The Two Ways to Message on Roblox

Roblox has two separate messaging systems: in-game chat during gameplay, and private messages through your account that work whether the other person is playing or not. In-game chat appears as a small window at the bottom left of your screen while you play a specific game. Private messages go to your Roblox inbox, similar to email, and the other person can read them whenever they log in next.

Which one you use depends on what you're doing. If you're playing a game with friends right now and want to talk during gameplay, use in-game chat. If you want to send a message to someone who isn't online, or you want a record of the conversation saved in your account, use private messages.

Key Takeaways

  • In-game chat lets you type messages to other players in the same game, and the messages disappear when you leave the game.
  • Private messages are sent through your Roblox account inbox and stay there until you delete them, whether the other person is online or not.
  • You can only message players who have not blocked you, and some accounts have messaging turned off by their parents.
  • Type your message and press Enter to send it; there is no send button.

Sending In-Game Chat Messages

When you're playing a Roblox game, look at the bottom left corner of your screen. You'll see a chat box with a text field that says "Click here to chat" or shows a blinking cursor. Click on that box to start typing.

Type your message and press the Enter key on your keyboard. The message appears in the chat window for everyone in that game to see. On mobile devices, tap the chat icon (usually a speech bubble), type your message in the box that appears, and tap the send arrow or press Enter.

In-game chat messages are temporary — they disappear from the chat window after a few minutes or when you leave the game. If you want to keep a conversation, use private messages instead. Also note that some games have chat turned off by the game creator, so you won't see a chat box at all in those games.

Sending Private Messages Through Your Account

Private messages are sent through your Roblox account, not during gameplay. To send a private message, first go to the player's profile. You can find a player by using the search bar at the top of the Roblox website or app, or by clicking their name in a game's leaderboard.

Once you're on their profile page, look for a button that says "Message" or a speech bubble icon. Click it, and a message box will open. Type your message and click "Send" or press Enter. The message goes to their inbox, and they'll see it the next time they log into their account.

Private messages stay in your inbox until you delete them, so you can look back at old conversations. You can also block someone from messaging you by going to your account settings and adding them to your blocked list.

When You Can't Message Someone

Some players have messaging turned off. This is usually set by a parent or guardian on younger accounts for safety. If you try to message someone and see an error message or no message button appears on their profile, they have messaging disabled and you won't be able to reach them through Roblox.

If someone has blocked you, you also won't be able to message them. You won't see a message button on their profile, and if you try to send a private message, you'll get a notification that the message couldn't be sent.

Chat Settings and Safety

Roblox filters messages for inappropriate language, so some words will appear as hashtags (###) to other players. This happens automatically and doesn't mean your account is in trouble.

If you're under 13, your account has stricter chat rules by default. You can only message people on your friends list, and you can't see messages from players you don't know. If you're 13 or older, you can message any player who hasn't blocked you or turned off messaging.

You can change your chat settings by going to your account settings, selecting "Privacy," and adjusting who can message you. You can choose to allow messages from everyone, friends only, or no one.

Troubleshooting Message Problems

If your message doesn't appear in in-game chat, the game might have chat disabled. Try typing again, or check if there's a chat icon you need to click first. If nothing works, that game doesn't support chat.

If a private message won't send, the most common reasons are: the player has messaging turned off, they've blocked you, or there's a temporary connection problem with Roblox. Wait a few minutes and try again. If you keep getting an error, check your internet connection and make sure you're logged into your account.

If you're on mobile and can't see the chat box, make sure your device isn't in landscape mode — some games hide chat in that view. Rotate your device to portrait mode and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I message someone who isn't my friend?

If you're 13 or older, yes — you can message any player unless they've blocked you or turned off messaging. If you're under 13, you can only message people on your friends list. Check your account settings under Privacy to see your current messaging restrictions.

Do in-game chat messages get saved?

No. In-game chat messages disappear when you leave the game or after a few minutes of inactivity. If you want to save a conversation, use private messages instead, which stay in your inbox until you delete them.

What does it mean when my message shows as hashtags?

Roblox automatically filters words it considers inappropriate, replacing them with ### symbols. This is a safety feature and doesn't mean you've broken any rules. The filter applies to everyone's messages.

Why can't I see a message button on someone's profile?

They either have messaging turned off (usually set by a parent on younger accounts), or they've blocked you. You won't be able to message them in either case. If it's a friend, you could try asking them in-game why messaging is off.

How do I know if someone read my private message?

Roblox doesn't show read receipts for private messages. You can see when you sent a message, but not whether the other person has opened it. They'll reply when they see it and log back in.