Install and Configure ActionAnnouncer on a Minecraft Server

What ActionAnnouncer Does

Clear server messages help players know what is happening without needing a staff member to repeat the same reminders all day. ActionAnnouncer is a Minecraft plugin that displays configurable announcements above the player's hotbar. It can welcome players when they join, rotate scheduled messages, and remind everyone about rules, votes, events, or other useful server details.

The plugin was created by clip on SpigotMC and supports versions from 1.8 through many modern Minecraft releases. It can run by itself, but it also works well with PlaceholderAPI for dynamic values such as player names, ranks, balances, and server stats.

Download ActionAnnouncer

1. Open the ActionAnnouncer page on SpigotMC.
2. Click the blue Download Now button near the top-right of the page.

1. Save the `.jar` file somewhere easy to find. A downloads folder is fine, provided it does not become the usual mystery drawer.

Install the Plugin

1. Open your server control panel and stop the server completely.
2. Check the server software in your panel's version selector or server settings.

1. Make sure the server is running plugin-compatible software such as PaperMC, Spigot, or another Bukkit-based option. Vanilla Minecraft will not load plugins.
2. Open the FTP client or your server file manager.
3. Find or create the `plugins` folder, then open it.

1. Upload the ActionAnnouncer `.jar` file into the `plugins` folder.
2. Wait for the upload to reach 100%, then start the server again.

After startup finishes, run `plugins` in the server console or `/plugins` in-game if you have permission. ActionAnnouncer should appear in the plugin list.

What Players Will See

By default, ActionAnnouncer shows a join message above the hotbar when a player enters the server. This is useful for a welcome message, a short rule reminder, or a quick pointer to your Discord, store, or voting page.

The plugin can also send repeating announcements while players are online. These can be shown in a fixed order or randomly, depending on the configuration. Common uses include vote reminders, event notices, staff application links, active player counts, and survival world tips.

Using PlaceholderAPI

ActionAnnouncer works on its own, but PlaceholderAPI makes it much more flexible. With PlaceholderAPI expansions installed, announcements can include live information from other plugins. For example, servers using EssentialsX may show a player's balance, nickname, group, or other available placeholders.

If a placeholder displays as plain text instead of converting into a value, confirm that PlaceholderAPI is installed, the required expansion is downloaded, and the related plugin is loaded correctly.

Edit the Configuration

1. Stop the server before changing the config.
2. Open the FTP client or your server file manager.
3. Go to `plugins`, then open the `ActionAnnouncer` folder.

1. Edit `config.yml`.

Important settings include:

• `announcer_enabled`: Turns automatic announcements on or off.
• `announcer_random`: Sends messages randomly instead of in order.
• `announce_interval`: Sets the number of seconds between announcements.
• `announcement_length`: Controls how long each announcement stays visible.
• `announcements`: Contains the list of messages that can be sent.
• `announce_on_join`: Enables or disables the join announcement.
• `join_announcement`: Sets the message shown when a player joins.
• `disable_sounds`: Turns announcement sound effects off.

1. Save the file after making changes.
2. Restart the server so the new settings apply in-game.

YAML spacing matters in `config.yml`, so keep indentation consistent. One extra space can make the file complain, because configuration files enjoy being dramatic.

Common Problems

The plugin or commands are not working

Run `/plugins` in-game or `plugins` from the console. If the command is unavailable or ActionAnnouncer does not appear, the server is probably not running plugin-compatible software such as Paper or Spigot. If the plugin name appears in red, it may be outdated, missing a dependency, or incompatible with the current Minecraft version.

The config file shows an error when saving

A save warning usually means `config.yml` has invalid YAML formatting. Check the line marked by the editor, then look for broken indentation, missing quotation marks, or an unfinished list entry. If the file is too damaged to repair, stop the server, delete `config.yml`, and restart the server to generate a fresh copy.

Helpful Links

• ActionAnnouncer Spigot page
• Guide to finding Minecraft plugins