If you run a Garry’s Mod server with ULX, the MOTD, or “Message of the Day,” is one of the easiest ways to communicate important information to players. You can use it to display server rules, community information, Discord links, website addresses, donation pages, staff information, or general announcements.
One question that comes up frequently is: GMod ULX how to add text with URL to MOTD? The good news is that you do not need to build a complicated addon just to put text and links inside your server’s MOTD. Depending on how your ULX MOTD is configured, you can use HTML content or point ULX toward an externally hosted webpage.
ULX provides MOTD-related configuration options, including settings for displaying the MOTD, using an MOTD file, and using a URL. The ulx motd command can also be used to open the message of the day manually. GMod ULX
Let’s go through the process step by step and look at the most reliable ways to add text and clickable URLs.
What Is the ULX MOTD in GMod?
The MOTD is essentially a welcome or information page displayed to players on a Garry’s Mod server. Server owners commonly use it to explain rules, provide useful links, introduce the community, or tell players where they can find additional information. GMod ULX
With ULX installed, players can generally open the MOTD using the !motd chat command, while administrators can also use the corresponding ULX command. This makes the MOTD useful even when you don’t want it to appear automatically every time somebody joins.
The MOTD can contain ordinary text, formatting, and, depending on the implementation and HTML support available, links to external websites. This makes it much more useful than simply sending a message through chat. GMod ULX
For example, instead of repeatedly telling players, “Join our Discord at example.com,” you can place something like this directly into your MOTD: GMod ULX
Welcome to our server!
Please read the server rules before playing. GMod ULX
Discord:
Website:
This gives new players the information they need without requiring an administrator to explain everything manually. GMod ULX
Where Is the ULX MOTD Located?
If you GMod ULX how to add text with URL to MOTD ‘re using a local MOTD file, one of the important places to check is the ULX data directory. Depending on the ULX version and configuration, you may find the MOTD-related files under the server’s garrysmod/data/ulx/ directory.
Older ULX setups commonly use a file such as motd.txt, although the exact filename and configuration can differ between installations. Community documentation also shows examples of editing the MOTD file inside the ULX data directory. GMod ULX
The first thing you should do is stop your server or make a backup of the relevant configuration before making major changes. This is especially useful if you’re running a public server with a lot of customized ULX settings. GMod ULX
Once you locate the MOTD file, open it with a proper text editor. Notepad++ or another code-friendly editor is generally more comfortable than basic Notepad because you can see formatting and HTML more clearly. GMod ULX
Before changing anything, make a copy of the original file. If something goes wrong, you can simply restore the backup rather than rebuilding the entire MOTD.
How to Add Simple Text to the MOTD
Adding normal text is the easiest part. If your MOTD uses HTML, you can structure the content with basic HTML elements.
For example:
<h1>Welcome to Our GMod Server</h1>
<p>Thanks for joining our community.</p>
<p>Please read the rules before playing.</p>
<p>Have fun and respect other players!</p>
The <h1> element creates a heading, while <p> creates paragraphs.
You can also add several sections to make the MOTD easier to read:
<h2>Server Rules</h2>
<p>1. No cheating.</p>
<p>2. Respect other players.</p>
<p>3. Do not exploit server bugs.</p>
<p>4. Listen to staff members.</p>
This is much cleaner than putting every piece of information on one giant line. GMod ULX
Keep in mind that MOTD behavior can vary depending on the GMod/ULX setup and how the content is being displayed. If your HTML does not appear as expected, test the MOTD in-game rather than assuming that every browser feature will work exactly like it does on a normal website. GMod ULX
How to Add a URL to Your ULX MOTD
Now we get to the important part: adding a URL.
If your goal is simply to show a web address, you can place the URL directly into your MOTD text:
<p>Visit our website: https://example.com/</p>
However, if you want the URL to appear as a proper clickable link, HTML’s anchor element is the better approach: GMod ULX
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Visit Our Website</a>
You can make the link more descriptive:
<p>
Join our community:
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Click Here</a>
</p>
The important part is the href attribute. It tells the browser-like HTML display where the link should lead.
For example: GMod ULX
<a href=”https://discord.com/”>Join Our Discord</a>
Instead of showing a long URL, players may see the cleaner text Join Our Discord.
This is particularly useful when your MOTD contains several links.
Adding Multiple Links to the MOTD
A server MOTD often needs more than one URL. You might want a Discord link, website, donation page, rules page, and Steam group.
You can organize them like this:
<h2>Useful Links</h2>
<p>
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Server Website</a>
</p>
<p>
<a href=”https://discord.com/”>Join Our Discord</a>
</p>
<p>
<a href=”https://steamcommunity.com/”>Steam Community</a>
</p>
This creates a simple list of links that players can access.
You can also make the presentation more compact:
<p>
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Website</a> |
<a href=”https://discord.com/”>Discord</a> |
<a href=”https://steamcommunity.com/”>Steam</a>
</p>
The second method works nicely when you want a small navigation section near the top of your MOTD.
Using ULX’s MOTD URL Setting
There is another approach that can be even better for a professional server: hosting your MOTD as an external webpage.
