Fortnite Battle Royale is an immensely popular online multiplayer game with over 125 million players worldwide. Effective communication and coordination with teammates is key to achieving victory. Fortnite provides several methods for players to send and receive messages during a match.
Enabling Messaging
Before you can send or receive messages in Fortnite, you need to enable messaging in the settings:
- Open the settings menu by clicking the 3 lines icon in the top right corner, then click the gear icon
- Go to the “Account and Privacy” tab
- Scroll down and ensure “Text Chat” is set to “On”
Note: Voice chat also needs to be enabled separately in the Audio settings tab.
Sending Messages
Once enabled, Fortnite provides two main ways to send messages to other players:
Text Chat
- Press Enter on PC or Touchpad on console to open the text chat window
- Type your message and press Enter to send
- All players in the match will see your message
You can also whisper a message directly to a friend:
- Click on your friend’s name in the social menu
- Select “Whisper”
- Type your private message to send directly to them
Voice Chat
- Ensure your microphone is enabled in Audio settings
- Press your Push-to-Talk keybind on PC or D-Pad button on console
- Speak into your microphone to transmit your voice to other players
Teammates in your squad will hear your voice chat. You can also change settings to transmit to all players.
Receiving Messages
Messages from other players will appear in a few locations:
Incoming Text Chat
- Text chat messages will appear in a chat box in the bottom left corner
- Messages from friends will appear in blue, non-friends in white
Voice Chat
- Voice chat audio will play through your speakers or headset
- An icon will display above the head of the player who is speaking
Whispers
- Private whispered messages will pop up center-screen
- A sound cue will play when receiving a whisper
Party Voice Chat
You can voice chat with friends in your Fortnite party even before entering a match:
- Have your friends in your Fortnite friends list
- Invite them to your party from the social menu
- Their voice chat audio will be transmitted automatically
Party voice chat is an easy way to coordinate with friends without having to be in an active game match.
Emotes
Fortnite also includes various animated “Emotes” your character can perform to visually communicate, such as dances and gestures. While not directly a message, they allow basic communication and expression during a match.
- Bring up the Emote wheel with the default keybind
- Choose an Emote and your character will animate it
- Nearby players will see your Emote
Emotes are a fun way to interact and coordinate with your squad or celebrate victories together.
Chat Safety
When messaging in Fortnite, keep safety in mind:
- Don’t share any private or identifying information
- Mute or block players who are rude or inappropriate
- Report players violating rules to keep the community positive
Fortnite can be enjoyed with friends you know or even random players met online. Just remember basic internet safety when chatting.
Messaging on Mobile
Fortnite is available on mobile devices in addition to gaming platforms. Mobile versions have the same messaging abilities:
- Enable text and voice chat in Audio settings
- Tap microphone icon to transmit voice
- Type messages using the on-screen keyboard
Party voice chat with friends works cross-platform between mobiles, consoles, and PC.
Customizing Settings
You can customize Fortnite’s messaging and chat settings to your preference:
- Separately toggle text chat and voice chat on or off
- Switch between Push-to-Talk or open microphone for voice
- Adjust microphone input volume
- Choose which players can hear you (squad only, friends, or everyone)
Adjust chat settings until you get your desired communication experience.
Conclusion
Communication and teamwork are vital parts of achieving a Victory Royale in Fortnite. Master sending and receiving messages using text chat, voice chat, emotes, and party chat. Enable chat at your comfort level and report inappropriate behavior. With practice, messaging can help coordinate with your squad to get that elusive #1 spot!
