GuidesEspañolContact

How to add a bot to your Discord server

To add a bot to your Discord server, open its invite link, pick the server, check the permissions it asks for and press Authorize. You need the Manage Server permission on that server. After that, move the bot’s role up the list and check that it can see and write in the channels where it will work.

  • ⏱ 2 min read
  • 5 sections
  • 2 diagrams

Updated:

Step 1: get the invite link

Every bot has its own invite link. Public bots put it on their website or behind the Add to Server button on their Discord profile. If the bot is yours or was built for you, the link is generated in the Discord developer portal, in the OAuth2 section, with the bot and applications.commands scopes.

Step 2: pick the server and authorize

When you open the link, Discord asks you to pick the server and shows the permissions the bot is asking for. Check them before pressing Authorize:

  • If your server is not in the list, you do not have Manage Server on it.
  • Untick the permissions the bot does not need for what you will use it for.
  • Be wary of a bot that asks for Administrator without a clear reason.
Discord authorization screen to add a bot: server picker, requested permissions and the Authorize button.
Before authorizing, check which permissions it asks for.

Step 3: place its role in the list

When it joins, the bot gets a role with its name. In Server Settings, Roles, drag it above the roles it will hand out or moderate: a role can only manage the ones below it. It is the most common reason a bot cannot give roles or punish anyone.

Step 4: check that it works

Type a slash (/) in a channel and see whether the bot’s commands show up. If they do not, it can take a few minutes, or the bot lacks permission to see that channel. Check the channel’s permissions, not just the role’s, because a channel can have its own rules.

The four steps to add a bot to Discord: invite, authorize, move its role and test it.
Invite, authorize, move the role and test.

If the bot does not answer

The most common causes are:

  • The bot is offline: it shows grey in the member list.
  • It cannot see the channel or cannot send messages in it.
  • Its role is below the role it is trying to manage.
  • Its commands have not been registered on your server yet.

Your checklist

0/4

Tick what you already have. It stays saved in this browser.

Was this guide useful?

Frequently asked questions

Why does my server not show up when inviting a bot?

Because you do not have Manage Server on it. Ask the owner or an admin for it, or ask them to invite the bot.

Is it dangerous to give a bot Administrator?

It can be: with Administrator the bot can do anything on the server. Give it only the permissions it needs and use bots you trust.

Can I add a bot from my phone?

Yes. The invite link works the same from a phone browser or from the Discord app.

Can you build a bot of my own for my server?

Yes. A simple bot starts at $150 and a custom one at $500, and I leave it invited and set up on your server.

Services that can help

More guides

Need a hand with this?

Message me on Discord or WhatsApp. I reply in under 24 hours.

Tell me about your projectGet a quote in one minuteDiscordWhatsApp

Link copied