcome!","color":"#55FFAA"}

This works in datapacks, command blocks, and directly typed into the chat command line by an operator — it doesn't require a plugin.

Minecraft Hex Color Codes vs the 16 Standard Colors

The legacy system (§/& codes) is limited to 16 fixed colors and predates hex support by years. Hex colors cover the entire RGB range — over 16 million possible colors — but only work through JSON text components, never as a typed character sequence the way legacy codes are. See our full color codes reference for the standard 16-color list.

Where Hex Colors Work (and Don't)

Works: JSON text components in /tellraw, /title, book pages and sign text set via commands, and datapacks.
Doesn't work: typing a hex code directly into chat, a sign, or a book in vanilla Java — there's no keyboard sequence for it, the same restriction that applies to legacy color codes.
Bedrock Edition: does not support hex text colors at all — this is a Java-only feature.

Hex Colors in Server Chat Plugins

Some server chat plugins built on the Adventure/MiniMessage API (or older BungeeCord-style hex parsers) extend hex colors into player chat, typically through a syntax like &#55FFAA. This is entirely plugin-dependent — it only works if the specific server you're on has that plugin installed and configured, not as a built-in Minecraft feature. Our Chat Color Codes guide covers how server-side chat coloring works in general.

Frequently asked questions

Do hex color codes work in vanilla Minecraft?: Yes, but only in Java Edition and only through JSON text components in commands like /tellraw and /title — not by typing a hex code directly into chat, a sign, or a book.
Does Bedrock Edition support hex colors?: No. Hex color codes are a Java Edition-only feature, added in version 1.16. Bedrock is limited to the 16 standard color codes.
Can I use hex colors in Minecraft chat?: Only if the server is running a chat plugin that specifically parses hex codes (commonly via the Adventure/MiniMessage API). There's no vanilla way for a player to send a hex-colored chat message.
What's the difference between hex codes and the 16 standard color codes?: The 16 standard codes are a fixed palette from Minecraft's original formatting system. Hex codes, added in Java 1.16, allow any RGB value but only work through JSON text components — never as a typed character sequence.