Roblox Chat Settings Explained for Parents
TL;DR, bestie
- Chat on Roblox needs an age check (a facial age estimate or ID). Without one, there’s no chat at all.
- Under 9s: chat is off by default (Roblox Kids). A parent can turn it on.
- 9–15s: chat opens up gradually (Roblox Select), and a parent can change it.
- Chat is always limited to similar age groups and trusted friends.
To change it, go to Settings → Parental controls → [child] → Communication. The controls there are Experience chat, Direct chat and Chat and party with friends.
🗓️ Last updated: 1 November 2026
Roblox chat used to be “on or off”. Now it’s age checks, age groups, trusted friends and four separate toggles. It’s more protective than ever, it’s just a lot. Here’s what each setting does, who your kid can actually talk to, and what I’d pick at each age.
Step zero: the age check
Every user has to complete an age check to chat. It’s either a quick facial age estimate using the device camera, or an ID check. Roblox says the images are deleted after processing. Kids who skip it can still play, just without chat.
| Age (age-checked) | Account type | Chat by default | Parent can change? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–8 | Roblox Kids | Off | Yes |
| 9–15 | Roblox Select | Expands gradually with age | Yes |
| 16+ | Roblox | On | No |
Who your child can chat with
Even when it’s on, chat is limited by age group:
| Your child’s age | Can chat with |
|---|---|
| 5–8 | Users under 13 |
| 9–12 | Users under 16 |
| 13–15 | Users aged 9–17 |
| 16–17 | Users aged 13–20 |
Trusted friends are the exception. These are people your child knows, which can unlock chat across age groups. Under-13s need your approval to add one.
The settings, one by one
Go to Settings → Parental controls → [child] → Settings you manage → Communication.
| Setting | What it controls | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Experience chat | Public chat inside a game | Under-9s need your consent |
| Direct chat | One-on-one chat in games, including with non-friends of a similar age | Under-13s need your consent |
| Chat and party with friends | Party chat and joining friends; plus who, from All friends, Trusted friends or No one | Friend chat needs an age check |
| Voice chat | Spoken chat | Roblox limits it by age and region, so check what’s offered on your child’s account |
These settings don’t cover chat systems a game builds for itself. For those, check the game’s own settings, and use reporting and blocking.
What I’d pick at each age
| Age | Suggested setup |
|---|---|
| 5–8 | Leave chat off. If they play with cousins or school friends, add them as trusted friends and allow friends-only chat |
| 9–12 | Experience chat on, Direct chat off to start, friends chat set to Trusted friends |
| 13–15 | Experience and direct chat on, with regular check-ins. Teach them to block and report |
Whatever you choose, text filters are always on, and Roblox monitors chat for child safety.
If a chat goes wrong
Show your child how to do these before they need to:
- Block: open the person’s profile, tap the three dots next to the chat button, then Block. Blocked users can’t chat with them directly.
- Report in a game: Menu (the three lines, top left) → Report (shield icon) → choose Person → pick the reason → Submit.
- Report a chat message: in the chat window, open the three dots → Report abuse.
- As a parent: Parental controls → [child] lets you block or report from their friends list.
Take a screenshot before blocking if you might want to report it elsewhere, for example to the police for anything serious.
Talk about it, too
Settings help, but the conversation matters more:
- Never share your real name, school, address, phone, photos or other socials.
- Anyone asking you to move to another app (Discord, Snapchat, WhatsApp) is a red flag. Tell a grown-up.
- Gifts, Robux or “special” attention from strangers are a red flag too.
- You won’t get in trouble for telling me about a weird message.
Kiko’s take: The age check feels like a hassle, but it’s the reason chat is genuinely safer now. My setup for primary-school kids: trusted-friends-only chat, direct chat off, and a weekly “seen anything weird?” over dinner. It’s like screening calls on the landline in 1999, only less awkward.
Revisit these settings every birthday. Roblox loosens some defaults with age, and what suits an eight-year-old won’t suit a twelve-year-old.
FAQ
Why can’t my child chat at all?
They probably haven’t completed an age check. Without one there’s no chat, whatever their age.
Can my 7-year-old chat with friends?
Yes, if you turn it on. Kids under 9 can then chat with users under 13, or with trusted friends.
What’s a trusted friend?
Someone your child knows and trusts in real life. Trusted friends can unlock chat across age groups, which is why under-13s need your approval to add one.
Do the settings cover every game?
They cover Roblox’s own chat. Some games build their own chat features, which these settings don’t control.
Can my child change their chat settings themselves?
Not the ones you manage. They can send you a request to approve or deny.
Sources
- Roblox Support: Parental Controls Overview (Communication Controls)
- Roblox Safety FAQs
- Roblox Newsroom: Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts (16 Jun 2026)
- Roblox: Parental Controls
Last checked: 3 October 2026 (NZDT). Image credits: YouTube – SlurpTech; YouTube – Think Tutorial; YouTube – BOZ HUB. Related: Roblox parental controls, is Brookhaven safe for kids?, Roblox spending limits.
kikomii is a fan site and isn’t affiliated with Roblox.
