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Chat Colors project artwork

CurseForge · Minecraft mod

Chat Colors

Allows the use of colours/formatting in chat, item names, and everywhere else that allows you to type.

Choose a version Pick your version below, then grab the matching file.

Quick answer

Which Chat Colors release should I use?

Updated 4 months ago
Latest stable file ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar
Game version 1.21.1
Loader NeoForge

Chat Colors ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar targets 1.21.1 with NeoForge. The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both. No extra mods listed for this file.

Where it goes

Is Chat Colors required on the client, server, or both?

The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

Client Source doesn’t say
Dedicated server Source doesn’t say
Loader for this release NeoForge
Required install it here Optional supported, not mandatory Not supported do not install here Source doesn’t say do not assume

The source does not explicitly classify this release as client-only or server-only.

What else does Chat Colors ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar need?

ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar. Change the file and its required mods may change too.

No extra mods listed for this file

This file does not list any required mods. Do not add a library just because a different file uses it.

This file does not list any required or optional mods.

Before you install it

Add Chat Colors without breaking your instance.

Built for Chat Colors ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar. Pick another file and the loader, install side or required mods may change.

  1. 01

    Stick to this file

    Use ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar. It targets 1.21.1 with NeoForge; another release may have different loader, side or dependency requirements.

  2. 02

    Bring the mods it needs

    This file does not list any required mods. Do not add a library just because a different file uses it.

  3. 03

    Put it on the correct side

    The project page does not say whether this file belongs on the client, dedicated server, or both.

  4. 04

    Pick the file you checked

    Use the “Get this file” button beside ChatColours-1.21.1-2026.04.19.jar. It opens that exact file at the source.

About this project

What does Chat Colors add?

Chat Colours

Overhauls the game's 13 year old text formatting syntax.

Markdown-like syntax

This mod allows you to use markdown-like syntax to format your text in minecraft:

*italic text* -> italic text
**bold text** -> bold text
***bold + italic*** -> bold + italic
__underline__ -> underline
~~strikethrough~~ -> strikethrough
this **is** bold -> this is bold
this __*is* multiple things__ -> this is multiple things

The terminating set of symbols is optional, e.g. **hello will still be bold.

If you put a star at the start of the name of an item in an anvil, it will cancel out the italic

Hex codes/custom colours

This mod allows you to colour your text with custom colours:

[#ff0000]red text

The codes are case-insensitive.


Extended format syntax

This feature has been replaced by new syntax, but still works.

The mod allows you to use named colours instead of the normal single letters.

The names are white, black, blue, green, aqua (or cyan), red, purple, gray and yellow.

The names are case-insensitive.

To use the dark version of the colour (except white and black), put "d", "dark" or "deep" before or after the name. You can optionaly use a space or underscore between the name and the prefix/suffix. For example, §[dark_blue], §[deepblue], §[blue d], §[dblue] all make dark blue text

§[gold], the name MCWiki gives the colour, can also be used for dark yellow.

Bold, underline, italics, etc

You can also use:

  • §[s] for strikeout text,
  • §[b] for bold text,
  • §[o] for obfuscated text,
  • §[u] for underlined text,
  • and §[r] for §r (reset)

Multiple style options

Format options can be chained without needing multiple §s. For example, §[red][u][i]text will show red, bold, underlined text. You need to put the colour before the bold and underline. This is because the colour code resets the style to be coloured, but not italic, bold, etc. This is a minecraft thing, and also applies to vanilla formatting codes.


Use on servers

If you want to use this mod on a server, this mod will have to be installed on it, or the server must otherwise allow you to send '§' in chat, or the server will automatically kick you when you use formatting.

Project description from CurseForge.

Pick your setup

Chat Colors by Minecraft version and loader

Choose the version and loader you play, then open the matching release.

13 available setups

Showing the newest 12 of 13 game versions. Older files are in the list below.

Check the dependencies, then try the file in a copied instance before changing a world you care about.

Recent files

Chat Colors versions and loaders

28 of 28 releases match

Looking for an older file? The official CurseForge project page is in Resources.