Getting your first roblox chat script up and running is one of those milestones that makes your game feel like an actual community space rather than just a lonely map. While the default chat system that Roblox provides is functional, it's also pretty generic. Most creators eventually reach a point where they want something more unique—maybe some fancy tags for VIP players, custom colors, or even unique commands that do more than just send text.
If you've spent any time in Studio, you know that the chat system has evolved quite a bit recently. We've moved away from the clunky LegacyChatService and toward the more streamlined TextChatService. It's a lot more powerful, but it can be a bit intimidating if you're just staring at a blank script. Let's break down how to handle this without getting a headache.
Why Bother Customizing the Chat?
Let's be real: the standard chat box is a bit "been there, done that." When a player joins a game and sees custom chat tags or a unique font, it immediately signals that the developer put effort into the details. It builds a brand for your game.
Beyond just looks, a custom roblox chat script allows you to control the flow of information. You can create system messages that announce when a boss has spawned, or highlight when a specific player has reached a high level. It's about engagement. If your chat looks good and feels responsive, people are more likely to actually use it, which keeps them in your game longer.
Getting Started with TextChatService
Before you start typing away, you need to make sure your game is actually using the modern system. In the Explorer window, look for TextChatService. In the Properties window, you'll see a setting for ChatVersion. Make sure it's set to TextChatService. If it's on Legacy, most of the modern scripting methods won't work, and you'll be fighting with outdated documentation.
The cool thing about TextChatService is that it's built to be modular. You don't have to rewrite the entire engine just to change a text color. You're essentially "hooking" into the existing system and telling it to behave differently under certain conditions.
Setting Up Your First Script
You'll want to place your logic in a Script inside ServerScriptService. This is where the heavy lifting happens, especially if you're pulling data like player ranks or game pass ownership to determine what their chat should look like.
A basic roblox chat script usually relies on the OnIncomingMessage callback. This function runs every single time someone sends a message. It gives you a "hook" where you can look at who sent the message and what they said, then return a modified version of that message properties.
Here's the general logic: 1. The player sends a message. 2. The server intercepts it. 3. The script checks: Is this player an admin? Are they a VIP? 4. The script applies a prefix (like "[VIP]") and a specific color. 5. The message is displayed to everyone.
It's surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it. You aren't changing the message itself—you're changing the properties of how that message is displayed.
Adding Chat Tags and Colors
This is where the fun starts. Everyone loves a bit of flair. To add tags, you use the TextChatMessageProperties class.
Let's say you want your name to show up in bright gold because you're the creator. Your roblox chat script would check the PlayerId of the sender. If it matches yours, you tell the script to set the PrefixText to something like <font color="#FFD700">[Owner]</font>.
Wait, did you notice the HTML-style tags? Roblox uses Rich Text for chat now. This is a game-changer. You can change the size, the font, and the color using these tags directly inside your script. It makes the UI look ten times more professional without you having to design custom GUI elements from scratch.
Creating Chat Commands
Commands are a huge part of any roblox chat script. Whether it's a simple /afk command or something more complex like /teleport [PlayerName], you handle these through TextChatCommand objects.
Instead of writing a massive "if/else" block to check every single message for a slash, you can create a TextChatCommand instance inside the TextChatService folder in the Explorer. You give it a trigger (like /dance) and then connect it to a function.
When a player types that command, the Triggered event fires. This is much cleaner than the old way of parsing strings manually. It also prevents the command itself from showing up as a public message, which used to be a major annoyance in older games.
Safety First: Don't Bypass the Filter
Here is a big warning: never, ever try to circumvent the Roblox chat filter. If your roblox chat script tries to display unfiltered text, you're asking for a ban. Roblox is incredibly strict about this for obvious safety reasons.
The beauty of using TextChatService is that the filtering is handled for you automatically. When you modify the PrefixText, that part isn't usually filtered (since it's developer-defined), but the actual message body is always processed by Roblox's internal systems before it hits the screen. Stick to the built-in methods, and you won't have to worry about your game getting deleted by the moderation team.
Handling System Messages
Sometimes you need the game itself to talk. "Player1 has found a legendary sword!" or "The server will restart in 5 minutes."
To do this, you don't actually need a player to send a message. You can use the DisplaySystemMessage method on the client side. Since this is a local action, you'll often use a RemoteEvent to tell all the clients to display the message at the same time. It's a great way to keep everyone informed without cluttering the screen with giant pop-up GUIs that people just click "X" on anyway.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest hurdles beginners face is trying to do everything in a single script. It's better to keep your visuals (like colors) and your logic (like commands) somewhat organized.
Another frequent issue is forgetting that TextChatService doesn't exist in the same way on the client and the server. If you want to change how the chat looks for just one person, you use a LocalScript. If you want everyone to see a player's "VIP" tag, that logic has to be handled on the server. If you get these mixed up, you'll end up with a chat script that looks perfect to you but is completely invisible or broken for everyone else.
Also, watch out for "nil" errors. Always check if a player actually exists before trying to access their UserId or Name. Players leave games abruptly all the time, and a script that crashes because it tried to give a tag to a ghost is no fun for anyone.
Final Touches
Once the logic of your roblox chat script is solid, you can start playing with the ChatWindowConfiguration and ChatInputBarConfiguration. These aren't scripts, but rather settings within the TextChatService that let you change the background color of the chat box, the font size, and even where the chat is positioned on the screen.
Customizing your chat isn't just about the code; it's about the feel. Test it out with a few friends. Is the text too small? Is the gold color for the VIP tag too hard to read against the background? Small tweaks go a long way.
Building a custom chat system is one of those projects that feels really rewarding because you see the results instantly. Every time someone types in your game, they're interacting with your code. So take your time, experiment with the Rich Text tags, and make something that actually fits the vibe of your world. Happy scripting!