ULX has an ulx motdurl configuration option specifically for setting the MOTD to a URL. ULX documentation references ulx motdurl as the setting used when the MOTD should come from a URL rather than simply relying on a local MOTD file.
The basic concept looks like this: GMod ULX
ulx motdurl https://example.com/motd.html
The exact way you configure it can depend on your ULX version and server setup, so it is worth checking the available ULX configuration in your installation. GMod ULX
The advantage of this method is that you can manage your MOTD like a normal webpage. You don’t necessarily need to edit server files every time you want to change a Discord link, announcement, or rule.
For a large community, this can save quite a bit of time.
Local MOTD vs. External MOTD URL
Both approaches have advantages. GMod ULX
A local MOTD is convenient when your server has relatively simple information that doesn’t change very often. You can edit the file directly on the server and keep everything together.
An external MOTD is more convenient when you regularly update your content. For example, imagine that your server has a website where you already maintain your rules and community links. Instead of duplicating the same information inside GMod, you can point the MOTD toward that webpage.
An external page can also give you more control over layout and organization. You can build sections for rules, staff, Discord, donations, frequently asked questions, and other community information.
The important thing is to make sure the URL is accessible to players and that the MOTD system you’re using can load it correctly.
Example of a Complete GMod MOTD
Here’s a basic example you can adapt for a server:
<html>
<head>
<title>Server MOTD</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to Our GMod Server!</h1>
<p>Thanks for joining our community.</p>
<h2>Server Rules</h2>
<p>No cheating or exploiting.</p>
<p>Respect other players and staff.</p>
<p>Do not intentionally disrupt gameplay.</p>
<h2>Community Links</h2>
<p>
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Visit Our Website</a>
</p>
<p>
<a href=”https://discord.com/”>Join Our Discord</a>
</p>
<h2>Need Help?</h2>
<p>
Contact a member of our staff if you have questions or need assistance.
</p>
</body>
</html>
This gives you a basic but useful MOTD with normal text and clickable URLs.
You can expand the same structure with additional sections as your server grows.
How to Make the MOTD Easier to Read
One common mistake is trying to put absolutely everything into the MOTD. A giant wall of text can be technically correct but still be frustrating for players.
Instead, divide the content into clear sections. Start with a short welcome message, followed by the most important rules. Put community links somewhere obvious, and then add optional information further down.
Headings are particularly helpful because players can quickly scan the page instead of reading every sentence.
For example:
<h1>Welcome!</h1>
<h2>Rules</h2>
<h2>Discord</h2>
<h2>Website</h2>
<h2>Staff</h2>
You should also avoid unnecessary paragraphs. If a rule can be explained in one sentence, there is no reason to turn it into a long explanation.
The best MOTDs are usually short, organized, and useful.
Troubleshooting When the URL Does Not Work
If you’ve added a URL but it isn’t clickable, don’t immediately assume that the HTML is wrong.
First, check whether the MOTD itself is loading. You can use the ULX MOTD command to test it manually. If !motd opens the MOTD but your content isn’t displaying properly, the problem is probably related to the content or formatting.
Next, check the URL itself. Make sure it starts with https:// and that the destination is publicly accessible.
For example:
is preferable to an incomplete address.
You should also verify that the page works outside of GMod. Open the URL in a normal browser first. If it doesn’t load there, the GMod MOTD won’t magically fix it.
Finally, check whether your specific GMod and ULX configuration supports the HTML behavior you’re trying to use. Garry’s Mod’s UI system has HTML-related functionality, but not every browser feature should be assumed to behave exactly like a modern standalone browser. The GMod Wiki documents functionality for working with URL-containing text in panels, which illustrates that URL handling is part of the game’s UI capabilities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes is using malformed HTML. For example, this is incomplete:
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Website
It’s better to close the anchor:
<a href=”https://example.com/”>Website</a>
Another common problem is using a URL that is private, requires authentication, or is inaccessible from outside your own network.
You should also avoid linking to suspicious or unnecessary websites. Your MOTD is effectively part of your server’s first impression, so every link should be trustworthy and relevant.
Finally, always keep a backup before changing ULX configuration files. A tiny typo in a configuration file can sometimes create confusing behavior, especially if you are editing several settings at once.
Final Thoughts on GMod ULX MOTD URLs
If you’ve been searching for “gmod ulx how to add text with url to motd,” the basic idea is straightforward. You can use your local ULX MOTD content to display text and HTML links, or configure ULX to load the MOTD from an external URL.
For a simple server, a local MOTD is usually enough. You can add headings, rules, announcements, and links directly to the MOTD file. For a larger community that frequently changes its information, an externally hosted MOTD can be more convenient because you can update the webpage without repeatedly modifying server-side content.
The most important thing is to keep your MOTD clean and useful. Put the rules where players can easily find them, make important links obvious, and avoid filling the page with unnecessary information.
Once you understand the difference between ordinary text, HTML anchor links, and the ULX MOTD URL configuration, you can build a professional-looking welcome page without needing a complicated custom addon. ULX already provides the basic MOTD functionality; the rest is mostly about organizing your content properly and testing it in-game.
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