What bots do and how to add them
A Discord bot is a program that performs tasks in your server automatically — moderating messages, playing music, managing roles, logging activity, or running games. To add a bot, you visit its authorization page, select which permissions it needs, choose which server receives it, and confirm. The bot then appears in your member list and responds to commands you type in chat.
Most bots are free and created by independent developers. Discord itself provides no built-in music player or moderation tools — those come from bots. Some popular ones are MEE6 (moderation and welcome messages), Dyno (moderation and custom commands), and Groovy or Rhythm (music playback). You can add multiple bots to the same server, and each one operates independently.
Key Takeaways
- Find a bot's authorization page by searching its name on Discord.js or top.gg, or by asking in communities where you saw it used.
- When you click "Authorize", Discord shows you exactly which permissions the bot requests — read messages, send messages, manage roles, and so on — before you confirm.
- The bot joins your server only if you have the "Manage Server" permission; if you do not, ask a server owner or admin to add it instead.
- After the bot joins, it usually needs a command prefix (like ! or ?) typed before its commands work — check the bot's documentation for what that prefix is.
- Bots can only perform actions their permissions allow, so a bot without "Delete Messages" permission cannot delete anything even if you ask it to.
Finding a bot and its authorization page
The safest way to find a bot is through top.gg or Discord.js, both of which list bots with user reviews and descriptions. Search the bot's name on either site. Each listing shows what the bot does, what commands it uses, and a blue "Invite" button that takes you to the authorization page.
If you saw a bot in another server and want to know its name, right-click the bot's name in the member list and select "View Profile". The profile shows the bot's name and often links to its documentation. From there, search that name on top.gg or Discord.js to find the authorization page.
Avoid clicking bot invite links from unknown sources or Discord messages from strangers. Malicious bots can be designed to look legitimate but perform harmful actions once added. Stick to well-reviewed bots from established sites, and check the reviews and creation date before authorizing.
Understanding permissions before you authorize
When you click the "Authorize" button, Discord shows a list of permissions the bot is requesting. These include "Read Messages", "Send Messages", "Manage Roles", "Delete Messages", "Manage Channels", and dozens of others. The bot can only perform actions that match its requested permissions — a music bot needs "Connect" and "Speak" to join voice channels, while a moderation bot needs "Delete Messages" and "Manage Roles".
Read the permission list before confirming. If a bot requests permissions it does not need for its stated purpose — for example, a music bot asking for "Manage Roles" — that is a warning sign. You can still authorize it with fewer permissions by unchecking boxes, but the bot may not work fully. Most bots will tell you in their documentation which permissions are required versus optional.
Permissions are not a may provide of safety, but they are a limit on what a bot can do. A bot with "Send Messages" can spam chat but cannot delete channels. A bot with "Manage Roles" can assign roles but cannot read private messages. The permission system prevents bots from doing things you did not intend.
Completing the authorization and adding the bot to your server
After you review the permissions, Discord asks you to choose which server receives the bot. A dropdown menu shows every server where you have the "Manage Server" permission. Select the server you want, then click "Authorize". Discord may ask you to complete a CAPTCHA to confirm you are human.
If you do not see your server in the dropdown, you do not have the "Manage Server" permission in that server. Ask a server owner or admin to add the bot instead. They can follow the same steps and choose your server from their dropdown.
Once you authorize, the bot joins your server immediately. It appears in the member list with a small bot badge next to its name. Some bots send a welcome message to a designated channel; others stay silent until you use a command.
Using commands and setting up the bot
Most bots respond to commands — text you type that starts with a prefix, usually ! or ?. For example, if a music bot uses the ! prefix, you type !play song name to request a song. The bot's documentation or help command tells you what prefix it uses and what commands are available.
To see a bot's commands, try typing the prefix followed by "help" — for example, !help or ?help. The bot usually responds with a list of commands and what each one does. Some bots also have configuration commands that let you set a welcome message, choose which channel receives logs, or change the prefix itself.
If a bot does not respond to commands, check that you are using the correct prefix, that the bot has permission to send messages in that channel, and that the command is spelled correctly. Some bots require additional setup — for example, a logging bot may need you to specify which channel receives logs before it starts working.
Removing a bot or changing its permissions
To remove a bot from your server, right-click its name in the member list and select "Remove from Server". The bot leaves immediately and stops responding to commands. You can add it again later by revisiting its authorization page.
To change a bot's permissions after it has joined, go to your server settings, select "Roles", find the bot's role in the list, and click it. You can then toggle individual permissions on or off. For example, you might remove "Delete Messages" if you want the bot to moderate but not delete anything automatically.
Some bots also have their own permission settings within Discord. Check the bot's documentation to see if it has a dashboard or configuration command where you can control what it does in specific channels or for specific roles.
Common issues and troubleshooting
If a bot does not respond to commands, the most common causes are: the prefix is wrong, the bot does not have permission to send messages in that channel, the command is misspelled, or the bot is offline. Check the bot's documentation for the correct prefix and command names. If the bot has a role in your server, make sure that role has "Send Messages" permission in the channel where you are trying to use it.
If a bot stops working after you added it, it may have gone offline or been removed by its developer. Check top.gg or the bot's support server to see if there are known issues. Some bots require you to set up a configuration step — like choosing a welcome channel — before they start working.
If you accidentally gave a bot too many permissions and want to limit what it can do, change its role permissions in your server settings. You do not need to remove and re-add the bot; just adjust its permissions in the Roles menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a bot if I am not the server owner?
No, you need the "Manage Server" permission to authorize a bot. If you do not have it, ask a server owner or admin to add the bot for you. They can follow the same authorization steps and choose your server from the dropdown menu.
Is it safe to add bots from top.gg?
Top.gg is a community-run site where developers list their bots. Bots are reviewed by users, but top.gg does not may provide safety. Check the bot's reviews, creation date, and how many servers use it. Avoid bots with few reviews or recent creation dates if you are unsure. Stick to well-known bots with thousands of reviews.
What happens if I remove a bot and add it again?
The bot rejoins your server as if it were new. Any settings you configured in the bot's dashboard or through commands are usually preserved, but check the bot's documentation. Some bots store settings per server, so removing and re-adding should not erase them.
Can a bot read private messages or see hidden channels?
A bot can only see channels and messages in servers where it has been added and has permission to read. It cannot read private messages between users unless you explicitly give it permission to do so, which is rare. Check the bot's permissions to see what channels it can access.
Do I need to pay for bots?
Most bots are free. Some developers offer premium versions with extra features for a monthly fee, but the basic version is always free. You can use as many free bots as you want in a single server.