How to Add Discord Bots

Updated September 06, 2019

The number of Discord bots available for download continues to grow thanks to a very active developer community. There's a wide array of functionality you can use if you know how to add Discord bots, including bots that play music for your users to bots that facilitate donations.

The tutorial below assumes you already have an active Discord account. If not, register at discordapp.com as an initial step.

How to Add Bots to Discord

You will need a server on which to add bots before proceeding with this tutorial. If you have not created a Discord server yet, please do so first.

If you plan to add a bot to a server that's not your own, you should first confirm you’ve been granted Manage Server permissions before moving forward. These permissions will automatically be in place for any server that you created yourself.

Open a web browser and navigate to DiscordBots.org.

DiscordBots.org isn’t the only website offering bots you can add to a server, although it is one of the most popular.
The Discord Bot List interface should now be displayed, as shown in the accompanying screenshot. From here, you can search for bots by keyword(s) or browse the many options available, organized by category as well as popularity. Select View to learn more about a particular bot or to add it to a server.

The Certified Featured Bots section contains listings that DiscordBots.org has carefully validated and guarantees their stability, stating they'll function as expected 24/7.
The respective bot’s profile page will now be displayed, containing relevant details, including a description of its features, command syntax, and the number of servers it’s been added to. A link to the creator’s website is often listed as well, when applicable, along with screenshots of the bot in action. To add it to a server, select Invite.

If you’re satisfied with your new bot, consider returning to this profile page at a later point and letting other users know by selecting Vote and following the on-screen prompts. This feedback is critical for the long-term health of the Discord bot community.
Enter your Discord username and password, if prompted.
The Connect to Discord interface should now be displayed. Select Select a server.
When the drop-down menu appears, choose the name of the server where you wish to add this bot.
Scroll down to the Allow the following permissions section, which should contain a list of options each accompanied by a check box. If there is a check mark next to a permission set, this bot will be granted that particular access once added to your server. You can opt to deny a certain set of permissions by removing its check mark, but that will likely cause the bot to malfunction in certain instances.

If you aren’t comfortable with granting certain permissions to a bot, such as the ability to embed links or manage messages, then don't add it to your server.
Select the check box next to I’m not a robot.
Select Authorize.
A message should now appear, confirming this bot has been authorized and added to your server. Close this browser tab or window to complete the process.

Other Discord Bot Websites

DiscordBots.com org is not the only game in town when it comes to adding bots to your server. In fact, there are many sites hosting Discord bot code, most of which can be found through a simple Google search.

As with any unregulated software, use caution when selecting a bot provider. High-trafficked sites with a significant number of reviews and other types of user feedback are typically more reputable than some of their lesser-known counterparts, which is something to take into consideration when making the decision to add a bot to your server.

Other bot websites you can use include:

Bots on Discord: Categorizes bots via a number of useful tags and also offers a keyword search. Their monthly staff picks and “Top Bots” sections make it easy to peruse some of the best options. To integrated these, select Add to Server.
Carbonitex: Another well-liked landing spot for Discord bots, this site’s interface is a bit different from its competitors, but still provides access to a large number of feature-rich server additions.
Discord Bots: The self-proclaimed “original Discord bot list,” this easy-to-navigate repository is also worth browsing if you’re in the market for some new additions to your server.

How to Add Your Own Discord Bots to a Server

If you're the kind of person who likes making things, you can create and add your own Discord bots to a server in lieu of those developed by a third-party. This gives you the freedom to customize them using JavaScript code and server-designated permissions.