Discord Slowmode: Timers, Permissions and Setup

Discord slowmode is a channel setting that adds a cooldown between messages for each member. After someone sends a message, they have to wait until the timer runs out before they can send another one in that channel.

The timer is personal. One member waiting doesn't stop anyone else from chatting, and they can still read, react and talk in other channels. This wiki covers the available timers, who can set them, how slowmode works in threads and forums, who is exempt and how to fix common problems.

At a glance - What it does: limits each member to one message (and one new thread) per interval - Timers: Off, then 5 seconds up to 6 hours - Where: Edit Channel > Overview > Slowmode (desktop), Slowmode Cooldown (mobile) - Exempt: members with Bypass Slowmode, plus bots - Threads: have their own separate slowmode

⏱️ Discord Slowmode Timer Options

Discord's help centre lists these choices:

Seconds	Minutes	Hours
5 seconds	1 minute	1 hour
10 seconds	2 minutes	2 hours
15 seconds	5 minutes	6 hours
30 seconds	10 minutes
	15 minutes
	30 minutes

Choose Off to disable it. In Discord's developer docs, the matching channel field (rate_limit_per_user) accepts 0 to 21,600 seconds, so 6 hours is the maximum. Discord's account caps page adds that there's no per-minute or per-hour message limit unless slowmode is on.

🖥️ How to Turn On Slowmode on Desktop

These steps work in the desktop app and the browser.

Go to the channel and select the cogwheel next to its name.
On the Overview tab, scroll down to Slowmode.
Pick a timer from the list.
Select Save.

Discord slowmode setting on desktop: the Overview tab of a looking-for-group text channel with a Slowmode dropdown set to Off below the Channel Topic box

The Slowmode dropdown at the bottom of a channel's Overview tab. Image: Discord.

To turn slowmode off, repeat the steps, choose Off and save.

📱 How to Turn On Slowmode on Mobile

Long-press the channel and select Edit Channel.
Scroll down to Slowmode Cooldown.
Drag the dial to the timer you want.
Tap Save.

Discord mobile channel settings showing the Slowmode Cooldown slider, then the channel view with Slowmode is enabled shown above the message box

Setting Slowmode Cooldown in the mobile app. Image: Discord.

Drag the dial back to the start to switch it off.

Who Can Set Slowmode

For a channel, you need permission to edit that channel. Discord's help centre says slowmode can be enabled "as long as you have the permissions," and the developer docs say editing a channel's settings requires Manage Channels.

For a thread, Discord's help centre says only members with Manage Threads can change its slowmode. If you're planning moderator roles, our Discord roles and permissions guide explains how these permissions stack.

🛡️ Who Is Exempt: Bypass Slowmode

Discord merged every slowmode exemption into one permission, Bypass Slowmode. Before, members with Manage Messages, Manage Channel or Manage Threads skipped the timer.

Discord's help centre said those old permissions would keep bypassing slowmode until 23 February 2026. If your moderators still get rate limited, give their role Bypass Slowmode.

Desktop

Open the server drop-down and select Server Settings.
Select Roles, then Edit on the role.
Select Permissions and find Bypass Slowmode under Text Channel Permissions.
Turn it on and select Save.

Discord Bypass Slowmode permission toggle switched on, with the description Allows members to send messages without being affected by slowmode

The Bypass Slowmode toggle in a role's permissions. Image: Discord.

Mobile

Tap the server name at the top left to open Settings.
Tap Roles and choose the role.
Tap Permissions, scroll to Bypass Slowmode and tap the toggle.
Tap Save.

Discord's developer docs also say bots are unaffected by slowmode.

Slowmode in Threads and Forum Posts

Channel slowmode covers more than messages. Discord says members can send one message and create one thread per interval. With a 1 minute timer, that's one thread and one message per minute.

Threads also get their own slowmode. It doesn't copy over from the parent channel, so a thread starts with its own setting. Discord's Threads FAQ says it's off by default and can be set from 5 seconds up to 6 hours.

To set it on desktop:

Right-click the thread, or use the three dots at the top of the thread.
Select Edit Thread.
Move the Slowmode slider and save.

Discord slowmode slider in a thread's settings, running from Off through 5s, 10s, 30s, 1m and 1h to 6h, set to 10 seconds

A thread's own slowmode slider. This older screenshot shows the exemption text from before Bypass Slowmode. Image: Discord.

Discord doesn't publish separate mobile steps for thread slowmode.

Forum channels support slowmode too. Discord's Forum FAQ says mods can use it to limit posts and messages when activity gets out of hand. Each forum post is a thread, and the developer docs say the slowmode limit also applies to thread creation.

What Members See

When a member opens a channel with slowmode, Discord shows Slowmode is enabled near the message box. Hovering over it shows the interval, such as "Members can send one message every 30 seconds."

Members can still read messages, add reactions and chat in other channels while they wait.

🤖 Slowmode and AutoMod

Slowmode and AutoMod work well together. Discord's raid protection guide suggests turning on slowmode when raiders are spamming a channel, then tightening AutoMod rules. Our Discord AutoMod setup guide covers those rules.

Discord's patch notes for 9 November 2026 list an iOS fix. Before it, a message blocked by AutoMod would still count against the channel's slowmode timer. That meant an iPhone or iPad user could hit the cooldown even though their message never posted.

When to Use Slowmode

Raids and spam waves: slow everyone down while you clean up.
Busy event or announcement chats: keep a fast channel readable.
Self-promo, LFG or showcase channels: a longer timer, such as 1 hour or 6 hours, limits repeat posts.
Heated threads: set slowmode on just that thread instead of the whole channel.

For one disruptive member, slowmode is too broad. Our Discord mute vs timeout guide covers tools aimed at individuals.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to check
No Slowmode option	You need permission to edit the channel
Moderators are rate limited	Give their role Bypass Slowmode. The old permissions stopped counting after 23 February 2026
Thread ignores the channel timer	Threads have separate slowmode. Edit the thread itself
Can't change a thread's slowmode	You need Manage Threads
Blocked message used my cooldown on iOS	Update the app. Discord fixed this in the 9 November 2026 patch notes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum Discord slowmode?

6 hours. The API range is 0 to 21,600 seconds.

Can I set a custom Discord slowmode time?

Not in the app. You choose from the preset list. Bots and apps can set any whole number of seconds within the API range.

Does slowmode affect reactions?

No. Discord says members can still react to messages during the cooldown.

Does Discord slowmode apply to every channel?

No. It's set per channel and per thread, so each one has its own timer.

Do admins and bots skip slowmode?

Bots do. For people, Discord points to the Bypass Slowmode permission, so give it to any role that shouldn't wait.

Summary

Discord slowmode gives each member a cooldown of 5 seconds to 6 hours between messages and new threads in a channel. Set it under Edit Channel > Overview > Slowmode on desktop or Slowmode Cooldown on mobile. Threads have their own setting, controlled by Manage Threads. Since 23 February 2026, Bypass Slowmode is the permission that exempts members, and bots are never affected.

Discord Slowmode: How to Set It, Timers and Who Can Bypass It