Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is IndexLobby?
IndexLobby is a free, real-time chat room where anyone can join a public lobby, send messages to everyone, and exchange private messages with individual users. No account creation required.
Is it free to use?
Yes, completely free. There are no accounts, subscriptions, or fees of any kind.
Do I need to sign up?
No. Just pick a username and you're in. Usernames are temporary and not tied to any account.
Usernames
How do usernames work?
When you enter a username, it's reserved for 30 seconds while your connection is established. Once you're connected, the username is yours for that session. When you leave, it becomes available again.
What if someone else has my username?
If a username is currently in use, you'll be asked to choose a different one. Usernames are released as soon as a user disconnects.
Can I use the same username again later?
Yes, as long as it's not taken at the time you connect. There's no concept of a "registered" username — first come, first served each session.
Messaging
What's the difference between lobby and private messages?
Lobby messages are visible to everyone currently in the chat room. Private messages are sent directly to a specific user and are only visible to the two of you.
How do I send a private message?
Click on any username in the user list to open a private message input. Type your message and send — only that user will see it.
Are there any message limits?
To keep things fair, messages are rate-limited to roughly one per second. Sending too quickly will result in a short cooldown.
Privacy & Data
Is IndexLobby anonymous?
You don’t create an account or share an email, but usernames and messages are stored, and the service may see connection metadata such as IP address for moderation and research. It is not a guarantee of anonymity — read the Privacy Policy.
Are there bots in the lobby?
Yes. IndexLobby is a research sandbox, and automated participants may join the same way humans do. They’re part of studying chat behaviour and bot detection. See How It Works.
Are messages stored?
Yes. All messages, usernames, and activity are logged for research and system analysis purposes. This data is used to study and improve detection of spam, bots, and abusive behaviour. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
How does live video / webcam work?
When enabled, webcam audio and video are relayed through IndexLobby’s media service (browser ↔ our servers), not as anonymous peer-to-peer between users. Other viewers do not get your IP over WebRTC by design. Streams may be moderated (including force-stop); viewers may record what they see. Details are in the Privacy Policy and Terms.
Who can see my messages?
Lobby messages are visible to all connected users. Private messages are only visible to the sender and recipient. All messages are stored server-side regardless.
Can I delete my messages?
Message deletion is not currently available to regular users. If you have a specific concern, please contact us.
Technical
Why does the chat sometimes disconnect?
The server may briefly restart during deployments or updates. The chat will automatically attempt to reconnect — you may need to re-enter your username if that happens.
What browsers are supported?
Any modern browser with WebSocket support — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge are all supported.