Client Side Formatting
by xxlo0tinggxx
Client Side Formatting lets a player use colour and style codes in chat, signs, books and anvil item names, with the changes visible only on that player's own screen.
What it does
Players type formatting codes, with a prefix placed before them, and the client converts the text into coloured or stylised output on screen. Chat messages, sign text, book editing and item renaming on an anvil all accept the codes, so a player can label or decorate text in several places without any extra commands or permissions.
The mod runs only on the client, and it does not need to be installed on a server. Other players see the plain text they would normally see, so the formatting does not change what the server or anyone else receives. It is built for Forge 1.12.2 and is released as version 1.1, first published on 2026-06-13. The code is released under All rights reserved and is not open source.
Key features
Formatted chat messages
Colour and style codes typed in chat are displayed as formatted text in the player's own client.
Book and sign text
Written books and signs show formatted text, so codes can be used in those places as well.
Anvil item names
Names typed on an anvil can carry formatting codes, which show as styled text on the item.
Local-only display
Formatting is applied on the client alone, and the server does not need the mod to keep working.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Decorated chat for one player
A player who wants coloured messages can add them without affecting what other players see.
Labelled items and signs
Players can name anvil items and write sign text with styles, which helps mark storage or routes on their own screen.
Who it’s for: Players on Forge 1.12.2 who want styled text in chat, signs, books and item names, on servers where they cannot install server-side mods.
How it compares
Better Formatting Code is also a Forge 1.12.2 formatting mod, but it runs on both client and server and is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 only. Chat Colours runs on client and server and is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only, for 1.16.5 – 1.20.1. Azalea Chat is server-side only, so players join without installing anything, and it is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Client Side Formatting | Forge | 1.12.2 | Client-side only | 2026-06-13 |
| Better Formatting Code | Forge | 1.12.2 | Client and server | 2024-03-01 |
| Chat Colours | Forge | 1.16.5 – 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2023-06-18 |
| Azalea Chat | Forge | 1.20.1 – 26.1.2 | Server-side only | 2026-05-20 |
Questions
Does Client Side Formatting need to be installed on the server?
Which Minecraft version does Client Side Formatting support?
Do formatting codes show up for other players?
In the catalog
Client Side Formatting is one of 5,392 Social mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,817 Social mods for Forge. 2,920 mods support Minecraft 1.12.2.
Similar mods
What the author says
Client Side Formatting is a simple mod that adds the ability to use client-side text formatting using the new $% prefix. With it, you can conveniently create colorful and stylized text without affecting other players and without the need for commands or additional permissions. All changes are made locally, so you see…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/client-side-formatting
- Owner
- xxlo0tinggxx
- Published
- 2026-06-13
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-06-13
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15