How to setup BetterChat
How to Setup BetterChat
BetterChat by LaserHydra replaces Rust's default chat with a fully customizable system: colored names, group titles like [VIP] or [Admin], and per-group message formatting. It is the standard choice for any server with staff ranks or VIP tiers.
This guide assumes Oxide is installed. If not, start with How to Install Oxide.
Step 1: Install the Plugin
- Download
BetterChat.csfrom umod.org/plugins/better-chat. - In the GSK panel File Manager, upload it to
oxide/plugins/. - Watch the Console for the loaded confirmation. No restart needed.
Step 2: Grant Yourself Admin Access
BetterChat has a single permission, betterchat.admin, which unlocks the /chat commands in-game. Grant it from the panel Console:
oxide.grant user YourName betterchat.admin
You can also run every BetterChat command from the panel Console without the slash, which is what the examples below use.
Step 3: Create Your Groups
BetterChat groups are Oxide permission groups. When you create one, it appears in Oxide too, so the same group can drive kit access, teleport limits, and chat titles all at once.
Create a VIP group:
chat group add vip
Then set its appearance:
chat group set vip title "[VIP]"
Run chat group set vip with no further arguments to see every setting available for the group, including title color, username color, message color, and priority.
Step 4: Set Priorities
If a player is in multiple groups, the priority decides which group is primary and which title shows first. Two rules keep this painless:
- Give every group a different priority number. Duplicate priorities cause titles to disappear or stack unpredictably.
- For rank ladders (member, vip, moderator, admin), space the numbers out (10, 20, 30, 40) so you can insert groups later.
Step 5: Add Players to Groups
Because BetterChat groups are Oxide groups, you add players the normal Oxide way:
oxide.usergroup add "PlayerName" vip
The player's chat updates immediately.
Editing Groups by File
Everything you set with commands is stored in oxide/data/BetterChat.json. You can edit this file directly through the File Manager for bulk changes, then reload:
oxide.reload BetterChat
Colors accept hex values, so you can match your community branding, for example #7c3aed.
Common Issues
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Every message appears twice | Another chat plugin is intercepting chat alongside BetterChat. Remove the duplicate (No Green is the usual suspect; BetterChat can recreate its effect) |
| Titles not showing | Check for duplicate priorities across groups, and check the title's hidden settings in the data file |
| Clan tags missing | BetterChat needs the companion Clan Tags plugin to display them |
| Changes not applying | If you edited BetterChat.json by hand, run oxide.reload BetterChat |
What to Read Next
- Oxide Permissions 101 to build the group structure BetterChat sits on
- Rust Kits Guide to attach kits to the same VIP groups