Whisper to one player
/msg Alex Meet me at the baseOnly Alex sees the message, marked as a whisper.
/msg command in Minecraft
/msg sends a private message that only the chosen players can read. It also answers to /tell and /w. Any player can use it, even on a world without cheats, to coordinate with a friend without filling the public chat.
Syntax
/msg <targets> <message>| Argument | Expects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| targets | Player selectorone or several | Player name or selector such as @p, @a or @a[distance=..20]. Only players, not other entities. |
| message | Message | Private text, up to 256 characters in chat. Only the sender and the targets can read it. |
Examples
Reply with the short alias
/w Alex On my way/w does exactly the same as /msg and is faster to type.
Whisper to nearby players
/tell @a[distance=..20] The shop is openEvery player within 20 blocks receives the message privately.
Build your commandFill in the fields, then copy the command.
Command generatorWhat the receiver sees
The target reads Name whispers to you: message and you get You whisper to Name: message. The line appears in gray italics, so it stands out from public chat. Nobody else sees the exchange. /tell and /w are aliases and behave exactly the same.
Choosing the targets
Type a player name or use a selector. @a whispers to everyone online, @a[distance=..20] only to players within 20 blocks, and @a[team=Red] to the members of a team. Only players can receive a whisper, so @e is refused. If the name is wrong or the player is offline, the game answers No player was found. To talk to your whole team, /teammsg is shorter.
Tips
- Permission level 0: works in survival without cheats.
- Chat input is limited to 256 characters.
- For colored private text, an operator can send /tellraw to a single player.
- For a message to everyone with your name in front, use /say.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 2 November 2026
/msg: FAQ
What is the difference between /msg, /tell and /w?
There is none. /tell and /w are aliases of /msg and accept exactly the same arguments.
Can other players read my /msg messages?
No. Only you and the players you target see the message in chat. Use @a only if you really want to whisper to everyone.
How do I use /msg?
Type it in the chat, no cheats needed: /msg <targets> <message>.
Who can use /msg?
Every player.
Related commands
/meEveryone/tellrawCheats/titleCheats/teammsgEveryone/bossbarCheats/dialogCheats/playsoundCheats/stopsoundCheats