> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.apetopia.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bot Setup

> Connect the Apetopia bot to your Discord server — the foundation for everything else.

The Apetopia bot is the engine behind most of the platform's features. Giveaways, polls, combat games, auto messages, alerts — all of it runs through the bot. This is the first thing you should set up after creating your account.

<Card title="Open in Apetopia →" href="https://apetopia.co/dashboard/discord">
  Go directly to this feature in your dashboard.
</Card>

## Adding the bot to your server

1. Go to **Community → Bot Setup**
2. Click the **Add to Discord** button
3. A Discord authorization window will open — select the server you want to connect
4. Grant all requested permissions and click **Authorize**
5. Complete the CAPTCHA if prompted

The bot will join your server immediately. You'll see it appear in your member list.

<Warning>
  You need **Manage Server** permission in Discord to add a bot. If you don't see your server in the list, ask your server owner to complete this step.
</Warning>

## Required permissions

The bot needs certain permissions to function properly. During setup, Discord will show you exactly what it's asking for. The main ones are:

* **Send Messages** — to post giveaways, alerts, and reports
* **Manage Roles** — for holder verification and reaction roles
* **Read Message History** — to track reactions and poll votes
* **Embed Links** — to display formatted messages and cards

<Tip>
  For the easiest setup, give the bot a dedicated role positioned near the top of your role hierarchy in Discord. This ensures it can manage roles below it without issues.
</Tip>

## Verifying the connection

Once the bot is added, the Bot Setup page will show your server as **Connected** with a green indicator. You'll also see your server name and ID confirmed.

If the status shows as disconnected, try clicking **Refresh** or re-adding the bot.

## What's next?

Once the bot is connected, you can start using all Community features. A good next step is configuring your server structure:

<Card title="Server Setup" icon="sliders" href="/community/server-setup">
  Configure which channels and roles the bot uses for each feature.
</Card>