Troubleshooting

Something not working? Find the symptom below. Most problems come down to a missing permission, a role that's too low in the list, or a setting that wasn't saved, and Buddy usually tells you which.

Buddy is offline or doesn't respond#

1. Look for Buddy in the member list. If it isn't there, it was removed: add it again.
2. Type /ping in a channel. If Buddy answers "Pong!" with its latency and uptime, it's online and the problem is with one feature or channel.
3. Try a different channel. If Buddy works elsewhere, the first channel is hiding it: give Buddy View Channel and Send Messages there (check Edit Channel → Permissions).
4. If Buddy shows as offline everywhere, it may be restarting or Discord may be having problems. Give it a few minutes, then check our support server for announcements.

Using a custom bot? See Custom bot problems below.

Slash commands are missing#

• You don't have the permission the command needs. Discord hides commands from members without their default permission. For example /warn needs Manage Server and /setup needs Administrator. Check the Permissions reference.
• A server admin hid it. Check Server Settings → Integrations → Discord Buddy for role, member or channel overrides.
• It's an app command, not a slash command. Commands like Warn User or Post to Announcement live in the right-click menu: right-click (or long-press) a member or message → Apps.
• Discord hasn't refreshed. Restart Discord or press Ctrl + R.

"This command is limited to certain roles"#

The card goes on: "A server admin has restricted it with Command roles. Ask them if you think you should have access." The command was limited with Command roles. Ask for one of the allowed roles. Members with Administrator or Manage Server are never blocked by command roles.

If the message is "You do not have permission to use that command." (no mention of roles), you're using an admin /xp subcommand without its permission: Manage Server, or Manage Roles for /xp roles.

"Missing Permissions" or "Buddy is missing a permission"#

Buddy can't do the thing because its role or the channel doesn't allow it.

• "Buddy is missing a permission" (a private card when you run a command). It says "To run this command here, Buddy needs X in this channel." Give Buddy the named permission there or on its role. Members with Manage Server also get a Fix permissions button that re-authorizes Buddy with its recommended permissions. That fixes Buddy's role, but not a channel override: if the channel denies Buddy, allow the permission in Edit Channel → Permissions.
• "Missing Permissions: …" under Bot errors. The entry names the feature and channel. Add the permission to Buddy's role or the channel.
• Not sure what's missing? Run /setup. Its health check lists every recommended permission Buddy's role lacks and any roles above Buddy, with a Fix Buddy's permissions button.

Permissions & roles lists what each feature needs.

The dashboard can't see my channels or roles#

If you see Finish connecting this server first. at the top of the dashboard, or a channel or role is missing from a dropdown:

If /setup says Buddy is missing a permission, give Buddy View Channel, Send Messages and Embed Links in that channel, or run it in another channel (see First-time setup).

I can't open the dashboard or my server isn't listed#

• My Discords only lists servers where you have Administrator. Manage Server isn't enough.
• Your server list is cached for a few minutes. If you were just given Administrator, click Refresh list, or log out and back in.
• A server with Buddy not added has an Add Buddy to server button instead of Manage.
• "We could not verify your Discord server permissions right now." means Discord didn't answer. Wait a moment and try again.

Settings don't save#

After you click a save button, a message should appear in the bottom-right corner.

Welcome messages aren't sending#

1. Check Bot errors on the dashboard home for Welcome Channel or Welcome Message entries. They say exactly what failed, for example "Channel not found" or "Missing Permissions: Embed Links".
2. Make sure a welcome channel is selected on Welcome messages and that you saved.
3. Buddy needs View Channel and Send Messages in the welcome channel, plus Embed Links for the Embed style and Attach Files for a welcome image.
4. If the channel was deleted, pick a new one.

If your saved message is blank or a Components layout can't be sent, Buddy posts a plain "Welcome {user} to {server}!" instead so new members are still greeted. Full guide: Welcome messages.

Roles aren't being given#

This covers join roles, button and reaction roles, XP reward roles and invite reward roles.

• Buddy's role is too low. Drag Discord Buddy above the roles it gives in Server Settings → Roles. Bot errors shows this as "Role above the bot" or "check that the bot's role is above it".
• Buddy is missing Manage Roles. Add it to Buddy's role.
• The role is privileged. Buddy won't hand out roles with Administrator, Manage Server or Manage Roles through self-assign features, or @everyone and integration-managed roles. Use a plain role.
• The role was deleted. Pick another one on the feature's page ("Role not found" in Bot errors).

See Role hierarchy.

Moderation commands refuse to work#

• "You can not … that user. Their highest role is equal to or above your highest role." You can only act on members below you.
• "I can not mute that user…" The member's role is at or above Buddy's, or Buddy is missing Timeout Members.
• /ban and /unban need Buddy to have Ban Members, /kick needs Kick Members.

More in Warnings & punishments.

Banners or icons aren't rotating#

• Discord only allows a server banner from boost level 2 (still images) or level 3 (animated).
• Buddy needs Manage Server to change the banner or icon.
• On plans without watermark removal (including Free), still banners get a small Discord-Buddy.com watermark and animated banners are skipped.
• Run /banner_status to see what's queued and common setup problems.

Full guides: Banners and Icons.

Custom bot problems#

• Custom bot needs a Premium plan that includes custom bots on this server.
• In the Discord Developer Portal, turn on Server Members Intent and Message Content Intent. The bot won't start without them.
• After saving, use Invite your bot on the Custom bot page to add it to your server.
• The Connection status card shows what happened the last time Buddy tried to start your bot.
• A custom bot only works in its own server.

If your custom bot is offline, hasn't been invited, or the server's Premium lapses, the main Discord Buddy bot takes over that server automatically, so welcome messages, logs and roles keep working. See Custom bot.

Premium isn't applying#

• Turn it on for the server: click Make Server Premium in the server's dashboard sidebar, or in Discord /setup → Premium area → Give this server Premium (or /setup feature: Make Server Premium) → Give This Server Premium. Buying a plan alone doesn't pick a server.
• Run /setup → Premium area → My Premium (or /setup feature: My Premium Settings) to see which servers are in your slots.
• Just subscribed? Wait a moment, refresh Account → My Premium, then try again.
• A Payment issue banner on My Premium means Premium is paused until the payment goes through.
• The dashboard caches Premium status for about a minute. Reload after a minute or two.

More in Premium.

Still stuck?#

Ask in our support server and include your server ID, what you tried and any Bot errors entries. See Contact support.

Related#