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How to Open Text Chat in Fortnite

Open a friend or group chat from your profile icon and message icon. Party text chat is available through the party menu, Chats tab, or Fortnite’s compact chat window.
WorldFortnite Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To message a friend or group in Fortnite, select your profile icon, then select the message icon to open Chats. Choose the friend or group you want to message. For party text chat, open the party menu or Chats tab; Fortnite also offers a compact text-chat window. Menu labels can change with updates, so use the visible chat controls rather than relying on a keyboard shortcut or controller button sequence.

Open a friend or group chat

  1. Select your profile icon in Fortnite.
  2. Select the message icon to open Chats.
  3. Choose a friend or group to start or continue the conversation.

Epic says direct and group text chats sync across Fortnite, the Epic Games Launcher, and Epic’s mobile apps. See Epic’s explanation of how text chat works.

Open party text chat

For a conversation with your current party, use the party menu or the Chats tab. Fortnite also has a compact text-chat window. These are party-chat entry points, distinct from opening a direct message by selecting a friend or group. Epic describes the options in its text chat guide.

If text chat is missing or unavailable

Check the communication setting

  1. Select your profile icon and open Settings.
  2. Open COMMUNICATION.
  3. Check the text-chat audience setting. Epic lists Everybody, Friends, Team Members, and Connections, Friends Only, and Off. Choose an available option that allows the conversation you want.

The available setting may be limited by parental controls. Epic’s Fortnite communication settings instructions explain the options and restrictions.

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  • If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
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Check account age and parental permissions

Epic says chat settings default to Off for accounts indicating the player is under 18. For children under 10, the maximum setting is Friends Only; Epic’s parental-controls page says children under 13 have a maximum of Friends, team members, and connections. A parent or guardian manages age-based permissions. A cabined account cannot use text or voice chat until a parent or guardian completes the consent process. See Epic’s Parental Controls information and its account and voice-chat troubleshooting guidance.

Epic’s current instructions do not specify a universal keyboard shortcut or controller-button sequence for opening text chat. If the visible controls differ, use Fortnite’s on-screen menus and check its current support instructions.

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  • An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
  • If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
  • The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
  • Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
  • Redemption: Online
Rank #4
Fortnite eGift Card
  • Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
  • Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
  • If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
  • Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
  • Redemption: Online
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card
  • An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
  • If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
  • The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
  • Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
  • Redemption: Online
Rank #2
Fortnite eGift Card
  • Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
  • Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
  • If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
  • Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
  • Redemption: Online

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