Early Access Programs (EAPs) let creators test new features, tools, and updates before they are released to everyone else. Joining an EAP helps Roblox improve the platform and gives you early access, but you need to follow special steps to avoid accidentally breaking your games.
Protect your game files
Do NOT open or change your live, published games while using an Early Access Program.
When you are in an EAP, Roblox changes how it saves files to a new format that regular players cannot use. If you publish a game using an EAP feature, nobody will be able to play your game. If you accidentally save over a live game file, you will need to go to the Creator Hub and revert to an older version to fix it.
- Always make a copy — Before you open any file in an EAP, make a backup copy of your file (.rbxl) or start a brand new, empty place.
- Use testing places — Only test EAP features in separate test games that do not affect your main project or active players.
How to sign up
To join an Early Access Program:
- Fill out the survey — Complete the sign-up survey for the program you want to join. This form is usually in the DevForum announcement. Since you can easily toggle features on and off, you can sign up with either your main account or an alternate account.
- Wait for the next wave — Roblox accepts new creators in groups to make sure everything stays stable. Check the Developer Forum for announcements when a new wave of users is added.
- Check your settings — To see if you are accepted, go to Roblox > Settings > Account Settings. Look for the Early Access Programs section. If you see the dropdown option, you have been accepted into the program.
Private release channels
When you enable an EAP, your Roblox account moves from the standard public version of Roblox to a private testing channel. This keeps unfinished features away from standard players, but it comes with some restrictions:
| Action | Standard Roblox channel | Early Access Program channel |
|---|---|---|
| Playing public games | You can join and play any public game on Roblox. | Blocked. You cannot join standard public game servers. |
| Team Create (Studio) | You can work with any other creator in Studio. | Restricted. You can only collaborate with friends who are in the exact same EAP. |
| Testing with others | Anyone can join you to test your games. | You can only playtest with other creators who have the same EAP turned on. |
How to update Studio and the Roblox Player
Once you enable the program, you need to update your apps to get the new tools:
- Enable the program — Choose the program you want from the Early Access Programs dropdown menu in your Account Settings.
- Update Roblox Studio — After a few minutes, you will see an Update button on the top right of your Studio screen. Click it to update and restart Studio.
- Update the Roblox Player — The next time you open the Roblox Player to play a game, a message will pop up asking you to install an update. Let it install and restart.
- Ready to go — After restarting, the new early access features will be active and ready to test.
How files and saving work
When you make or edit things in an EAP, Roblox handles your files differently:
- Existing files — If you open an old game file, the EAP features will automatically upgrade your project to the new format. When you save it, it will be stored in the new format.
- New files — Any brand new game files you create will use the new format right away when you save them to Roblox.
- Testing in the cloud — You can publish your test games to Roblox and play them, as long as everyone playing has the same EAP update installed.
How to leave a program
You can leave an Early Access Program and go back to standard Roblox at any time:
- Find the Early Access Programs dropdown menu and change it to No Program Selected.
- This moves your account back to the standard public Roblox version.
- Open Roblox Studio or the Roblox Player. They will update and restart one more time to take you back to the standard public version.