The fastest way to add a music bot
The most common music bots for Discord are Groovy, Rhythm, and MEE6. To add any of them, you visit their website, click an "Invite" or "Add to Server" button, choose which server you want to add it to from a dropdown menu, and confirm the permissions it needs. The bot then appears in your server's member list and is ready to use.
You do not need to be the server owner to add a bot — you just need the "Manage Server" permission. If you do not have that permission, ask someone who does.
After the bot joins, you can start using it immediately by typing commands in any text channel. Most music bots respond to commands like /play [song name] or !play [song name], depending on which bot you chose.
Key Takeaways
- Visit the bot's official website, click the invite button, select your server from the dropdown, and confirm the permissions it requests.
- You need "Manage Server" permission to add a bot, but the server owner can grant this to you if you do not have it.
- Different bots use different command prefixes — some use /, others use ! — so check the bot's documentation to see which commands work.
- Some music bots have been shut down or moved to paid-only versions, so if a bot stops working, try a different one from the current list.
Finding a music bot that still works
Several popular music bots have stopped working or moved behind paywalls. Groovy shut down in 2021 after a cease-and-desist from YouTube. Rhythm also shut down around the same time. If you search for these names and find old guides, they will not work anymore.
Music bots that are currently active include MEE6, Hydra, Lavalink-based bots like Opskins Music, and Fredboat. Before you invite any bot, check its Discord server or website to confirm it is still being maintained. A bot with no updates in over a year is likely abandoned.
Some bots are free but limited — they might skip ads, have a queue limit, or restrict certain features to paid members. Read the bot's feature list before inviting it so you know what you are getting.
Step-by-step: inviting a bot to your server
Here is the exact process using MEE6 as an example, though the steps are nearly identical for other bots:
- Go to the bot's official website. For MEE6, that is mee6.xyz. For Hydra, it is hydra.bot. Do not use a link from a random Discord message — always search for the official site yourself.
- Look for a button labeled "Invite", "Add to Server", or "Invite Now". Click it.
- You will be taken to Discord's authorization page. A dropdown menu will show all servers where you have "Manage Server" permission. Select the server you want to add the bot to.
- Review the permissions the bot is asking for. Most music bots need "Send Messages", "Connect to Voice Channels", and "Play Audio". You can see exactly what each permission does by hovering over it.
- Click "Authorize" or "Continue". Discord will confirm that the bot has been added to your server.
- Go back to your Discord server. The bot should now appear in the member list on the right side of the screen.
If the bot does not appear in your member list after a few seconds, refresh your Discord window by pressing F5 or closing and reopening the app.
Understanding bot permissions and what they mean
When you invite a bot, Discord shows you a list of permissions it needs. You cannot pick and choose — you either grant all of them or none. Here is what the most common ones do for a music bot:
Send Messages lets the bot respond to your commands and post now-playing information. Connect to Voice Channels and Speak let it join the voice channel where you are and play audio. Manage Messages lets it delete old now-playing posts to keep the chat clean. Embed Links lets it format responses with images and formatted text instead of plain text.
If a bot is asking for permissions that seem unrelated to music — like "Administrator" or "Manage Roles" — that is a red flag. Legitimate music bots do not need those. Do not invite it.
Using commands after the bot joins
Once the bot is in your server, you use it by typing commands in any text channel. The exact commands depend on which bot you chose. Most music bots use one of two command styles:
Slash commands start with a forward slash: /play song name or /queue. When you type the slash, Discord shows you a menu of available commands. Prefix commands start with a symbol like ! or ?: !play song name or ?skip.
Check the bot's documentation or help page to see which style it uses. Most bots have a /help or !help command that lists all available commands. Type it in any channel and the bot will send you a list.
To play music, you must be in a voice channel first. Join a voice channel, then type the play command with a song name or YouTube link. The bot will join your voice channel and start playing.
Troubleshooting when a bot does not work
If you type a command and nothing happens, check these things first:
Make sure you are in a voice channel. Some bots will not respond to commands if you are only in a text channel. Join a voice channel and try again. If the bot still does not respond, check that it has permission to connect to that voice channel — right-click the channel name, select "Edit Channel", go to "Permissions", and look for the bot's name. If it is listed with a red X next to "Connect", click the X to remove the restriction.
Verify you are using the correct command syntax. If the bot uses slash commands and you type a prefix command, it will not work. Check the bot's help page or documentation to see the exact format. Some bots are case-sensitive, so /Play might not work if the command is /play.
If the bot has stopped responding entirely and was working before, it may have gone offline or been shut down. Check the bot's official Discord server or website to see if there are any announcements. If the bot is dead, you will need to invite a different one.
Removing a bot from your server
If you no longer want a music bot in your server, you can remove it without affecting anything else. Right-click the bot's name in the member list, select "Remove from Server", and confirm. The bot will leave immediately.
You can also manage which channels the bot can access by adjusting its permissions. Right-click the bot's name, select "Manage", and you will see options to restrict it from specific channels or disable specific permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be the server owner to add a bot?
No. You need the "Manage Server" permission, which the owner can grant to you. If you do not have it, ask the owner or a moderator to give it to you, or ask them to add the bot themselves.
Why does the bot say it cannot connect to my voice channel?
The bot does not have permission to connect to that channel. Right-click the channel, select "Edit Channel", go to "Permissions", find the bot's name, and make sure "Connect" and "Speak" are not blocked. If they are, click them to allow the bot access.
Can I use a music bot to play copyrighted music?
Yes, but the bot streams from YouTube or Spotify, so the same copyright rules apply. You cannot record and redistribute the music, and the bot cannot play music that is not available on those platforms. The bot itself is legal to use.
What happens if the music bot I use gets shut down?
The bot will stop responding to commands and will eventually leave your server. You will need to invite a different music bot and set it up again. Your server settings and channels are not affected.
Can multiple music bots work in the same server?
Yes, you can invite as many bots as you want. However, only one bot can play audio in a voice channel at a time. If two bots try to play at once, one will stop or produce errors.