How to Create and Import a Custom 64x64 Minecraft Server Icon & MOTD (2026 Guide)

Why Your Server Icon and MOTD Matter

Your server icon and MOTD (Message of the Day) are the very first things prospective players see in their multiplayer server list before connecting. A custom, vibrant 64x64 icon combined with a colorized gradient MOTD dramatically increases player click-through rates and establishes credibility for your community.

In this guide, we cover the exact image specifications, formatting options, and how to use the built-in Server Icon Importer on Azion Cloud Minecraft Hosting to upload and test icons without manual FTP transfers.

Technical Requirements for Minecraft Server Icons

• Dimensions: Exactly 64 x 64 pixels. Even a 65x65 or 63x63 image will be silently rejected by the Minecraft server daemon.
• File Format: PNG format (.png). JPEGs and WebP files are not supported by the client.
• Color Depth: Standard 8-bit or 24-bit PNG with support for alpha transparency.
• File Name: Must be named exactly server-icon.png and placed in the root directory alongside your server.properties file.

Designing Pixel-Perfect Icons

Because 64x64 is a tiny canvas, intricate details get lost. Follow these design best practices:

1. High Contrast: Use bright, vivid colors (cyan, emerald, gold, purple) on dark backgrounds so your logo pops in the dark-themed server list.
2. Crisp Edges: Avoid thin 1-pixel outlines that blur when downsampled. Use bold silhouettes or stylized pixel art.
3. Nearest-Neighbor Resampling: When scaling down an existing logo in Photoshop, GIMP, or Photopea, choose "Nearest Neighbor" or "Bicubic Sharper" to prevent blurry edges.

Formatting Your Colorized MOTD

Your MOTD supports up to 2 lines of text displayed under your server name in the multiplayer browser.

Legacy Formatting Codes:

In server.properties, you can use classic section sign color codes (e.g. §b for Aqua, §l for Bold):

motd=§b§lAzion Cloud SMP §8| §a1.21.x §7[§eLow Ping India§7]
§fCustom Survival §7» §dJoin Now!

Modern MiniMessage Gradients (Paper / Purpur):

If you are running Paper, Purpur, or BungeeCord/Velocity with MiniPlaceholders, you can use modern HEX color gradients:

motd=AZION CLOUD SMP » Survival 1.21

Using the Azion Cloud 1-Click Server Icon Importer

Unlike old-fashioned hosting where you have to connect over SFTP and manually upload files, Azion Cloud features a native Server Icon Importer inside the Pterodactyl Game Panel:

1. Log into your Azion Cloud Game Panel.
2. Select your server and open Server Settings.
3. Drag and drop any image into the Server Icon Importer — the panel automatically crops and optimizes the image to 64x64 PNG format.
4. Preview your MOTD and icon live in real time before restarting.