- Who can add a bot to a Discord server
- Adding a bot to Discord from the App Directory
- Adding a bot to Discord with an invite link
- Checking a Discord bot's permissions before you add it
- Where to find a bot after you add it to Discord
- Controlling where a bot works in your Discord server
- Removing a bot from your Discord server
- If you can't add a bot to Discord
- Frequently asked questions
To add a bot to Discord, open Server Settings on desktop, choose App Directory, find the bot and click Add App, then pick your server and confirm its permissions. The rule that stops people: only the server owner or someone with the Manage Server permission can add a bot.
Bots do the jobs nobody in your server wants to do by hand: welcoming new members, handing out roles, running polls, posting reminders and keeping spam in check. Adding one is quick, but there's a gatekeeper. Discord only lets the server owner, or someone with the Manage Server permission, add a bot to a server.
If that's you, this guide covers both ways in: Discord's built-in App Directory and a bot's own invite link. I'll also cover the permissions screen, which is where I'd slow down, plus how to remove a bot and what to do if you're not an admin.
Who can add a bot to a Discord server
Discord calls bots "apps" in its help centre. According to its Using Apps article, you need to be the server owner or have the Manage Server permission to add an app to a server. If you're a regular member, the add button either won't appear or won't list that server as an option.
That rule protects communities. A bot can be granted serious powers, so Discord keeps the decision with the people responsible for the server.
Adding a bot to Discord from the App Directory
The App Directory is Discord's own catalogue of apps. Discord's help says it's only available on desktop and in a browser, so grab your computer for this one.
- Open the server you want to add the bot to.
- Click the server name in the top left corner.
- Choose Server Settings, then App Directory.
- Search for the bot by name, or browse the categories.
- Open the bot's page and click Add App.
- If asked, choose whether to add it to your server or to your own account, then pick the server.
- Review the permissions it's asking for and follow the prompts to confirm.
Some apps can be added to your own account instead of a server, and Discord's help says those will ask where you'd like to add them. For a community bot, choose the server.
Adding a bot to Discord with an invite link
Not every bot is listed in the App Directory. Many bot makers share an add or invite button on their own website instead. Clicking it opens a Discord authorisation page in your browser.
- Click the bot's official add link, ideally from the developer's own site or its App Directory page.
- Log in to Discord in your browser if prompted.
- Choose the server from the drop-down list. Only servers where you can add apps will appear.
- Review the permissions and untick anything that seems unnecessary, if the screen lets you.
- Click to authorise and complete any check Discord shows.
This route works on a phone browser too, though I find it easier to read the permissions on a bigger screen. Be careful with links that arrive by direct message from strangers promising free extras: only add bots from sources you trust.
Checking a Discord bot's permissions before you add it
Discord's help explains that an app added to a server can request permissions to act there, such as creating channels, deleting messages or editing roles. That's what makes bots useful, and it's also why the permissions screen deserves a careful read.
| What the bot asks for | Questions to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Send and read messages | Does it need to post or respond in chat? Usually yes. |
| Manage roles | Is it a role or verification bot? If not, why does it need this? |
| Delete messages or ban members | Is it a moderation bot? Only grant this to bots you trust. |
| Administrator | This gives it every power. Most bots don't need it. |
A good rule: give a bot only what its job needs. You can always add more permissions later through the bot's role in Server Settings.
Where to find a bot after you add it to Discord
Once it's in, Discord's help says the bot appears in two places:
- Your server's Member List, usually with an app or bot tag next to its name.
- Server Settings, then Integrations, then Bots and Apps, where you can see and manage the apps in your server.
Most modern bots work through slash commands. Type a forward slash in a channel and you'll see a list of commands from the apps in your server. Discord notes that slash commands only work once an app has been added to a server or your account, so if you don't see any, check the bot was added to the right server.
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Controlling where a bot works in your Discord server
You don't have to let a bot loose in every channel. Many bots arrive with their own role, and you can use roles and channel settings to limit where it can read or post. A common setup is a dedicated bot commands channel, so members' commands don't clutter your main chat.
There's also a setting for apps that members install to their own accounts. Discord's help says admins can go to Server Settings, then Roles, pick a role, open Permissions and turn off Use External Apps. Discord notes that this doesn't block those apps completely: it limits their results so only the person using them can see them.
Removing a bot from your Discord server
If a bot isn't pulling its weight, or you're worried about it, take it out:
- Find the bot in your server's Member List.
- Right-click its name, or tap and hold on mobile.
- Choose Kick.
As with adding, Discord's help says you need to be the owner or have the Manage Server permission. If you're a member and a bot is causing problems, contact a server admin.
If you can't add a bot to Discord
- Your server isn't in the list. You don't own it or don't have Manage Server. Ask the owner to add the bot or give your role that permission.
- You're on mobile. The App Directory is desktop and browser only. Switch to a computer or use the bot's add link in a browser.
- The bot added but does nothing. Check it has permission to read and send messages in that channel, and try its slash commands.
- You'd like your own custom bot. That means building one in the Discord Developer Portal, which is a separate job from adding an existing bot.
Bots are popular on other chat apps too. If you're weighing up automation for customer messages, my piece on using a WhatsApp bot to handle business conversations covers the bigger picture, and if your community runs a WhatsApp group alongside Discord, here's how to add someone to a WhatsApp group.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a bot to my Discord server?
On desktop, open Server Settings, then App Directory, find the bot and click Add App, then choose your server and confirm. You can also use the bot's own add link in a browser.
Why can't I add a bot to a Discord server?
You need to be the server owner or have the Manage Server permission. If you have neither, the server won't appear as an option. Ask an admin to add it.
Can I add a bot to Discord on mobile?
The App Directory is desktop and browser only, according to Discord's help. You can open a bot's add link in your phone's browser, though a computer makes the permissions easier to read.
Where do I see the bots in my Discord server?
In the server's Member List, and under Server Settings, then Integrations, then Bots and Apps.
How do I remove a bot from Discord?
Right-click the bot in the Member List and choose Kick. You need to be the owner or have the Manage Server permission.
