How to Add and Assign Roles on Discord

This guide walks you through creating roles and assigning them to members on Discord, whether you’re on desktop, mobile, or web. You’ll learn how to set up roles with specific permissions, how to give them to people manually, and how to use them for organizing your server.

What You’ll Need

• A Discord account with Manage Roles permission on the server (usually the server owner or an admin).
• Access to the server where you want to add roles.
• For mobile: the Discord app installed on iOS or Android.

Step-by-Step

Creating a Role

1. Open your server. Launch Discord and click your server’s name in the left sidebar (desktop) or tap the server icon (mobile).
2. Open Server Settings. Click the server name at the top-left, then select Server Settings from the dropdown. On mobile, tap the three dots next to the server name and choose Settings.
3. Go to Roles. In the left menu, click Roles. You’ll see a list of existing roles (usually just @everyone).
4. Create a new role. Click the + icon next to “Roles” or the Create Role button. A new role appears in the list with a default name like “new role.”
5. Name and color it. Type a name for the role (e.g., “Moderator,” “Member,” “Gamer”). Choose a color by clicking the color swatch. This color will show next to members’ names in chat.
6. Set permissions. Scroll through the permission toggles. Enable or disable permissions as needed. Common ones:
   • View Channels – lets members see text and voice channels.
   • Send Messages – allows posting in text channels.
   • Mention @everyone – grants the ability to ping everyone.
   • Kick/Ban Members – for moderation roles.

   Leave permissions off unless you’re sure. You can always change them later.

7. Save changes. Click the green Save Changes button at the bottom. The role is now created.

Assigning a Role to a Member

1. Find the member. In the channel list, right-click (desktop) or tap-and-hold (mobile) on a user’s name in the member list on the right side of the screen.
2. Open the role menu. From the popup, hover over Roles (desktop) or tap Roles (mobile). A submenu appears listing all server roles.
3. Check the role. Click or tap the role you want to assign. A checkmark appears next to it. The member now has that role.
4. Remove a role. Repeat the same steps and uncheck the role to take it away.

Assigning Roles via Server Settings (Alternative)

1. Go to Server Settings > Members.
2. Find the member in the list, click the + icon next to their name, and select the role(s) to assign.
3. To remove, click the x next to an assigned role.

Using Roles for Channel Permissions

1. Go to a channel’s settings by clicking the gear icon next to the channel name.
2. Under Permissions, click Add Role or the + icon.
3. Select the role, then set specific permissions for that channel (e.g., deny Send Messages to a “Muted” role).

Common Mistakes

• Assigning roles without Manage Roles permission. If you can’t see the Roles option in the member menu, you lack permission. Ask an admin to grant it.
• Creating too many roles. Each role adds complexity. Keep roles purposeful (e.g., Moderator, Member, Bot) instead of one per person.
• Giving admin permissions casually. The Administrator permission bypasses all channel-specific settings. Only give it to trusted moderators.
• Forgetting to save. On desktop, changes to role permissions require clicking Save Changes. If you navigate away without saving, your edits are lost.
• Role hierarchy confusion. A role cannot manage another role that is higher in the list. Drag roles in the Roles settings to reorder them (top = highest priority).

Tips

• Use role colors to visually separate groups. Assign distinct colors to different roles so members are easy to identify in chat.
• Create a “Bot” role. Give bots a dedicated role with only the permissions they need, rather than using @everyone.
• Mention roles with @. Type @RoleName in chat to ping all members with that role. This is useful for announcements to a specific group (e.g., @Gamers).
• Use roles for server organization. Create roles for different games, interests, or regions, then assign them to members so they can see only relevant channels.
• Test permissions with a dummy account. If you’re unsure how a role’s permissions interact, create a test account or use a friend to verify the experience.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t see the Roles option in the member menu. You need the Manage Roles permission. Check your own role’s permissions in Server Settings > Roles.
• Role doesn’t show up when assigning. Refresh the Discord client (Ctrl+R on desktop, or close/reopen the app on mobile). If it still doesn’t appear, you may have hit the 250-role server limit.
• Member can’t see a channel even though they have the role. Check the channel’s permission overrides. A deny permission (red) overrides an allow (green). Also verify the role is not below @everyone in the role list, which can cause unexpected behavior.
• Changes to permissions aren’t taking effect. Discord can take a few seconds to propagate. If it persists, re-save the role settings or restart the app.
• Role is assigned but the member’s name color doesn’t change. The member’s highest role determines their color. If they have another role higher in the list, that color wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I assign multiple roles to one person?

Yes. A member can hold as many roles as you assign. Their name color comes from the highest role in the role list (drag to reorder).

How do I make a role that can’t be mentioned by regular members?

In the role’s permissions, disable Mention @everyone, @here, and All Roles. This prevents members from pinging that role.

What’s the difference between a role and a permission?

A role is a label with a set of permissions attached. Permissions are the specific actions allowed (like sending messages). You assign roles to people, and those roles carry permissions.

Can I assign a role to myself?

Yes, if you have Manage Roles permission. Go to your own profile in the member list and assign the role the same way you would for anyone else.

How do I delete a role?

Go to Server Settings > Roles, click the role, then scroll to the bottom and click Delete Role. Members will lose the role’s permissions immediately.

Why can’t I assign a role that’s higher than mine in the list?

Discord enforces role hierarchy. You can only manage roles that are below your highest role. To manage higher roles, you need to be the server owner or have your role moved above them.

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