Setting up Roblox parental controls takes about ten minutes, and it’s well worth doing. If your child plays Roblox, you’ve probably had the conversation. “Everyone at school plays it.” “It’s just building and obbies.” And you’ve nodded along while quietly wondering who they’re actually playing with.
Here’s the useful news. Roblox has changed a lot this year, and the parental controls are now much better than they were. The less useful news is that they only work if you set them up. So here’s how to do it, in plain English, in about ten minutes.
Last updated 16 October 2026. Roblox changes its safety settings often, so some menus may look slightly different on your child’s device.
Is Roblox safe for an 8-year-old?
It can be a reasonable choice for an 8-year-old if the account is set up properly and you stay involved. It isn’t something I’d hand over and forget about.
Roblox now sorts younger players into age-based accounts. For ages 5 to 8, that’s a Roblox Kids account, where:
- All chat is switched off, unless a linked parent allows in-game chat
- Games must be rated Minimal or Mild
- Games come from a smaller catalogue that has been through extra review
That’s a sensible starting point. However, Roblox is still a platform where other people make the games, and no setting replaces knowing what your child is playing and who they’re talking to. Think of the controls as a good fence, not a babysitter.
What has changed on Roblox in 2026?
Roblox says its Kids and Select accounts became available worldwide from 16 June 2026, after a trial in a handful of countries. The details can vary by region, so check what you see in the app. The bands work like this:
- Roblox Kids (ages 5 to 8): chat off by default, games rated Minimal or Mild
- Roblox Select (ages 9 to 15): games rated up to Moderate, with chat opening up gradually as children get older
- Standard Roblox (16 and over): chat on, all games except those rated Restricted (18+)
Two more changes matter for parents:
- An age check is now needed to chat. Roblox uses a facial age estimate or a government ID. Without one, a user can’t chat at any age.
- Players who haven’t done an age check will lose access to standard accounts and chat once the rollout is complete, whatever their age.
This is why it’s worth checking your child’s account now rather than waiting for something to stop working.
| Roblox account | Age | Games allowed | Chat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roblox Kids | 5 to 8 | Minimal or Mild | Off by default |
| Roblox Select | 9 to 15 | Up to Moderate | Opens up gradually with age, after an age check |
| Standard Roblox | 16 and over | Everything except Restricted (18+) | On, after an age check |
For independent, UK-based advice, Internet Matters has a Roblox parental controls guide that is worth bookmarking alongside this one.
How to set up Roblox parental controls
The most useful thing you can do is create a linked parent account. That lets you manage settings from your own phone, and get emails about things like spending.
- Check your child’s birthday is right. The account’s age decides which settings they get. If it’s wrong, a linked parent can correct it once after the first age check.
- Start the link from your child’s account. On their device, go to Settings > Parental Controls and choose Add parent, then enter your email address.
- Follow the email. Create a Roblox account if you don’t have one. You’ll need to verify that you’re an adult, using the options Roblox offers you, such as a government ID or credit card.
- Select Agree to link to your child’s account.
- Open Parental Controls on your own account and work through the settings below.
If you’d rather not create an account, Roblox also offers Parent mode, where your child selects “Ask in Person” and hands you their device. You verify you’re an adult and can set a 6-digit PIN for quicker approvals later. It’s being rolled out gradually, so it may not be available to everyone, and anything that needs real-time alerts, such as spending notifications, still needs a linked account.
You can also have more than one parent linked to the same child, which is handy if you share the supervision with a partner.
What can Roblox parental controls change?
These are the settings I’d look at first. What you can change depends on your child’s age.
- Content maturity: Kids accounts play games rated Minimal or Mild, and Select accounts up to Moderate, with extra default limits for under-13s. Restricted games need an 18+ check.
- Blocked and allowed games: you can block a specific game regardless of its rating, or approve a game your child has asked to play.
- Chat: turn chat on or off, choose who can talk to your child, and manage direct chat.
- Screen time: set a daily limit.
- Spending: set a monthly limit and choose what notifications you get.
- Friends and connections: view, block and report the people your child is connected to.
- Private servers: limit who can join to connections only, or to no one.
How do Roblox parental controls handle chat?
Chat is where most parents’ worries are, so it’s worth understanding.
- Experience chat is the chat inside a game. Direct chat is private messaging. You can turn each on or off.
- For children under 13, friends have to be approved by a parent as “trusted friends”, and the request has to be approved within 24 hours.
- Voice chat is off for under-13s. Where it’s available, 9 to 12-year-olds can use it with trusted friends if a parent turns it on.
