Roblox parental controls: set them up in 10 minutes

Step 1: link a parent account

1. On your child's device, open Roblox, go to Settings, then Parental Controls.
2. Enter your email to start linking.
3. Create your own Roblox account on your phone.
4. Verify you're an adult. Roblox asks for a photo of your ID (it also accepts a credit card).
5. Link the accounts. Everything below is now controlled from your phone.

Step 2: get your child's age right

Roblox now sorts under-16s by age once they've done an age check: Roblox Kids for 5 to 8 and Roblox Select for 9 to 15. Each has its own games and chat rules. Anyone who hasn't been age-checked can't chat at all and only sees the mildest games. A linked parent can do the age check for the child.

Step 3: lock down chat

• Experience chat (talking inside games) and direct chat can both be switched off.
• Children under 9 can only talk to users under 13 or to trusted friends.
• Voice chat is off for under-13s.
• For under-13s, you get 24 hours to approve anyone they add as a trusted friend.
• You can see their friends list, and block or report anyone on it.

Step 4: cap the spending

• Set a monthly spending limit. It resets at the end of each calendar month.
• Turn on spending notifications for every purchase, not just the big ones.
• Switch off trading, or limit it to friends.

Step 5: set screen time and block games

• Screen time limits cap how long they can play each day. They work for Roblox Kids and for 9 to 12-year-olds.
• Use the content maturity slider to keep games to the mildest labels.
• Block any game by name, whatever its rating. Useful when one game gets talked about at the school gate for the wrong reasons.

What if my child is under 5?

Roblox doesn't have an account type for under-5s: Roblox Kids starts at 5. Lots of younger kids play anyway, usually on a parent's or sibling's device. This is our suggestion, not Roblox's:

• Give them their own account, linked to yours, so the settings above apply
• Chat off, spending limit as low as it goes, screen time set
• Block everything except two or three games you've played yourself
• Play together, at least at first. A 4-year-old won't spot a dodgy friend request.

We're play-testing the big games one by one so you know which ones are worth allowing. See the games we've checked.

How do I set up Roblox parental controls?

Open Parental Controls in your child's Roblox settings, enter your email, create your own parent account, verify your age with ID or a card, and link the two. You can then manage chat, content, spending and screen time from your own device.

What age groups does Roblox use?

After an age check, under-16s go into Roblox Kids (ages 5 to 8) or Roblox Select (ages 9 to 15). Each gets age-appropriate games and chat settings. Anyone who hasn't done an age check can't chat at all.

Can strangers talk to my child on Roblox?

Less than before. Chat needs an age check, children under 9 can only talk to users under 13 or trusted friends, and voice chat is off for under-13s. You can switch chat off completely and approve trusted friends yourself.

Can I stop my child spending money on Roblox?

Yes. A linked parent account can set a monthly spending limit, which resets each calendar month, and turn on notifications for every purchase.