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Tags: discord, server, management, roles, permissions, moderation, bots, nitro, boosting Last updated: 2026-07-01

Discord Server Management Cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Roles & Permissions

Role Hierarchy

< highest role
[Owner]           — Full control, cannot be demoted
[Admin]           — Can manage server, roles, channels
[Moderator]       — Can timeout, kick, mute, manage messages
[Mini-Mod]        — Can timeout, manage messages (no kick/ban)
[Muted]           — Can't speak; negative/restrictive permissions
[Member]          — Default @everyone permissions
[Guest/New]       — Restricted, no media/files
< lowest role

Important Rules

• Roles higher in the list override roles lower in the list
• A user's highest role determines their colour colour
• A user can only manage roles lower than their highest role
• A user can only moderate users whose highest role is lower than theirs
• Administrator permission bypasses all channel overwrites
• @everyone is the default role for every member — never give it admin

Common Permission Sets

Permission Bitfields (for bots)

The permissions integer is a bitwise sum:

CREATE_INSTANT_INVITE  = 1
KICK_MEMBERS           = 2
BAN_MEMBERS            = 4
ADMINISTRATOR          = 8
MANAGE_CHANNELS        = 16
MANAGE_GUILD           = 32
VIEW_AUDIT_LOG         = 128
MODERATE_MEMBERS       = 1 << 40
SEND_MESSAGES          = 2048
MANAGE_MESSAGES        = 8192

Channel Management

Channel Types

Recommended Category Layout

[ 📢  ANNOUNCEMENTS]     — #welcome, #announcements, #rules
[ 💬  GENERAL]           — #general, #off-topic, #media, #memes
[ 🔊  VOICE CHATS]       — General, Music, AFK
[ 🎮  GAMING]            — #lfg, #game-chat, game-specific channels
[ 🤖  BOTS]              — #bot-commands, #bot-spam
[ 🔧  ADMIN]             — #mod-chat, #mod-log, #admin-log (staff-only)

Permission Overwrites

Channel Edit → Permissions → Add Role / Member

Override options:
- ✅ ALLOW   — Explicitly grant this permission in this channel
- ❌ DENY    — Explicitly block (overrides ALLOW from other roles)
- / NEUTRAL — Inherit from category/server default

Tip: Prefer ALLOW on the role over DENY on the channel. DENY can create confusing override chains.

Slowmode

1m    — Typing cooldown, reduces spam
5m    — Heavy moderation, Q&A channels
15m   — Announcements (only @everyone can post every 15m)
1h    — Role-request channels or highly restricted discussion
Off   — General chat

Other Channel Settings

• NSFW: Lock channel behind age-gate. Required for adult content.
• Private Threads: Members must be explicitly added or have the "Use Private Threads" permission.
• Hide Chat Link Preview: Disable link embeds per channel.

Server Settings

Verification Levels

Explicit Content Filter

2FA Requirement

Server Settings → Moderation → Require 2FA

When enabled: members need 2FA for admin-level actions
(kick, ban, manage roles, manage channels)

Default Notification Settings

Server Boost Levels

Nitro & Boosting

What is Discord Nitro?

Discord Nitro is a paid subscription tier that unlocks platform-wide perks for the subscriber. There are two tiers:

Nitro Perks Explained

• Custom Emoji Anywhere: Use emoji from any server you're in, not just the current one
• HD Streaming: Stream games at 1080p/60fps (Basic) or 4K/60fps (Full)
• Upload Limit: 50MB (Basic) vs 500MB (Full) vs 25MB (Free)
• Server Boosts: Full Nitro gives 2 free boosts per month
• Animated Avatar: Use a GIF as your profile picture
• Profile Themes: Coloured profile card with banner
• Super Reactions: Animated reaction effects that cost more but stand out
• Custom Stickers Anywhere: Use stickers across servers
• Client Themes: Darker dark mode, light mode, or custom colours

Server Boosting Explained

Boosting is applying Nitro perks to a specific server. Each boost increases the server's level:

💰 How Boosting Works:
─────────────────────────────────
- Nitro Full gives 2 free boosts
- Extra boosts cost $4.99/ea (1 at a time)
- Boosts are assigned to a server by the user
- Boosters get a special role (customisable), chat badge, and +1 level to the server
- Boosts last as long as the user keeps Nitro
- Boosts from multiple users stack toward the next level

Benefits of Boosting a Server:

• Higher level = more features for the whole community
• Level 1: Soundboard, custom emoji slots
• Level 2: Animated banner/icon, Vanity URL (discord.gg/yourlink)
• Level 3: More emoji, stickers, 4K streaming, extra perks
• Boosters get a booster-only chat badge and custom roles

Bots & Integrations

Bot Permissions Calculator

When adding a bot via OAuth2:

Discord Developer Portal → Applications → Your App → OAuth2 → URL Generator

1. Select "bot" scope
2. Tick the permissions the bot needs
3. Use the generated URL to invite

Common bot permission sets:

Principle of least privilege: Only grant permissions the bot actually needs. Never grant Administrator unless absolutely required.

