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Discord AutoMod Setup Guide

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Published April 18, 2026Updated April 18, 2026

Discord AutoMod Setup Guide

Discord AutoMod is a built-in moderation system that automatically catches and acts on rule-breaking content โ€” no bot required. It's free, fast (server-side, not bot-dependent), and customisable.

What AutoMod Can Do

  • Block messages containing specific keywords or slurs
  • Block spam (message bursts, character repetition, duplicate messages)
  • Block harmful links
  • Block Discord invite links
  • Automatically timeout, delete, or alert mods when triggered

How to Access AutoMod

  1. Open your server and go to Server Settings
  2. In the left sidebar, click AutoMod
  3. You'll see a list of AutoMod rules you can enable

AutoMod Rule Types

1. Harmful Links

Blocks known phishing URLs, malware sites, and other dangerous links. Recommended: Action: Delete message + Alert moderators

2. Discord Invite Links

Blocks messages containing discord.gg invite links โ€” essential for preventing advertising spam. Recommended: Action: Block message | Exempt: #partnerships channel

3. Mention Spam

Blocks messages that @mention an excessive number of users. Recommended: Trigger: 5+ unique mentions | Action: Timeout 1 hour + Alert mods

4. Spam

Blocks message floods from the same user. Recommended: Action: Block message

5. Keyword Filters (Custom Rules)

This is where AutoMod becomes powerful. You set the exact words, phrases, or patterns to block.

How to add a keyword rule:

  1. Click Create Rule โ†’ Block Custom Words
  2. Enter keywords, one per line
  3. Wildcards: use word to catch the word anywhere in a message

Common keyword categories to block:

  • Slurs and hate speech
  • NSFW terms (if you're not an NSFW server)
  • Scam phrases (free nitro, claim your prize, click this link)

Setting Up Actions

For each rule you can choose:

  • Block message โ€” silently prevents it from posting
  • Send alert โ€” notifies a specific channel
  • Timeout member โ€” automatically times out for a set duration

Exempt Roles and Channels

Always exempt:

  • Admin and Moderator roles
  • Bot channels
  • Staff channels

Recommended Setup for New Servers

  1. Enable Harmful Links โ†’ Delete + Alert
  2. Enable Invite Links โ†’ Block (exempt #partnerships)
  3. Enable Mention Spam (6+ mentions) โ†’ Timeout 1 hour + Alert
  4. Enable Spam โ†’ Block
  5. Add a custom keyword rule for your most important forbidden terms

Related: Discord Anti-Raid Guide ยท Best Moderation Bots ยท Server Security Checklist

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