How to Change Chat Message Timestamps and Their Format

The Chat Patches mod adds a pink [HOUR:MINUTE:SECOND] timestamp in front of every message by default. If you want to tweak how that looks, you do it through the mod's config screen rather than a keybind.

Opening the Config

Open the mod list from the main menu or pause screen, find Chat Patches, and click its config button. You can also reach the settings through the in-game chat options if your mod loader exposes it there. Inside you'll find a section dedicated to timestamps.

Adjusting the Format

Look for the timestamp toggle to turn the prefix on or off entirely. Nearby you'll find a format string field. This uses a pattern where letters stand in for parts of the date and time, so you can rearrange the order, drop the seconds, or switch to a 24-hour style. Hover the field to see the accepted tokens. The color of the timestamp is set separately, so you can change it away from the default pink.

The Hover Tooltip

Even after you shorten the visible timestamp, hovering over it still shows the full date. If you don't want that, disable the tooltip option in the same section. Apply and close the screen; new messages pick up the change immediately, while older ones keep their original text.