Is it against the rules to copy a Roblox game?

Copying another creator's game without permission violates Roblox's Terms of Service and can result in account bans. Copying your own game or using explicitly uncopylocked games with the creator's permission is allowed.

What does copy locked mean on Roblox?

Copy locked means the game's file cannot be accessed through Roblox Studio by other users. Most Roblox games are copy locked by default to protect the creator's work. Creators can disable this to share their game as a template or educational resource.

Can you get banned for copying a Roblox game?

Yes. Publishing another creator's game without permission can lead to game removal, account warnings, and permanent bans — especially if you monetize the copied game or if the original creator files a DMCA complaint.

How do I copy my own Roblox game?

Open the game in Roblox Studio, then go to File > Publish to Roblox As to publish it as a separate new game. Or save it locally as a .rbxl file (File > Save to File As) as a backup.

Are uncopylocked Roblox games free to publish?

Not automatically. An uncopylocked game means you can access the file — not that you have permission to publish or profit from it. Check the game's description for what the creator explicitly allows. Publishing someone's game verbatim without permission is still a Terms of Service violation.

How to Copy a Roblox Game: What's Allowed and What Could Get You Banned

Can You Copy a Roblox Game?

The direct answer: you can legally copy your own Roblox game at any time. Copying someone else's game without their permission is a different matter — it violates Roblox's Terms of Service and can get your account permanently banned.

This guide covers everything you need to know: what the rules actually say, how to copy your own game correctly, how uncopylocked games work, and what to do instead of copying when you want a game similar to one you admire.

Roblox's Rules on Game Copying

Roblox's Terms of Service and community standards are clear: copying another creator's game or assets without their explicit permission is intellectual property theft. This applies even when the game's "Copy Lock" setting is disabled — a topic we'll cover in detail shortly.

Potential consequences for copying games without permission:

Removal of the copied game from your account
A warning or moderation strike on your account
Temporary or permanent ban for repeated violations
Loss of any Robux or revenue earned from the copied game

The severity of the response depends on whether you tried to monetize the copied game and whether the original creator filed a DMCA takedown report.

How to Copy Your Own Roblox Game

Copying your own game is fully allowed and is a standard workflow for creating backups, testing variations, or launching a sequel. There are two main methods:

Method 1: Save and Republish from Roblox Studio

This is the most reliable approach and works for any game you've published:

Open Roblox Studio
Load the game you want to copy (File > Open from Roblox, or open the .rbxl file if you have a local copy)
Go to File > Save to File As to save a local .rbxl backup to your computer
To create a new published copy, go to File > Publish to Roblox As
Give it a new name, fill in the details, and click Create

This creates an entirely separate game on your account — changes to one don't affect the other. Use this for A/B testing different versions, creating region-specific variants, or making a "Season 2" of a game.

Method 2: Duplicate via Creator Dashboard

Roblox has added duplication options directly in the Creator Dashboard for some games:

Go to create.roblox.com
Navigate to Creations > Experiences
Find the game you want to duplicate
Click the three-dot menu (...) next to the game
If available, select Copy to New Experience

Note: This option isn't available for all games and doesn't carry over things like the game pass setup, which you'll need to recreate in the Creator Dashboard.

What Are "Uncopylocked" Games?

In Roblox, game creators can choose to disable the "Copy Lock" setting on their game, making the game file accessible to other users. This is called an uncopylocked game.

When a game is uncopylocked, any logged-in Roblox user can open it in Roblox Studio and see its contents. Many creators intentionally publish their games as uncopylocked for:

Educational purposes (showing beginners how specific mechanics work)
Sharing templates the community can build on
Providing starter games for tutorials

How to Access an Uncopylocked Game

Find the uncopylocked game on Roblox.com
In Roblox Studio, go to File > Open from Roblox
Search for the game by name or paste the game's URL
Studio will load the game — you can explore its structure and scripts

What You Can (and Can't) Do with Uncopylocked Games

You can:

Open and study the game to learn from it
Use it as a personal learning exercise
Build on it if the creator has explicitly stated they grant permission to publish derivatives

You cannot:

Publish it verbatim as your own game — that's still stealing the creator's work
Monetize it without permission
Claim you created it

Just because a game is technically accessible doesn't mean the creator consented to you profiting from their work. Always check if the creator has explicitly stated what's allowed. Many uncopylocked games include a note in the description saying "free to use" or listing conditions.

How to Check If a Game Is Copylocked

By default, all Roblox games are copy locked. To check:

Try to open the game in Roblox Studio via File > Open from Roblox. If it loads, it's uncopylocked.
Some game descriptions explicitly state "uncopylocked" or "open source."

Why Copying Games Is a Bad Strategy Anyway

Even setting aside the rules, copying another game is a poor strategy for building a successful Roblox game:

Roblox's algorithm penalizes clones: The discovery system deprioritizes games that are low-effort duplicates of existing popular games. Your copy is unlikely to appear in recommendations alongside the original.
Players prefer the original: If someone wants to play a game, they'll play the most-established version with the most players and the best track record.
Reputation damage: The Roblox developer community is small. Getting known as someone who copies games closes doors — collaboration opportunities, Discord access, and community respect.
No learning: Building from scratch teaches you how games actually work. Copying bypasses the learning process and leaves you unable to debug or extend what you have.

Legal Alternatives: Get What You Actually Want

Usually, the reason someone wants to copy a game is that they want a game with similar mechanics but don't know how to build it. There are better approaches:

Study uncopylocked games as learning material — understand how the mechanics work, then implement them yourself from scratch
Use free marketplace assets — models, scripts, and systems on the Creator Marketplace that are explicitly licensed for use
Use an AI game builder — describe the mechanics you want and let AI build them. The result is original, legally yours, and can be customized to your vision
Hire a developer — commission someone on the DevForum to build specific systems for you

If you want a simulator similar to a popular one, Obby can build you an original simulator with similar mechanics — except it's yours to own, publish, and monetize without any IP concerns.

How to Backup Your Own Games Properly

Losing progress to a Studio crash or accidental deletion is a real risk. Protect your work:

Save a local .rbxl file regularly: File > Save to File As in Studio
Use version history in the Creator Dashboard — Roblox keeps a history of published versions you can roll back to
Store your .rbxl files in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) as an additional backup