The fastest way to add a music bot
To add a music bot to your Discord server, you visit the bot's website, click an "Invite" or "Add to Server" button, select your server from a dropdown menu, and confirm the permissions it needs. The bot then appears in your server's member list and is ready to use. The whole process takes about two minutes.
The most popular music bots are Groovy, Hydra, and Rhythm, though Groovy shut down in 2021 and Rhythm stopped working in 2022. That leaves Hydra as a widely-used option, though smaller bots like Lavalink-based bots (which use the same underlying music service) are also available. Each bot has slightly different commands and features, but the invitation process is the same for all of them.
You need Manage Server permission to add any bot to your Discord server. If you did not create the server, ask the owner or an admin to do this step for you.
Key Takeaways
- Most music bots are added through their official website by clicking an invite link and selecting your server from a dropdown.
- You must have Manage Server permission in Discord to add a bot, or ask a server owner or admin to do it.
- After the bot joins, you use text commands like /play [song name] or /queue to control music playback.
- Some music bots require a premium subscription to play songs longer than a few minutes or to skip unlimited times.
- If a bot stops working, it may have been shut down by its creator, and you will need to find and add a different one.
Finding and choosing a music bot
The most reliable place to find music bots is Discord.bots.gg or top.gg, two community sites where bot creators list their bots with descriptions, commands, and invite links. Search for "music" on either site and you will see dozens of options. Read the description to see what features each one offers — some play from YouTube, some from Spotify, and some from multiple sources.
Before you invite a bot, check when it was last updated. If the last update was more than a year ago, the bot may no longer work or may have been abandoned by its creator. Look at the reviews or comments from other users to see if people are reporting that it is broken. A bot with recent updates and positive reviews is more likely to work when you add it.
Popular working options include Hydra (plays from YouTube and Spotify), Lavalink bots (a category of bots that use the same music service), and smaller bots like Evobot or Zandercraft. Each has different commands and features, so check the bot's page to see what commands you will use most often.
Inviting the bot to your server
Once you have chosen a bot, click the "Invite" button on its page at Discord.bots.gg or top.gg. You will be taken to Discord's authorization page, which shows you what permissions the bot is asking for. Most music bots ask for permissions to read messages, send messages, and connect to voice channels — these are necessary for the bot to work.
A dropdown menu will show all the servers you own or have Manage Server permission in. Select the server where you want to add the bot and click "Authorize" or "Continue". Discord will ask you to confirm that you are not a robot, and then the bot will be added to your server.
The bot will appear in your server's member list on the right side of the screen. It may take a few seconds to show up. Once it is there, you can start using it to play music.
Using the bot to play music
Most music bots use slash commands, which you type by starting with a forward slash. The most common commands are /play [song name], /queue (to see songs waiting to play), /skip (to move to the next song), and /stop (to stop playback). Type the command in any text channel in your server and the bot will respond.
Before you use the bot, you and the bot both need to be in the same voice channel. Join a voice channel in your server, then type /play followed by the song name or artist name. The bot will search for the song and start playing it. If you want to play a specific song, include the artist name for better results — for example, /play bohemian rhapsody queen instead of just /play bohemian rhapsody.
Different bots use slightly different commands, so check the bot's command list on its page at Discord.bots.gg or top.gg. Most bots have a /help command that lists all available commands and what they do.
Permissions the bot needs and why
When you invite a bot, Discord shows you a list of permissions it is asking for. Music bots typically need: Read Messages/View Channels (so it can see your commands), Send Messages (so it can respond to you), Connect (to join voice channels), and Speak (to play audio). These are all necessary for the bot to work.
Some bots also ask for Manage Messages or Embed Links. Manage Messages lets the bot clean up old command messages to keep the chat tidy. Embed Links lets the bot send formatted messages with song information. These are helpful but not required for basic music playback.
Never invite a bot that asks for permissions like Administrator or Manage Roles unless you trust the creator completely. Music bots do not need these permissions, and asking for them is a sign the bot may be malicious or poorly designed.
What to do if the bot stops working
If a bot suddenly stops responding to commands or playing music, the first step is to check whether the bot is still online. Look at the bot's name in your member list — if it shows a green dot next to its name, it is online. If it shows a gray dot or no dot, the bot is offline and you cannot use it.
If the bot is online but not responding, try restarting your Discord app or refreshing the page. If that does not work, check the bot's Discord server (most bots have a support server linked on their page at Discord.bots.gg) to see if other users are reporting the same problem. If many people are reporting issues, the bot may be temporarily broken and the creator may be working on a fix.
If the bot has been offline for days or weeks, it may have been shut down permanently. This happened to Groovy and Rhythm, two very popular music bots that stopped working in 2021 and 2022. When this happens, you will need to find and add a different music bot. The process is the same — visit Discord.bots.gg, search for music, and invite a different bot to your server.
Premium features and limitations
Many music bots offer a free version with basic features and a paid premium version with extra features. Free versions often have limits like: songs can only play for a certain length of time (usually 10 to 30 minutes), you can only skip a limited number of songs per hour, or the bot will disconnect if no one is listening for a few minutes.
Premium versions usually remove these limits and add features like the ability to save playlists, see lyrics while songs play, or get higher audio quality. Premium typically costs between $3 and $10 per month, and you pay through the bot's website or through Discord itself.
You do not need premium to use a music bot — the free version works for casual listening. Premium is useful if you run a large server where many people use the bot at the same time, or if you want to play long mixes or playlists without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple music bots to the same server?
Yes, you can add as many bots as you want to a server. However, only one bot can play audio in a voice channel at a time. If two bots try to play music simultaneously, one will disconnect. Most servers only need one music bot.
Why does the bot say it cannot find the song I requested?
The bot searches for songs on YouTube, Spotify, or another music service depending on which bot you are using. If the song is not available on that service, the bot cannot play it. Try searching for a different version of the song, or include the artist name to narrow the search. Some bots let you paste a YouTube or Spotify link directly instead of searching by name.
Do I need to give the bot Administrator permission?
No. Music bots only need permission to connect to voice channels, send messages, and read messages. If a bot asks for Administrator permission, do not invite it — it does not need that permission and asking for it is a red flag.
What happens if the bot's creator shuts it down?
The bot will go offline and stop responding to commands. You will need to remove it from your server and add a different music bot. To remove a bot, right-click its name in your member list, select "Remove from Server", and confirm. Then find and add a new bot using the same process.
Can the bot play music from Spotify or Apple Music?
Some bots can play from Spotify or search Spotify for songs, but they play the audio through YouTube or another service. A few bots let you paste a Spotify link and will find the same song on YouTube. Check the bot's description on Discord.bots.gg to see which music services it supports.