You're standing in the middle of Adopt Me! or maybe Blox Fruits, and the server is just... dead. We’ve all been there. Playing solo on Roblox is fine for a bit, but the whole point of the platform is the chaos of playing with friends. Whether you’re trying to get your best friend into your private server or you just met a cool stranger in Brookhaven and want to keep the party going, knowing how to invite someone on Roblox is basically the first thing you need to master.
It sounds simple. Just click a button, right? Well, sort of.
Depending on whether you’re on a PC, a dusty old iPhone, or an Xbox, the buttons move around. Plus, Roblox has these privacy settings that sometimes make you feel like you’re trying to break into Fort Knox just to send a game link.
Why Your Invites Keep Failing (and How to Fix It)
Before we get into the "how-to" part, let's talk about why the invite button sometimes just disappears. Most people think it’s a bug. Usually, it’s not. It’s the privacy settings. If the person you are trying to invite has their settings set to "No One," your invite is going into a digital void.
Go to the Settings gear, hit Privacy, and look for the "Who can invite me to private servers?" and "Who can join me?" options. If these aren't set to "Friends" or "Everyone," you're ghosting yourself. It's a classic mistake. Honestly, I've spent twenty minutes wondering why my brother wouldn't join my game only to realize he had his joins toggled off from a hide-and-seek match three days ago.
The In-Game Invite Method
This is the most common way to do it. You’re already playing. You want them now.
First, hit the Esc key if you’re on a computer or tap the Roblox logo in the top left corner of your screen. A menu pops up. You’ll see a tab labeled "Players" or "Invite Friends." If the developer of the specific game—say, Pet Simulator 99—has enabled the standard Roblox overlay, you’ll see a big green button next to your friends' names that says "Invite."
Click it. That’s it.
But wait. What if they aren't on your friends list yet? You can't just "invite" a random player to a game unless you’ve added them. You’ll have to find their avatar in the server, click on them, and hit "Add Friend" first. Once they accept, that invite button becomes your best friend.
How to Invite Someone on Roblox Using Private Servers
Private servers (we used to call them VIP servers) are the elite way to play. No random kids screaming in chat. No griefers. Just you and the squad.
To invite someone here, you don't actually do it from inside the game. You have to go to the game's main landing page on the Roblox website or app. Scroll down past the "About" section until you see the Servers tab.
If you own a private server, click the three dots (the "meatball" icon) and hit Configure.
There is a section called Server Members. You can type in your friend's exact username here. Pro tip: Roblox usernames are case-sensitive and specific. If you miss a digit, you’re inviting a stranger. Once you add their name, they can see your server in their "Private Servers" list. Alternatively, you can toggle on the Server Link. Copy that URL and paste it into a Discord chat or a text message. Anyone with that link can hop in, provided their privacy settings allow it.
The Xbox and Mobile Struggle
Mobile users have it pretty easy because the interface is streamlined. Tap the three dots at the bottom, hit "Friends," find the person, and if they’re online, there’s often a "Join" or "Invite" option right there.
Xbox is the wildcard. The console version of Roblox has always been a little... clunky. To invite someone on Xbox, you usually have to use the built-in Xbox party system rather than the Roblox UI itself. Open your Xbox guide, find your friend's profile, and select "Invite to Game." It bypasses the Roblox menu entirely and works much more reliably.
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Dealing with the "This game is restricted" Error
Sometimes you send the invite, they click it, and then—BAM. Error message.
This usually happens for one of two reasons:
- Account Restrictions: If the person you're inviting has a <13 account and the game is rated for older audiences (like a horror game with gore), Roblox will block the join. There is no workaround for this other than changing the account's birthdate, which is a massive pain and often requires ID.
- Server Full: If you're in a public server and it hits the max capacity (like 12/12 players), your friend will get stuck in a queue or just get an error. Always check the player count before sending the "come join" text.
Actionable Steps for a Seamless Session
To make sure your next session doesn't start with thirty minutes of troubleshooting, follow this quick checklist.
- Double-check Privacy: Ensure both you and your friend have "Who can join me" set to "Friends."
- Use Links for PC: If you’re on a computer, clicking "Copy Link" from a private server configuration page is 100% more reliable than relying on the in-game invite button.
- Update the App: If one person is on an old version of the mobile app and the other is on the latest, the invite links often break. Just hit the App Store or Play Store and refresh.
- Friendship First: You generally cannot invite someone to a game if you aren't already "Friends" on the platform. If you're trying to play with a YouTuber or a famous dev, you have to hope their "Joins" are set to "Everyone."
The best way to handle this is to set up a dedicated Private Server link and pin it in a group chat. It saves you from having to send individual invites every single time someone wants to jump in and play.