Roll20 is a browser-based virtual tabletop for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. Game masters build maps, handouts and character sheets, and players join from a browser or the mobile apps. The address app.roll20.net is where games are actually played. The panel above tries to open that address from a separate server and reports the answer, the timing and the certificate.
Reading a Roll20 result
app.roll20.net is protected by a browser check, so the result here can be Automated checks blocked. That means the site answered but stopped an automated visitor. A reachable result means the application address is up. A slow or unreachable result is the clearest sign of a Roll20-side problem, in which case only waiting helps.
When the address answers but your game does not load, the cause is usually the browser, a heavy game file or the connection between you and Roll20. Those are the parts you can fix.
Get the table running again
- Reload the game
A plain reload of the tab clears most frozen maps and missing tokens.
- Open a private window
This runs without extensions; ad blockers and script blockers are a common cause of broken sheets and dice.
- Update or switch the browser
Roll20 works best on current versions of Chrome and Firefox. If one fails, test the other.
- Check hardware acceleration
In the browser settings, turn hardware acceleration on; large maps with lighting rely on the graphics card.
- Reduce the load on the page
The game master can move unused maps and tokens off the active page or lower map size.
- Ask one player to test
If one person cannot load while everyone else can, the problem is on that player’s device or network.
Game night timing
Most tabletop groups meet in the evening and at weekends, so Roll20 sees its heaviest use on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in North American and European time. Slow loading on those nights is more likely than at other times. Big campaign launches or new official modules can draw extra traffic on release days.
Jumpgate and Legacy games
Roll20 rebuilt its tabletop engine under the project name Jumpgate. It opened as a beta for Pro subscribers in March 2024 and for everyone that August, and later became the default and then the only engine for new games. Older games keep running on the earlier engine, now labelled Legacy. Jumpgate changed how maps are drawn, and not every character sheet, macro or lighting setup behaved the same way on it at first. When one campaign fails while another loads fine, check which engine each game uses before assuming Roll20 is having a bad night. Copying a Legacy game onto the new engine is a reasonable test, but keep the original untouched until the copy has been played through once.
Mod scripts and the sandbox
Pro games can run Mod scripts, formerly called API scripts, which automate initiative, ammunition tracking and similar chores. They run in a separate sandbox on Roll20’s servers. A script with an error can stop that sandbox, and every automation in the game then goes quiet while maps, chat and dice keep working. The game master can open the Mod scripts page for the game, read the error output and restart the sandbox from there. A fault that hits only scripted features in one game is almost always a script problem, not an outage.
If one player cannot load anything at all while the rest of the table is in, run through the check for whether a site is down for everyone or just one person on that player’s device.
Browser, apps and game master tools
Roll20 runs entirely in the browser on desktop, and the mobile apps are aimed mainly at players. Game masters use the desktop version for map editing, dynamic lighting and journal management. When a feature fails only in the app, try the same game in a desktop browser.
Character sheets, compendium content and macros are loaded as part of each game. A sheet update or a broken macro can make one game misbehave while others run normally. That points to the game’s content rather than to Roll20 being down.
Official Roll20 help
- Roll20 Help Centerhelp.roll20.net
- Roll20 on X@Roll20App
Questions about Roll20
Why does the check show Automated checks blocked for Roll20?
app.roll20.net is protected by a browser check that can refuse requests from servers like the one behind this check. That result means the address answered but declined an automated visitor. It is not a sign of an outage. If the game still will not load for you in a normal browser, use the steps on this page and the official Roll20 account on X.
Why does my Roll20 game get stuck on the loading screen?
Large maps, many tokens, heavy character sheets and dynamic lighting all load when you join. A slow connection, a browser extension or an old browser version can stall that. Try a private window without extensions, then reload. The game master can also reduce map size or move unused pages out of the way.
Why do my players see a different map than I do?
Roll20 shows players the page the game master has set for them, which can differ from the page the GM is editing. Use the player ribbon at the top of the page list to move everyone to the right page. If players still see an old state, ask them to reload.
Why are character sheets not loading in Roll20?
Character sheets are separate templates loaded with the game. If a sheet was updated or fails to load, the fields can appear blank. Reload the game, and if only one sheet type is affected, check the Roll20 forums or help center for notices about that sheet.
Does Roll20 work on tablets and phones?
Roll20 runs in modern browsers on desktop and has mobile apps for players. Game masters usually need a desktop browser for full control. If something fails on mobile, try the same game in a desktop browser to see whether the problem is the app or the service.
Why is my voice and video chat not working in Roll20?
Many groups use a separate voice tool alongside Roll20. If you use Roll20's built-in features, make sure the browser has permission to use the microphone and camera in its site settings, and that only one tab is using them.