Popular Bots

Webhooks

Channel → Edit → Integrations → Webhooks

# Create a webhook
# Copy the URL and POST to it:

POST https://discord.com/api/webhooks/{id}/{token}
Content-Type: application/json
{
  "content": "Hello from a webhook!",
  "username": "My Bot",
  "avatar_url": "https://example.com/avatar.png",
  "embeds": [
    {
      "title": "Deploy Complete",
      "description": "Version 1.5 deployed to production",
      "color": 5814783
    }
  ]
}

Slash Commands vs Prefix Commands

Moderation

Timeout

Right-click user → Timeout (or /timeout @user 30m)
Duration: Up to 28 days
Effect: Can read but not speak/react/join VC/stream
Auto-removes: Yes, when timer expires

Kick vs Ban

# Common moderation commands (slash)
/kick @user reason: Repeated spam
/ban @user reason: Harassment delete_message_days: 1
/timeout @user duration: 1h reason: Rule #3
/clear amount: 20             # Bulk delete messages
/warn @user reason: Warning    # Adds to user's warning count

Auto-Mod Rules (Built-in)

Server Settings → Moderation → Auto-Mod

Built-in rules:
- Keyword Filter:     Block/flag specific words or phrases
- Spam Detection:     Block duplicate messages, mentions, or links
- Mention Spam:       Block more than N unique @mentions per message
- Link Filter:        Block all links or allow only whitelisted domains
- Server Invite      Block invites to other servers (or allow whitelist)

Per rule configuration:
- Show message in channel (report)
- Timeout user
- Custom auto-response

Audit Log

Server Settings → Audit Log

Tracks:
- Channel create/delete/update
- Role create/delete/update/permissions
- Member kick/ban/timeout/unban
- Message edit/delete
- Server setting changes
- Emoji/sticker changes
- Webhook create/delete
- Integration changes

Tip: Pin the audit log filter to a staff-only channel for easy monitoring. The audit log filters by action type.

Community Features

Enable Community

Server Settings → Enable Community

Requirements:
1. Verify you've read the rules
2. Set a community server name
3. Set an update/announcement channel
4. Set a rules channel
5. Set community guidelines

Once enabled, unlocks:

• Welcome Screen
• Rules Screening
• Server Insights
• Announcement Channels
• Discord Partnership eligibility

Welcome Screen

Server Settings → Welcome Screen

A splash page shown to new members before they join:
- Up to 6 clickable buttons linking to channels
- Description text
- Server photo

Tip: Use this to guide new users to rules, introductions, and roles.

Onboarding

Server Settings → Onboarding

Guided new member flow:
1. Choose what channels to see (based on interests)
2. Choose what roles to assign (like pronouns, game preferences)
3. Define channel groups to show/hide per selection
4. Require joining one or more "resources" channels

Example: New member picks "FPS Games" → gets access
         to #valorant, #csgo, #lfg-fps

Announcement Channels

• Channels with the 📢 icon
• Posts can be followed by other servers
• Publishing sends a cross-server announcement to all followers
• Useful for patch notes, community updates, changelogs

Rules Screening

Server Settings → Rules Screening

New members must scroll through and accept rules before chatting.
- Rules text is Markdown-friendly
- Add as many points as needed
- Member cannot send messages until accepted

Membership Gating

Lock access to the server based on a requirement:

Membership Gating:
- Verified email required
- Verified phone required
- Minimum account age

This is FURTHER enforced beyond basic verification levels.

Tips

• Use role separation: never give moderation permissions on the "Member" role. Create a dedicated "Moderator" role instead.
• Create a private mod-log channel with webhook integration or a dedicated bot for logging (deletes, edits, joins, leaves).
• Use colour-coded roles to visually distinguish staff hierarchy (Red = Admin, Blue = Mod, Green = Helper).
• Audit log filters can be filtered by action type. Pin the filter URL for quick access.
• Nitro Boosts are most valuable at Level 3 for the Vanity URL, 4K streaming, and 250 emoji slots — coordinate a community boost event.
• Never give @everyone the Administrator permission — it cannot be undone without the Owner.
• Slowmode is better than muting for fast channels — it's non-punitive and self-regulating.
• Use Reaction Roles for self-assignable game/platform/pronoun roles (via Carl-bot, Dyno, or YAGPDB).
• Back up your server roles and channel structure using a bot like Server Template or DiscordChatExporter.
• Always read the audit log before reversing a mod action — you might unban someone who shouldn't be.
• Use Server Templates (Server Settings → Server Template) to let others copy your server structure.
• For large communities, set up stage channels for town halls, Q&As, and community announcements.
• Members can also subscribe to Nitro directly without a subscription to the server itself — Nitro perks apply globally, boosts apply per server.