How to Add Bots to Discord (Server and Account)
How to add bots to Discord: you need Manage Server, then use the App Directory or an invite link and press Authorize. Plus permissions and safety.
Published October 18, 2026
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To add a bot to Discord, you must own the server or have the Manage Server permission. Open the app in the App Directory (or use its invite link), press Add App, choose the server, review the permissions and press Authorize.
Discord's help pages call bots "apps", so you will see both words. This guide covers the steps, what to do when the option is missing, and how to keep a server safe after you add one.
How to add bots to a Discord server
Users need to be the server owner or have the Manage Server permission to add an app to a server. If you meet that, follow the steps Discord documents for the App Directory, which is available on desktop, in the browser and on Discord's website.
- Check that you are the server owner or have the Manage Server permission.
- Click the server name in the top left, then choose Server Settings and App Directory.
- Search or browse, then open the page of the app you want and read its overview.
- Press Add App.
- If asked, choose whether the app goes to your account or a server, and pick the server.
- Read the permissions the app asks for, press Authorize and finish any prompts.
- Confirm it worked: a server app appears in the Member List and under Server Settings, Integrations, Bots and Apps.
Those steps come from Discord's How to Discover and Add Apps page. Discord adds that you can start from the App Launcher or from an app's profile when you see it post in chat; both lead to the same Add App and Authorize screens.
How to add a bot with an invite link
Many bots are shared as an invite link on the developer's website or a bot list. Open the link, sign in, choose your server, pick permissions and authorize. Zapier's guide walks through it with a bot list such as top.gg: click Invite, sign in with Discord, choose a server, pick permissions and click Authorize. Discord may ask for a two-factor code. On a phone it is the same with taps.
Under the hood, that link is Discord's OAuth2 authorize page, https://discord.com/oauth2/authorize, with the bot scope, which puts the bot in the server you select. If the page you land on is not on discord.com, do not authorize.
| Added to | Who can add it | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| A server | Owner or Manage Server | Available to members of that server, and shows in the Member List |
| Your account | You | Your servers, DMs and group chats |
Discord notes that an app added to your account may not have all the same capabilities as an app added to a server.
Why you cannot add a bot to your Discord server
The usual cause is permissions. If Add App is missing or the server does not appear in the list, you probably lack Manage Server. Ask the owner to add the app or to give you that permission.
Other causes: the app is only available to install on your account, so it asks about your account rather than a server; or some apps and Activities are not available in certain regions. If an app misbehaves after you add it, contact its developer through the support server on its App Directory page, because apps are made and run by their developers. If Discord itself will not open, see Discord stuck on starting.
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What permissions a Discord bot asks for
When you authorize, Discord shows what the app needs. Apps can ask to create and edit channels, send messages without command inputs, connect to voice channels or view the Audit Log.
Grant only what the app's job requires. A welcome bot needs to send messages; it does not need to edit roles. You can change an app's permissions later: go to Server Settings, Roles, and search for the app's name to find the role it was given.
How to keep your server safe when you add a bot
Read the app's profile first. Discord lets you see what data an app can reach on its Data Access tab, and the App Directory page links the developer's site. Only add apps from developers you recognise, and read their privacy policy, since Discord points you to the developer for an app's data practices.
Server owners can also limit what members' apps do with these controls:
| Permission | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Use External Apps | Whether members can use apps from their own accounts in your server |
| Use Application Commands | Who can run commands from any app |
| Use Activities | Who can launch Activities |
| Command Permissions | Which roles and channels can use a specific app command (Server Settings, Integrations) |
You find the first three under Server Settings, Roles, Apps Permissions. If an app or user breaks Discord's policies, you can report it to Discord. For the people side of moderation, see do Discord mods get paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bots free on Discord?
Many are, but not all. Discord marks apps that offer paid features through Discord Premium Apps with an "In-App Purchases" tag and apps that carry ads with an "Ad-Supported" tag on their details page. Third-party bots may also have their own paid plans on the developer's site, so check before you authorize.
How do I remove a bot from my server?
Right-click the app's bot in the Member List and kick it, which removes the app from the server. You must be the owner or have Manage Server. Server apps are also listed under Server Settings, Integrations. An app added to your account is removed under User Settings, Authorized Apps, by selecting Deauthorize.
Does Discord AutoMod check messages from bots?
Not from apps installed to your server. Discord says AutoMod does not scan or flag messages from server-installed apps. It does flag messages from external apps, meaning apps a member added to their own account, and any action lands on the member who first used the command, not on the app. Discord's separate image filters are covered in Discord explicit content filter.
How do I set up my own Discord bot?
Create an application in the Discord Developer Portal. Newly created apps have a bot user enabled by default, and the Bot page is where you reset and copy the token. Then set up an install link with the scopes and permissions it needs. Keep the token private. Discord's getting started guide walks through each step, with code.
Sources
- Discord Support, How to Discover and Add Apps
- Discord Support, Using Apps on Discord
- Discord Support, Moderating Apps on Discord
- Discord Support, Welcome to the App Directory
- Discord Developer Docs, OAuth2 and permissions
- Discord Developer Docs, Building your first Discord Bot
- Zapier, How to add bots to Discord
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