Key Points
- Discord roles are groups that you can sort your members into, with each role having access to different privileges and appearance in chat.
- To add roles in Discord, you need to access your server settings, customize the role by naming it and assigning a color, set role permissions, and manage the role hierarchy.
- Assigning roles to members can help manage permissions for different channels and create a well-organized server.
Discord is a popular messaging platform for gamers and communities to communicate and collaborate.
One essential aspect of managing a Discord server is knowing how to add roles to better organize, manage, and expand your server. Roles allow you to assign unique permissions and duties to your server members, helping to create an efficient and structured chat environment.
Adding roles in Discord is a simple process that can improve your server’s functionality and user experience. By creating custom roles, you can delegate responsibilities to trusted members and offer specialized access and privileges to various user groups. This process not only makes your server easier to navigate but also fosters a sense of community and purpose among your members.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps to add roles in Discord, whether you are a server owner or an admin. Let’s get started!
What are Discord Roles?
Before we show you how to add roles, let’s talk about what Discord roles actually are. Essentially, roles are groups that you can sort your members into.
Each role will have access to different privileges and even have a different appearance in chat. For example, you can customize the color, actions roles can take, and the channels each role can access.
Follow along as we break down the steps to add roles in Discord.
How to Add Roles in Discord: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Access Your Server Settings
To access the Server Settings on your Discord server, you need to first open up your Discord server. Then, click on the server name in the upper-left-hand corner. Next, click the Server Settings option.

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Then, click Roles. This will show you any previous roles that you’ve created. To create a new role, simply click the Create Role button.

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Step 2: Customize Your New Discord Role
On the Role Editor page, you’ll see all of the actions you can take to customize the role. Below you’ll learn how to name the role, set permissions, and assign a color.
The first thing you’ll want to do is create a name for your role. This name will help you identify the role, so input a name that immediately helps you remember what the role is for.

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Next, you can set a color for the role. Customizing your role with a color helps visually distinguish it from other roles in the server.
To assign a color, simply select a color from the available options or enter a custom color code. This color will be applied to the username of all members assigned to this role, making them easily recognizable in chat and member lists. You can also add a role icon if you’d like.

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Step 3: Setting Role Permissions
After creating a role, it’s crucial to set the right permissions. This allows you to control what actions users with this role can take within the server.
To set permissions, click on the Permissions menu option. On this screen, you can change and manage all the permissions for the role. To add a permission, simply click on the toggle so it turns green.

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You can enable or disable various permissions such as managing channels, kicking members, or moderating the server. Be cautious in assigning permissions to ensure proper server management and prevent misuse.
Finally, make sure you click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page before you exit the screen.
Step 4: Manage Your Discord Roles
In Discord, roles have a hierarchy that determines the order of importance within the server. The higher a role is placed in the hierarchy, the more permissions it has. To manage roles effectively, you should familiarize yourself with the hierarchy system.
Role hierarchy follows a top-down structure. Roles positioned higher in the list have power over the ones below them. As a server owner or an administrator with permission to manage roles, be cautious about granting too much authority to lower-level roles.
If you want to change the role hierarchy, then simply drag and drop the role on the main Role editor screen.

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If you want to edit a role, navigate to your Discord Server Settings. Look for the Roles section, select a role, and make the desired changes.
While editing a role, you can manage various permissions, such as the ability to send messages or manage channels. Be thoughtful about your choices, as these settings control the actions users with that role can take within your server.
To delete a role, select the role you want to remove, and click the three dots. Then, select Delete from the menu that pops up. After that, you’ll need to confirm by clicking Okay.
Be careful when deleting roles as the process cannot be undone.

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Step 5: Assign Roles to Members
Now, we’ll show you how to assign roles to server members in Discord. Assigning roles can help manage permissions for different channels and help you create a well-organized server.
To manually assign a role to a member, choose the role you want to assign to a member by clicking on it. Then, click the Manage Members menu option and click the Add Member button.

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Then, you can search for or click on a member, and click the Add button to add them to that role. Your chosen role is now assigned to the member. Simply repeat this process for any additional server members or roles you wish to assign.
If you want to automatically assign a role to new users, then it’s a good idea to make a Discord bot. There are pre-built bots that come with features like automatic role assignment based on rules or hitting certain milestones.
Once you’ve added a bot to your server, all you need to do is set up the bot’s role rules for automatically enrolling new members into a role.

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Closing Thoughts
Discord roles play an important role in creating and running a functional Discord server. As your server grows, roles play an important part in moderation and server management. You can even create roles for power users and other active chat members.
Remember, you can always delete and add roles at any time, so have fun creating and testing out new roles for your members.
Summary Table
Step | Instructions |
---|---|
Step 1: Access Your Server Settings | To access the Server Settings on your Discord server, you need to first open up your Discord server. Then, click on the in the upper-left-hand corner. Next, click the option. Then, click . This will show you any previous roles that youâve created. To create a new role, simply click the button. |
Step 2: Customize Your New Discord Role | On the Role Editor page, youâll see all of the actions you can take to customize the role. Below youâll learn how to name the role, set permissions, and assign a color. |
Step 3: Setting Role Permissions | After creating a role, itâs crucial to set the right permissions. This allows you to control what actions users with this role can take within the server. To set permissions, click on the menu option. On this screen, you can change and manage all the permissions for the role. To add a permission, simply click on the toggle so it turns . |
Step 4: Manage Your Discord Roles | In Discord, roles have a hierarchy that determines the order of importance within the server. The higher a role is placed in the hierarchy, the more permissions it has. To manage roles effectively, you should familiarize yourself with the hierarchy system. |
Step 5: Assign Roles to Members | Now, weâll show you how to assign roles to server members in Discord. Assigning roles can help manage permissions for different channels and help you create a well-organized server. |
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