Roblox Studio for Beginners: Install, Build, Script and Publish
Updated 2026-10-06 · 3 min read
Every game on Roblox, from tiny obbies to Brookhaven, was made in Roblox Studio. It’s free, it runs on a regular Windows or Mac computer, and you can have a working (if very simple) game published in an afternoon.
This guide covers the first day: installing Studio, building a place, writing one small script, testing, and publishing.
Step 1: install Roblox Studio
Roblox’s setup documentation lists these requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
| Mac | macOS 10.14 | macOS 14 or newer |
Chromebooks, tablets and phones aren’t listed as supported for Studio.
- Go to Roblox’s Creator Hub (create.roblox.com) and choose to start creating.
- Click Download Studio in the pop-up.
- Open the installer from your downloads (RobloxStudio.exe on Windows, RobloxStudio.dmg on Mac).
- When it finishes, click Launch Studio.
- Sign in with your Roblox account.
Step 2: build your first place
When Studio opens, start a new project from a template. Baseplate (a flat, empty world) is the cleanest starting point.
Get to know four panels:
- Viewport: the 3D world in the middle. Right-click and drag to look around; use W, A, S, D to move the camera.
- Explorer: a list of everything in your game, like a family tree of objects.
- Properties: settings for whatever you’ve selected, such as color, size and whether it’s anchored.
- Toolbox: free models and assets you can drop in. Stick to well-rated ones and check what you add.
Try this mini-build:
- Insert a Part (a block) and drag it into place.
- Resize it with the scale tool to make a platform.
- In Properties, change its Color and turn on Anchored so it doesn’t fall when the game runs.
- Duplicate it a few times to make a short jump path: your first obby.
Step 3: write a first Luau script
Roblox scripts use Luau. To add one:
- In the Explorer, hover over ServerScriptService and click the + button.
- Choose Script.
- A new script opens with a starter line that prints “Hello world!”.
Replace it with something you can see in the game, like a platform that disappears when touched. Put this script inside one of your platform parts instead (hover over the part in the Explorer, click +, choose Script):
local platform = script.Parent
platform.Touched:Connect(function()
platform.Transparency = 0.5
task.wait(1)
platform.CanCollide = false
platform.Transparency = 1
task.wait(3)
platform.CanCollide = true
platform.Transparency = 0
end)
What it does: when something touches the platform, it fades, then disappears for three seconds, then comes back. Change the numbers and see what happens; that’s how most creators learn.
Step 4: playtest
Click Play in the toolbar to run your game inside Studio. Walk onto the platform and watch it vanish. If nothing happens, open the Output window (from the View tab), where errors and print messages appear. Most beginner bugs are a typo or a script in the wrong place.
Click Stop when you’re done. Changes made while playing aren’t kept, so edit after stopping.
Step 5: publish
- Click File → Publish to Roblox.
- Fill in the Name, Description, Creator and Devices fields.
- Click Create.
Your game is now saved to Roblox, but it starts private. To let others play, go to the Creator Dashboard, select the game, open Configure → Settings, and under Audience choose Public, then save. Roblox requires an account in good standing at least 2 days old, a completed age check, and the game’s content maturity & compliance questionnaire before it can go public. Reaching younger audiences has extra requirements.
Where to go next
- Roblox’s Creator Hub has free tutorials, including a full course that builds a 3D platformer.
- Want to earn from your game? Read our guide to selling game passes, then how Robux can turn into real money in DevEx explained.
- See what those Robux are worth in our Robux to dollars guide.
- Need inspiration? Browse the best Roblox games by genre.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification before your game gets popular: account security checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Roblox Studio free?
Yes. Roblox Studio is a free download from Roblox's Creator Hub. You sign in with a regular Roblox account.
Can I use Roblox Studio on a Chromebook, iPad or phone?
Roblox's setup page lists Windows and Mac as the supported systems (Windows 10 or macOS 10.14 at minimum), so you need a computer running one of those.
What programming language does Roblox use?
Luau, a language based on Lua. It's beginner-friendly, and Roblox's Creator Hub documentation has tutorials that start from zero.
Why can't I make my game public?
Roblox requires a few things first, including an account in good standing that's at least 2 days old, an age check, and the content maturity questionnaire for the game.