- Chat of any kind needs an age check first.
My honest advice for most 8 to 10-year-olds: leave chat off, or limited to a small group of friends you actually know. You can always loosen it later. It’s much harder to tighten something once it’s become normal.
Can Roblox parental controls limit spending?
Roblox lets you set a monthly spending limit. It resets at the end of each calendar month and doesn’t roll over. You can also choose to be notified about every purchase, only high spending, or nothing. High-spend alerts are on by default.
Also worth knowing: gift card redemptions aren’t affected by the limit. And a spending limit stops the card being charged, but it doesn’t stop a child asking for “just a bit of Robux” every week. A quick chat about what a pound is worth in Robux goes a long way.
What happens when my child gets older?
Control gradually moves to the child. Roblox says that in most regions, parents can manage all settings through to age 12, and manage game settings and direct chat up to age 15. At 16 they move to a standard account.
That’s a good reminder that the real goal isn’t permanent control. It’s a child who’s learned to make good choices by the time the settings come off.
What Roblox parental controls can’t do
Controls reduce the risk. They don’t remove it. A few things still depend on you:
- Knowing what they play. Roblox itself suggests playing a game with your child and talking through reporting and blocking.
- Other apps. A child who can’t chat on Roblox may simply move the conversation to another app. Look at the whole picture, not just one game.
- Account sharing. Roblox doesn’t encourage it, and anyone with access to your account can change sensitive settings, including your child’s.
The conversation I’d have with my child
You don’t need a serious sit-down. Try something much simpler:
- “Show me your favourite game. What’s the best bit?”
- “Who do you play with? Do you know them in real life?”
- “What would you do if someone asked you to chat somewhere else?”
- “If anything weird happens, would you tell me?”
The goal isn’t to catch them out. It’s to make sure they know they can tell you anything, and that telling you doesn’t automatically mean losing Roblox.
Is Roblox affected by the UK social media ban?
Roblox hasn’t been named in the government’s under-16 plans, and the government says children will still be able to play online multiplayer games. But features such as chatting with strangers may be restricted on gaming services. Our guide to the UK under-16 social media ban explains what’s been announced so far.
Quick checklist
- ☐ Your child’s birthday on their account is correct
- ☐ You’ve linked a parent account
- ☐ Chat is off or limited to people you know
- ☐ A content maturity level suits their age
- ☐ A daily screen time limit is set
- ☐ A monthly spending limit is set
- ☐ You’ve played a game with them and talked about blocking and reporting
Ready for the next step?
If you’d like everything in one place, including chat and voice settings, Robux and spending, age checks, a 10-minute parent audit and a cheat sheet, we’ve put it all into a short guide written for parents who don’t play Roblox themselves.
And if your child plays Fortnite as well, the chat settings there matter just as much. We’ve also made a free 10-minute Fortnite Parent Safety Check, plus a complete Fortnite Parent Guide (£4.99).
Frequently asked questions
Is Roblox safe for kids?
It can be, with the right setup. Roblox now has age-based accounts with stricter defaults for younger children, but you still need to set up parental controls and stay involved.
What age is Roblox suitable for?
Roblox’s youngest band, Roblox Kids, covers ages 5 to 8. Roblox Select covers 9 to 15, and standard Roblox is 16 and over. Whether it suits your child depends on their maturity and the settings you choose.
How do I set up parental controls on Roblox?
Go to Settings > Parental Controls on your child’s account, choose Add parent, enter your email, follow the link to verify you’re an adult, and select Agree.
Can I turn off chat on Roblox?
Yes. Parents can turn experience chat and direct chat on or off. For under-13s, chat is limited by default, and chat of any kind needs an age check.
Can I set a spending limit on Roblox?
Yes. You can set a monthly limit, which resets at the end of each calendar month, and choose which spending notifications you get.
Do I need my own Roblox account to use parental controls?
A linked parent account gives you the most control. Roblox also offers Parent mode, where you approve things on your child’s device, but it’s rolling out gradually and doesn’t cover everything.
Is Roblox part of the UK social media ban?
Roblox hasn’t been named. The government says children can still play online multiplayer games, though stranger contact may be restricted.
Sources and further reading
- Roblox Help Centre: linking and managing a child’s account
- Roblox: overview of the parent tools
- Roblox: What families should know about Roblox Kids and Select
- Best free parental control apps for UK families
- When should my child get their first phone?
The Digital Dad is an independent publisher and isn’t affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Roblox or any of the platforms mentioned.