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Server Commands

How to Use the /title Command

The /title command flashes big center text across every player's screen, perfect for round wins, boss intros and event announcements. Pair it with a subtitle and custom timing and you get a clean cinematic banner with no plugins.

server console, Paper 1.21
VICTORY ROYALE
the dragon has been slain
> /title @a title {"text":"VICTORY ROYALE","color":"gold"}
[Server] Showing new title to 4 player(s)
[12:04:31 INFO]: CONSOLE issued server command: /title @a title …
The full title sequence
  1. 1
    Pick who sees it
    Use a target selector right after the word title. /title @a aims at everyone, /title @p at the nearest player, /title Steve at one name.
  2. 2
    Set the timing first
    /title @a times 10 70 20 sets fade-in, stay and fade-out in ticks (20 ticks = 1 second). Run this before the title so the next title uses it.
  3. 3
    Send the big title
    /title @a title {"text":"VICTORY","color":"gold","bold":true} shows the large center text. The JSON must be valid, mind the braces and quotes.
  4. 4
    Add a subtitle
    /title @a subtitle {"text":"the dragon is dead"} queues the smaller line. It only appears when you next send a title, so run subtitle, then title.
  5. 5
    Use actionbar or clear
    /title @a actionbar {"text":"Saved"} prints above the hotbar with no fade. /title @a clear removes a showing title; reset restores default times.

What you need

/title sub-commands
JSON text component
times (in ticks)
@a / @p selectors

Quick answers

?
Why does my subtitle not show?
A subtitle only appears alongside a title. Send /title @a subtitle … first, then /title @a title … right after. On its own the subtitle is just queued.
?
What is the times order?
It is fade-in, stay, fade-out, all in ticks. /title @a times 10 70 20 means half a second in, 3.5 seconds held, 1 second out. Run reset to go back to defaults.
?
Can I color the text?
Yes. Use JSON: {"text":"Hi","color":"gold"}. Named colors and hex like "#55ffaa" both work, plus bold, italic and underlined as true/false fields.
?
How do I clear a title early?
/title @a clear hides any title currently on screen for those players. It does not change your times; use /title @a reset to also restore default timing.
?
Does actionbar use the times?
No. The actionbar variant ignores the times values and stays for a fixed moment, refreshing if you resend it. Use it for short status text, not big reveals.
?
Why does it say invalid JSON?
The text component must be valid: {"text":"Hello"} with double quotes. In a command block escaping is automatic; in chat type the braces exactly as shown.
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