What disabling grabbing does in VirtaMate

Disabling grabbing prevents other users in a shared VirtaMate session from picking up, moving, or manipulating objects and avatars that you control. When grabbing is on, anyone in the room can grab your character or items you've placed. Turning it off locks those elements so only you can move them, which is useful when you want to prevent unwanted interaction or keep your scene stable during a session.

This setting exists because VirtaMate is a shared virtual space — multiple people can be in the same room at once. Without grabbing controls, someone else could constantly move your avatar around or disrupt the scene you've built. Disabling it gives you control over what others can and cannot touch.

Key Takeaways

  • Grabbing is disabled through the VirtaMate settings menu, not through a keyboard shortcut or plugin.
  • You can disable grabbing for your own avatar, for specific objects, or for the entire scene depending on what you want to protect.
  • Disabling grabbing only affects other users — you can still move and interact with your own elements normally.
  • The setting persists in saved scenes, so you won't have to reset it each time you load a file.

How to disable grabbing for your avatar

Open VirtaMate and load your scene or character. Look for the Atom panel on the left side of the screen — this shows all the objects and avatars in your current scene. Click on your avatar's name in that list to select it.

Once your avatar is selected, look at the right panel where the properties appear. Scroll down until you find the Grabbable toggle. It will be switched on (usually shown as a blue toggle or checkmark). Click it to turn it off. Your avatar is now locked against grabbing by other users in the session.

If you don't see the Grabbable option when ready, make sure you've selected the avatar itself and not a clothing item or accessory attached to it. The toggle appears at the avatar level, not on individual pieces.

How to disable grabbing for specific objects

If you only want to protect certain objects in your scene — like furniture, props, or decorations — you can disable grabbing on those items individually. In the Atom panel on the left, find and click the object you want to lock.

In the right panel, scroll to find the Grabbable toggle for that object and turn it off. Repeat this for each object you want to protect. Other users will still be able to grab objects you haven't locked, so this approach works well when you want to keep some elements interactive while protecting others.

How to disable grabbing for an entire scene

To lock down everything at once, you can disable grabbing globally. In the top menu, go to Plugins and look for options related to scene permissions or grabbing controls. Some VirtaMate versions have a scene-wide setting that prevents all grabbing by non-owners.

If your version doesn't have a global toggle, you'll need to disable grabbing on each avatar and object individually using the method described above. This takes longer but gives you the same result — a fully locked scene that only you can manipulate.

What happens when grabbing is disabled

When you disable grabbing on an avatar or object, other users in the session will see it in the scene but won't be able to click and drag it. If they try to grab it, nothing will happen — the element stays in place. You can still move and interact with your own locked elements normally, and you can still grab other users' objects if they haven't locked them.

Disabling grabbing does not hide the element or make it invisible. Other users can still see it and move around it; they just can't pick it up or move it themselves. This is different from making something private or invisible.

Re-enabling grabbing if you change your mind

If you want to allow grabbing again later, go back to the Atom panel, select the avatar or object, and toggle the Grabbable option back on. The change takes effect when ready in your current session.

If you've saved a scene with grabbing disabled, the setting will stay disabled when you load that scene again. You don't have to remember which elements were locked — VirtaMate remembers for you.

Troubleshooting grabbing issues

If you've disabled grabbing but other users still seem to be moving your avatar or objects, check that you selected the right element in the Atom panel. A common mistake is selecting a child object (like clothing) instead of the parent avatar. The Grabbable toggle only works on the element you've selected.

Another issue: if you're in a session where someone else owns the scene, your personal grabbing settings might not override theirs. Scene owners have authority over what can and cannot be grabbed in their room. If you're a guest and can't disable grabbing on your own avatar, ask the scene owner to lock it for you, or create your own scene where you have full control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable grabbing for just one body part of my avatar?

No, the Grabbable toggle works on the entire avatar or object as a unit. You can't lock just an arm or leg. If you need that level of control, you'd need to use a plugin or script designed for advanced avatar customization, which is beyond the standard VirtaMate interface.

If I disable grabbing, can I still move my own avatar around?

Yes. Disabling grabbing only prevents other users from grabbing you — it doesn't affect your own ability to move, pose, or interact with your avatar. You have full control over your own elements at all times.

Does disabling grabbing prevent people from seeing my avatar?

No. Disabling grabbing only prevents people from picking up or moving your avatar. They can still see it, walk around it, and interact with you in other ways. If you want to hide something, you'd need to make it invisible or private, which is a different setting.

What if the scene owner has grabbing disabled for everyone?

If the scene owner has locked down grabbing globally, you won't be able to grab anyone else's avatars or objects, even if they haven't disabled it individually. The scene owner's settings override individual settings. You can still move your own avatar and any objects you own.

Will my grabbing settings save if I close VirtaMate?

Yes, if you save your scene. When you save a scene file, all the grabbing settings you've configured are saved with it. The next time you load that scene, those settings will be in place. If you don't save the scene, the settings will be lost when you close the program.