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How to add a bot to your Discord server (invite link, scopes, permissions)

2 min readUpdated Oct 31, 2026

Make an invite link for your own bot in the Developer Portal, pick the right scopes and permissions, add it to a server, and fix it if it does not show up.

Before a bot can do anything in a server, someone with the Manage Server permission has to invite it. For your own bot you make the invite link yourself in the Discord Developer Portal.

Make the invite link #

  1. Open discord.com/developers/applications and choose your application.
  2. Go to OAuth2, then URL Generator.
  3. Under Scopes, tick bot and applications.commands (the second one lets the bot add slash commands).
  4. Under Bot Permissions, tick only what the bot needs, for example Send Messages, Embed Links and Read Message History. Avoid Administrator unless you really need it.
  5. Copy the generated URL at the bottom and open it in your browser.
  6. Pick the server, check the permissions and choose Authorize.

The bot now appears in the member list. It shows offline until its code is running: see how to host a Discord bot 24/7.

The server isn't in the list #

You need Manage Server (or Administrator) in that server. Ask the owner to open the link, or to give you that permission.

Picking permissions #

  • Moderation bots need Kick Members, Ban Members or Moderate Members, and their role must sit above the roles they act on.
  • Music bots need Connect and Speak.
  • Bots that manage roles need Manage Roles, and can only change roles below their own.
  • You can change a bot's permissions later in Server Settings, Roles, without re-inviting it.

Common problems #

  • Slash commands don't show: make sure the invite included applications.commands, then see slash commands not showing.
  • "Missing Permissions" errors: check the bot's role permissions and channel overrides, and move its role higher.
  • Bot is offline: the program isn't running or can't log in. See why is my Discord bot offline.

FAQ #

How do I make an invite link for my Discord bot? #

In the Developer Portal open OAuth2, URL Generator, tick the bot and applications.commands scopes, choose permissions, and copy the generated URL.

Why can't I see my server when adding a bot? #

You need the Manage Server permission in that server.

Should I give my bot Administrator? #

Only if it truly needs it. Giving just the permissions it uses is safer if the token ever leaks.

Why is my bot offline after I added it? #

Adding the bot only puts it in the server. Its code must be running somewhere, such as on a host, for it to come online.

Still stuck? Use the live chat on the panel or ask in the ESN Systems Discord. Last updated October 31, 2026.