Add Buddy to your server
Invite the Discord Buddy bot to your server, choose which permissions it gets, and learn what happens right after it joins.
On this page
- Before you start
- Two ways to invite Buddy
- Set it up
- What happens after Buddy joins
- Check that Buddy is working
- Removing Buddy
- Troubleshooting
- My server isn't in Discord's list
- Buddy joined but the dashboard says "Finish connecting this server first"
- The server doesn't show as added on My Discords
- Buddy never posted its hello message
- Related
Before Buddy can do anything, it has to be a member of your server. Adding it takes one click and a quick Discord confirmation screen. This page explains the two ways to invite Buddy, which permissions each one asks for, and what you'll see once it's in.
Before you start#
To manage the server on the website afterwards you need Administrator in that server. See First-time setup.
Two ways to invite Buddy#
| Where you click | Permissions Buddy asks for | Where you land afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Add to Discord (top bar, home page, Features page, footer, and the button below) | The recommended set: everything Buddy's features use, without Administrator | The "You're all set" page |
| Add Buddy to server on My Discords, or a faded server icon in the dashboard's server rail | Administrator (the server you clicked is already picked) | My Discords |
Both add the same bot with its slash commands. Add to Discord asks for each permission Buddy's
features use: View Channels, Send Messages, Send Messages in Threads, Embed Links, Attach Files, Read
Message History, Add Reactions, Use External Emojis, Mention Everyone, Manage Messages, Manage Threads,
Manage Roles, Manage Channels, Manage Server, Create Invite, Change Nickname, Kick Members, Ban Members,
Timeout Members and View Audit Log. That covers Buddy's features, /setup included, so you don't need to give Buddy
Administrator. The exceptions are /echo and /botinfo, which still only run when Buddy has
Administrator.
You can untick permissions on Discord's screen if you don't use a feature (for example Ban Members
if you'll never use /ban). Permissions & roles lists
what each feature needs. After Buddy joins, run /setup in your server: its
health check lists anything Buddy is
missing, with a Fix Buddy's permissions button to add it.
Set it up#
Use the button below or the one in the top bar of the website. If you're logged in and already on My Discords, you can click Add Buddy to server on the server's card instead.
Discord shows a list of servers where you have Manage Server. Choose the one you want, then click Continue.
Discord lists the permissions Buddy is asking for. Leave them ticked so every feature works, then click Authorize.
Discord sends you back to Discord Buddy. If you're logged in you'll see Set Up This Server, which opens the dashboard for the server you just added. Otherwise, click Login with Discord first.
Add Discord Buddy to your server
What happens after Buddy joins#
On the website, the "You're all set! Thanks for adding Discord Buddy" page suggests three next steps: open your server dashboard, set up welcome messages and list your server in the directory.
- Logged in and Discord told us which server you picked: Set Up This Server makes it your active server and opens the dashboard.
- Logged in, but no server came back: Go to My Discords and choose it there.
- Not logged in: Login with Discord, then choose the server on My Discords.
- If you cancelled on Discord's screen you'll see "Discord Buddy was not added" with an Invite Discord Buddy button to try again.
In your server, Buddy does two things straight away:
- It copies your server's channel and role list to the website, so the dashboard's channel and role pickers are filled in.
- It posts a short hello message with setup shortcuts. It uses your Community Updates channel if you have one, otherwise a channel called
#general, otherwise one called#welcome, as long as it can send messages there.
Command Roles Update Channels & Roles Make Server Premium Enable XP System
The buttons under that message are Command Roles, Update Channels & Roles, Make Server
Premium and Enable XP System. Only members with Administrator can use them. The first three
point you to the matching /setup option; Enable XP System switches XP on right away.
The hello message also tells you whether your server can use rotating banners. Discord only allows server banners from boost level 2 (still images) and level 3 (animated). See Banners.
Check that Buddy is working#
Type /ping in any channel. Buddy replies privately with "Pong!" and its API latency and uptime.
If nothing happens, see Troubleshooting.
/help [command] EveryoneBrowse Discord Buddy commands and guides (only you can see it).
/ping EveryoneDisplays the ping of the bot and discord api.
Removing Buddy#
To remove Buddy, kick it from your server in Discord (right-click Buddy in the member list → Kick). The website stops treating the server as active, but your saved settings aren't wiped, so if you add Buddy back later most things pick up where you left off.
Troubleshooting#
My server isn't in Discord's list#
You don't have Manage Server there. Ask the owner to add Buddy, or to give you a role with Manage Server or Administrator.
Buddy joined but the dashboard says "Finish connecting this server first"#
The automatic channel and role sync didn't finish. Run /setup in your server and click Sync
channels & roles on the panel (or choose Update Channels and Roles for Website in the
feature option), then refresh the dashboard. Details in
First-time setup.
The server doesn't show as added on My Discords#
Refresh the page after a minute. The website caches your server list briefly, and Buddy needs a moment to register a new server. Only servers where you have Administrator are listed.
Buddy never posted its hello message#
That's harmless. Buddy only posts it if your server has a Community Updates channel, #general or
#welcome that it can send messages in. Everything else works without it.