Red warning to all players
/tellraw @a {"text":"Server restart in 5 minutes","color":"red"}Everyone sees the warning in red, with no sender name.
/tellraw command in Minecraft
/tellraw sends a formatted message to chosen players, written as JSON text. Unlike /say, it shows no sender name, and it supports colors, bold text, player names, scores and translated names. It is the standard tool for map dialogue and server messages.
Syntax
/tellraw <targets> <message>| Argument | Expects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| targets | Player selectorone or several | Players who receive the text: a name, @a, @p or @a[team=Red]. Other entities are not accepted. |
| message | JSON text | JSON text, like "Hello" or {"text":"Hello","color":"gold"}. A list [...] joins several parts. |
Examples
Greet the nearest player by name
/tellraw @a [{"text":"Welcome, ","color":"gray"},{"selector":"@p","color":"gold"}]The second part is replaced by the name of the nearest player, in gold.
Show each player their score
/execute as @a run tellraw @s [{"text":"Your kills: "},{"score":{"name":"@s","objective":"kills"}}]Each player reads their own value of the kills objective.
Name a block in every language
/tellraw @a {"translate":"block.minecraft.diamond_block","color":"aqua"}Each player reads the name of the Block of Diamond in the language of their game.
Build your commandFill in the fields, then copy the command.
Command generatorSimple JSON text forms
"Hello": plain text in quotes.{"text":"Hello","color":"gold","bold":true}: styled text. Colors includered,green,aqua,gold,grayor a hex code like"#A6F23C".[{"text":"Hi "},{"selector":"@p"}]: a list joins several parts, here with a player name.{"score":{"name":"@s","objective":"kills"}}: shows a score from /scoreboard.{"translate":"block.minecraft.diamond_block"}: each player reads the name in their own language.
Common errors
A missing quote or brace makes the command fail, and the chat box marks the faulty part in red. Since 1.21.5, event keys are written click_event and hover_event: older guides using clickEvent no longer work. In a score, @s is whoever runs the command, not the reader. To show each player their own score, use /execute: execute as @a run tellraw @s ....
Where to use it
Put /tellraw in a Command Block or a /function for map dialogue, rules or a welcome message. For big text in the middle of the screen, use /title. Players without operator rights can still react to clickable text through /trigger.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 2 November 2026
/tellraw: FAQ
What is the difference between /tellraw and /say?
/say adds the sender name and only sends plain text to everyone. /tellraw picks its targets, shows no sender, and supports colors, styles, scores and translated names.
How do I add a line break in /tellraw?
Put \n inside a text value, for example {"text":"Line one\nLine two"}. The chat shows the two parts on separate lines.
How do I use /tellraw?
Type it in the chat with cheats on: /tellraw <targets> <message>.
Who can use /tellraw?
Cheats on, or operator level 2.