How to Add a Server Icon

Direct answer

Java Edition server-list icons use a PNG image named server-icon.png, normally 64 × 64 pixels, in the server’s root directory next to server.properties.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Export a real PNG with exactly 64 × 64 pixel dimensions; renaming a JPEG extension is not enough.
2. Name it server-icon.png using the correct case on case-sensitive hosts.
3. Upload it to the instance’s working directory, not plugins/ or the world folder.
4. Restart the server and refresh the multiplayer server listing to check that the icon appears.

Common mistakes and trade-offs

If a proxy controls the public-facing server list, verify whether its icon configuration takes precedence over the backend icon.

How to verify it worked

Check the file type and actual pixel dimensions, then compare a fresh multiplayer-list ping instead of relying only on cached client list data.

Version and platform differences

This guidance applies to Java server-list icons; Bedrock listing and proxy branding can use different mechanisms.

Official references

These sources were checked for the current MSH revision. Version-sensitive details should always be confirmed against the project documentation for the release you run.

• Paper server.properties reference
• Paper configuration

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