How to Add Typing Indicators to Your Discord Server

This guide shows you how to enable the typing indicator (the “… is typing” message) for your Discord server. By default, typing indicators are always on for text channels, but you can disable them per-channel or per-server using permissions. We’ll walk through the exact settings to control this feature, whether you want to turn it off for a busy channel or keep it on for a more personal feel.

What You’ll Need

• Moderator or Administrator permissions on the Discord server (to change server settings).
• Access to the server’s channel settings (for per-channel control).
• Discord app on desktop, web, or mobile (the steps are similar across platforms).

Step-by-Step

1. Open your Discord server. Launch Discord and navigate to the server where you want to manage typing indicators. You must have the “Manage Server” or “Manage Channels” permission to proceed.
2. Go to Server Settings. Click the server name at the top-left of the screen to open the drop-down menu, then select Server Settings.
3. Find the Roles or Permissions tab. In the left sidebar, click Roles (or Permissions if you use the newer layout). This is where you control what each role can do.
4. Select a role to edit. Click on a role (e.g., @everyone, or a specific role) to open its permission settings. You’ll see a long list of toggles.
5. Locate the “Read Message History” permission. Scroll down until you find Read Message History. This is the key permission that controls typing indicators. When this is ON, users see typing indicators. When OFF, typing indicators are hidden (and users can’t see past messages either).
6. Toggle the permission. Click the green checkmark to allow, the red X to deny, or the gray circle to use the default. To disable typing indicators, set this to Deny (red X) for the role(s) you want to restrict.
7. Save changes. After making changes, click Save Changes at the bottom. The typing indicator will now be hidden for members with that role.
8. For per-channel control: Instead of server-wide, you can override this for a specific channel. Right-click the channel name (or click the gear icon) and select Edit Channel.
9. Go to Permissions in the channel. In the channel settings, click Permissions. You can add a role or member override and set Read Message History to Deny for that channel only.
10. Test it. Have a user with the affected role type a message in that channel. The typing indicator should not appear to others. If it still shows, check that no other role grants the permission (permissions are additive).

Common Mistakes

• Confusing “Read Message History” with “View Channel”. Denying “View Channel” hides the entire channel, not just typing indicators. Make sure you’re only changing the correct permission.
• Forgetting about role hierarchy. If a user has multiple roles, and one role allows “Read Message History” while another denies it, the allow usually wins (unless the deny is set at the channel level). Check all roles a user has.
• Changing the wrong server. If you’re in multiple servers, double-check you’re editing the right one before making changes.
• Not saving changes. Discord sometimes doesn’t auto-save. Always click the save button after toggling permissions.

Tips

• Use channel overrides for specific cases. For example, you might keep typing indicators on in general chat but turn them off in a busy announcement channel to reduce clutter.
• Keep “Read Message History” on for moderation. Moderators often need to see past messages, so avoid denying this permission for them.
• Explain the change to your community. If you disable typing indicators, let members know so they don’t think the server is broken.
• Remember that typing indicators are client-side. Even if you disable them, users on the other end might still see their own typing indicator. This setting only affects what others see.

Troubleshooting

Typing indicator still shows after disabling. Check if the user has any other role that allows “Read Message History”. Also, verify you saved the changes. If you’re using a channel override, make sure it applies to the correct role.

Can’t find the permission. The permission is called “Read Message History” in the list. If you’re using a mobile device, you might need to scroll further or tap “See All” to view the full list.

Changes don’t affect existing messages. Typing indicators are only shown when someone starts typing a new message. Existing messages are unaffected. Ask a user to send a test message to verify.

Users can’t see any messages at all. You likely denied “View Channel” instead of “Read Message History”. Re-check your permission toggles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off typing indicators for just one person? Yes, you can create a role for that person and deny “Read Message History” for that role, or add a member-specific override in the channel permissions.

Does disabling typing indicators affect message history? Yes, the same permission controls both. If you deny “Read Message History”, users won’t see past messages either. There’s no separate toggle for typing indicators alone.

Why would I want to disable typing indicators? Some servers disable them to reduce distraction in high-traffic channels, to prevent “ghost pings” (when someone starts typing and then deletes the message), or to keep conversations more private.

Can I enable typing indicators for a channel where they’re disabled? Yes, just set “Read Message History” to Allow for that channel’s override. This overrides the server-wide setting.

Do typing indicators work in voice channels? No, typing indicators only appear in text channels. Voice channels don’t have this feature.

Will disabling typing indicators affect bots? Bots that use the typing indicator (e.g., to show they’re processing a command) will still show it if they have the “Read Message History” permission. You can deny it for bots too if you want.

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