What MiniMOTD works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Paper, Folia, Spigot, Sponge, Velocity, Waterfall, BungeeCord |
| Minecraft versions | 1.8.8, 1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.20.6, 1.21, 1.21.8, 26.1, 26.2 |
MiniMOTD replaces the default multiplayer server list message with one you control, written in MiniMessage syntax for RGB colors and gradients. It ships as separate builds for Paper, Folia, and Sponge servers, Velocity and Waterfall proxies, and even Fabric and NeoForge for modded servers. Every build is on version 2.2.4, but which Minecraft versions each one supports is not the same across platforms.
What a MOTD plugin changes on your server list
The MOTD, short for message of the day, is the text and icon a player sees in the multiplayer server list before they ever click join. Vanilla Minecraft reads it from a single line in server.properties, with no colors and no way to rotate messages. MiniMOTD replaces that with a config file, so the message can use gradients, multiple rotating lines, live tokens for the current player count, and a custom icon instead of one plain sentence.
Supported server software and proxies
Support is not identical across platforms. Paper and Folia builds cover 1.21.8 through 26.2. Sponge reaches back further, to 1.16.5. Velocity, Waterfall, Fabric, and NeoForge builds currently only declare 26.2, the newest release, so a server running an older proxy or a modded loader may need to wait for a matching build or stay on an older MiniMOTD release.
- Paper, dedicated -paper jar, 1.21.8 through 26.2
- Spigot and older Paper, -bukkit jar, 1.8.8 through 1.21.7
- Folia, 1.21.8 through 26.2
- Sponge, 1.16.5 through 26.2
- Velocity, 26.2
- Waterfall and BungeeCord share one jar, 26.2
- Fabric (needs Fabric API installed separately) and NeoForge, 26.2
Installing and configuring MiniMOTD
- 1.Download the jar built for your platform from the Modrinth page linked above.
- 2.Drop it into your server's plugins folder (or mods folder for Fabric and NeoForge), then restart once.
- 3.Edit the generated main.conf to write your MOTD lines in MiniMessage tags, such as <rainbow> or <gradient:blue:red>, and pick an icon per line.
- 4.Reload changes with /minimotd reload instead of a full restart. The command needs the minimotd.admin permission node.
The config also covers player count display. MOTD lines can include the {onlinePlayers} and {maxPlayers} tokens, and the player-count-settings block can inflate the shown count by a fixed number or percentage, hide it entirely, or pad the max player value so the server looks a set number of slots away from full.
Proxy networks and MiniMessage formatting
Running MiniMOTD on Velocity or Waterfall unlocks proxy-only configuration. The plugin_settings.conf file can map a different MOTD config to each virtual host, so a network running several server brands behind one proxy address can give each one its own message and icon. MiniMOTD also lists MiniPlaceholders as an optional dependency for servers that already run it, though it is not required for the core MOTD or icon features.
RGB colors and gradients only render for players on a 1.16 or newer client connecting through a proxy or 1.16-plus server. Older clients still see a message, just with the colors automatically downsampled to the legacy 16-color palette rather than dropped.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about MiniMOTD.
5 questions
How do I install MiniMOTD?
Download the jar built for your platform, Paper, Folia, Sponge, Velocity, Waterfall, Fabric, or NeoForge, from Modrinth. Bukkit-family servers need the -paper jar on 1.21.8 or newer, or the -bukkit jar on 1.8.8 through 1.21.7. Drop the jar into your plugins or mods folder, restart once, then edit main.conf to set your MOTD lines and icon.
Does MiniMOTD work with Velocity and Waterfall?
Yes, both proxies get a dedicated build, with Waterfall and BungeeCord sharing one jar. Velocity and Waterfall installs also support plugin_settings.conf, which assigns a different MOTD to each virtual host, useful for a network running more than one server brand behind a single proxy address.
Which Minecraft version does MiniMOTD support?
It depends on the build. Paper and Folia cover 1.21.8 through 26.2, Sponge reaches back to 1.16.5, and the Velocity, Waterfall, Fabric, and NeoForge builds currently only declare 26.2. Check the versions tab on Modrinth for your specific platform before downloading.
Does MiniMOTD need a permissions plugin?
No. It guards a single command, /minimotd reload, behind the minimotd.admin permission node. Any server's built-in permission handling, or an optional plugin like LuckPerms, can grant that node. Everything else is config-driven, with no other commands to manage.
Is MiniMOTD safe to use on a multiplayer server?
MiniMOTD is MIT licensed and open source on GitHub, distributed through Modrinth, Hangar, and GitHub releases. It only changes what appears in the server list ping, an icon and a text message. It has no client-side component and does not touch player data, permissions, or world files.
