QUICK ANSWER
Roblox now requires an age check before chat can be enabled.
If the account is already age checked, open Communication settings next. After that, check parental controls, regional restrictions, whether the game supports the chat feature, and voice-specific eligibility.
The confusing part is that Roblox chat did not simply disappear for everyone. Different accounts can now see different communication options even inside the same game.
Written by LobbyPick Editorial. Roblox can change feature availability by age group, region, and product, so the official settings on your account are the final source of truth.
THE BIG CHANGE
Roblox now requires an age check for communication features
Roblox says that starting in January 2026, users must successfully complete an age check before they can access communication features such as game chat, Voice Chat, and Party chat.
Completing an age check does not guarantee every form of chat. It makes the account eligible for features available to its age group, region, settings, and the game being played.
CHECK 1
Look at the age-check status, not only the birthday
An account birthday and a completed age check are not the same thing. Roblox currently offers facial age estimation and ID verification. ID verification is available only to users who are at least 13.
On desktop or mobile, open Settings, go to Account info, and look under Age Group. Roblox may offer Continue with selfie or Continue with ID depending on eligibility.
CHECK 2
Chat may still be turned off in communication settings
After an age check, open Settings, then Privacy and content restrictions, then Communication. Experience chat and other options can still be disabled.
For younger accounts, linked parental controls matter too. Roblox says ages 5 to 9 need parental permission for Experience chat, and users under 16 need parental permission for Direct chat. Regional rules may add more limits.
CHECK 3
The game itself may not support the feature
A developer can design a game without the standard chat interface. Voice Chat must also be supported by the game. If chat works in one game but not another, the account may be fine.
Try a second well-known game before changing account settings. That simple test separates an account-wide problem from one game's design.
VOICE CHAT
Phone verification is no longer enough
Roblox says phone verification is not a valid method for gaining Voice Chat access after the 2026 changes. Users must be age checked as 13 or older, live in a supported region, and join a game that supports voice.
If eligible, look for the headphone control or the Voice Chat toggle inside game settings.
WHY FRIENDS DIFFER
Age groups and trusted friends change who can communicate
After an age check, normal chat generally connects users with similar age groups. Some communication across age groups depends on trusted-friend status and real-life connection methods.
This explains why one friend may see Party Voice or less restricted chat while another sees only filtered text, Quick Words, or no option at all.
TROUBLESHOOT IN ORDER
Do these checks before contacting support
- Confirm the account completed an age check.
- Open Communication settings and check whether chat is enabled.
- Check linked parental controls.
- Try another game that normally supports chat.
- For voice, confirm the account is age checked as 13 or older and the region is supported.
- Restart Roblox and sign back in after changing settings.
THE PRACTICAL ANSWER
A missing chat box usually does not mean the account is broken.
Start with the age check, then communication settings, parental controls, region, and the game itself. Those checks explain most of the current differences between accounts.
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