Discord is a great way to chat with other people. If you have your own Discord server, chances are you will want to install a bot at some point. Bots can help you automate moderation, add a scoring system and leaderboards, listen to music together, and more.
We’ll go over everything you need to know about Discord bots and teach you how to add bots to your Discord server. It’s easier than you think.
What are Discord Bots?
Discord bots can be built in different programming languages. Think of them as server add-ons that extend Discord’s core functionality.
If you’ve been to one of the best Discord servers , you’ve probably run into a bot, perhaps without even realizing it. Take a look at the contributor list because bots will be listed here along with human contributors. They will have a Bot badge to distinguish them.
Most bots are designed to run on a server 24/7 and you can usually communicate with them using text commands. These commands then run a specific portion of their code, which in turn performs an action on the server.
Chances are, if you want to achieve something on Discord, there is a bot that can help you. Bots can automatically moderate users, send custom welcome messages, play music in a voice feed, act as a feed for services like Twitter and Twitch, and more.
Where can I find Discord bots to add?
If you have coding knowledge, you can create your own Discord bot. This is advanced, so let’s focus on finding existing bots.
There are various sites that list all the public Discord bots. The best ones are top.gg , Discord Bot List, and Bots on Discord .
On these sites, you can browse Discord bots by their features and popularity. You can find out more about the bot and then click Invite / Join / Add to install the bot on your server – a process we will describe in more detail below.
Many of the most popular Discord bots also have their own websites, such as MEE6 and Carl Bot .
If you need more inspiration, check out our guide to the best Discord bots to help you create an organized server .
How to add bots to your Discord server
Here are all the steps you need to follow to add bots to your Discord server.
1. Check your permissions
You can only invite bots to those servers where you have permission to do so. If you do not own the server, this means that the “manage server” permission must be enabled for your Discord role.
To add a bot to a server, click the name of the corresponding server. If you see Server Settings in the dropdown, you have the correct permission. If you do not, you will need to ask the authority on the server to add the bot, or to grant your role “manage server” permission.
2. Invite a bot
Next, you need to invite the bot to your server. The website from which you get the bot must have an ” Invite” button or some other equivalent. If we take Karl Bot as an example, this link is available in the top menu.
Then you will be taken to the Discord page. Here, use the Add to Server dropdown to select the server you want to add the bot to. Click Continue .
3. Authorize the bot permissions.
A screen will appear describing all the permissions the bot needs on your server. Advanced bots will need a lot of permissions to work properly, so don’t be afraid. But try to add only reliable bots to your server. Click Authorize .
You will most likely need to pass reCAPTCHA verification to prove that you are not a bot. There must be a joke in there somewhere!
When finished, the bot will connect to your server. You should see it online in the member list.
4. Set up the bot role in Discord.
Most bots will automatically assign themselves a new role on your server, with the permissions you negotiated in the previous step.
Click your server name in the upper left corner and select Server Settings> Roles . In the Roles column, you should see the new bot role.
Left click and drag the role above everyone else . This ensures that the bot can successfully manage other members on the server.
5. Configure and use Discord Bot.
Now that the bot is on your server, it’s time to use it! The website from which you added the bot should include documentation for using the bot.
Some advanced bots like MEE6 and Carl Bot can be controlled from their websites. They allow you to manage bot functions, check moderation logs, and configure everything from a centralized and user-friendly place.
However, most bots can only be controlled and interacted with using commands in text chat. Often typing ! Help invokes bot support, although this can vary.
It depends on what type you added. If in doubt, contact the bot developer for support.
One final note: Discord bots run on their own servers. While Discord may be online and functional, the bot may experience an independent crash. If you notice that the bot appears to be disabled, it is most likely that it has temporary problems or is in the process of updating.
How to remove a Discord bot
If the bot doesn’t do what you want, or you end up not using it, it’s advised to remove it from your server.
To do this, look on the right side of your Discord server and find the bot in the user list. You can right- click the bot and select ” Hit” .
Alternatively, click your server name in the upper left corner and select Server Settings> Integrations . Under bots and apps, click Manage next to the bot, then select Remove Integration .
Looking for new ways to overcome discord
Adding bots to your Discord server is a great way to take your Discord experience to the next level.
If you want to become even more of a Discord pro, be sure to master all the keyboard shortcuts, commands, and syntax so you can navigate and chat effectively.
There are many ways to make your Discord experience even more convenient and functional.
