Social features on Chess.com
Some social and community features may be unavailable until your account is ready to use them. This can affect:
Game chat and messages
Friend requests
Forum posts and comments
Forum images and links
Blog posts
Avatar or profile picture changes
Below are the most common reasons this happens and how to resolve them.
Your account isn't activated
To enjoy full access to all features, please activate your account. Without activation, you won't be able to chat, post in forums, or add/change your avatar.
To activate your account, click the link in the activation email sent to you when you signed up. This email was sent to the address you provided during registration.
Check out this article if you did not receive an activation email: I just registered. Where is my activation email?
Game Chat is disabled in your or your opponent's settings
If you can't use in-game chat, it may be because chat is disabled in your settings or in your opponent's settings.
You can update your own chat settings to allow in-game messages, but keep in mind that changing your settings won't affect your opponent's preferences. If they've disabled chat, you won't be able to message them during the game.
To enable chat on your account, follow the steps below:
Click the cogwheel icon ('Settings') in the bottom-left corner of any Chess.com page, then select 'All Settings.'
Choose 'Social' from the left menu.
Use the options under the Chat & Messaging section to enable chat and messaging as needed.
New account restrictions
New Basic accounts have limited access to some community features while they become established. These limits help reduce spam and keep Chess.com safe for everyone.
If your account is new, make sure it's activated, play a few games, Continue playing games and participating in the forums by posting comments and continue using the site normally. Chat and other community features become available as your account becomes established.
Account restrictions
If you were previously able to post but now can't, your account might be restricted. This also prevents you from adding or changing your avatar.
Possible reasons for restriction:
Spam-like messages: Sometimes, regular messages can trigger our spam filter, especially if you send the same message to many members or post identical messages on multiple profiles.
Abusive or offensive language: Chess can get intense, but using foul or insulting language is not tolerated. This behavior can lead to your chat privileges being removed.
Parental consent form not completed: If you are a minor on Chess.com, your account will be muted and social features will be disabled after we send the Parental Consent Form to your guardians. These features will remain restricted until we receive the completed form. Read more about parental consent here.
If your chat is restricted for spam or abusive language, the restriction usually lasts for one day or one week. Repeated offenses can result in longer or permanent restrictions.
Temporary platform issues
Occasionally, chat and other community features may be temporarily unavailable due to a site-wide issue or scheduled maintenance. If multiple features suddenly stop working, wait a little while and try again later.
If the issue continues after the rest of the platform is operating normally, review the sections above before contacting Support.