Discord Error 20006 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Discord Error 20006 means you do not have permission to do what you are trying to do. Discord servers have permission systems — roles control who can send messages, attach files, use voice channels, and more. You will see this error if you try to do something your role does not allow, or if you are in a restricted channel.

Affected Models

Discord on Windows
Discord on macOS
Discord on Linux
Discord on iOS
Discord on Android

Common Causes

Your role in the server does not have permission for the action you are trying to take
The specific channel has permissions that override your server-wide role
The server is in a locked-down mode (like Community Mode) with extra restrictions
You were recently muted, timed out, or had permissions revoked by a moderator
You are attempting to perform a moderation action that requires a higher role than you have

How to Fix It

Check what permissions your role has. Click the server name > Server Settings > Roles. Find your role and see which permissions are enabled.

Only server administrators or the owner can view and change role permissions.
Check the individual channel permissions. Right-click the channel > Edit Channel > Permissions. A channel can override server-wide role settings.

For example, a role might have Send Messages enabled server-wide but a specific channel may override this and deny it.
Check if you have been timed out. When a moderator applies a timeout, you cannot send messages or react. The timeout expires automatically.

If you have been timed out, you will see a notice at the bottom of the message input box in Discord.
Contact a server administrator or moderator. Politely ask them to check your permissions or explain what is required to gain access to the restricted channel or action.

Many Discord servers have verification systems — completing a verification step may unlock full permissions.
If you are the server owner or admin and seeing Error 20006, check that your own role is assigned correctly and has Administrator permission or the specific permission you need.

Even server owners can remove their own role accidentally. Go to your profile in the member list and confirm your roles are correct.

When to Call a Professional

Error 20006 is a permissions issue, not a technical error. No support ticket or repair is needed — only a server administrator can grant you the required permissions. Contact the server owner or an admin in that Discord server for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fix Error 20006 myself without contacting an admin?

Only if you are an administrator or owner of the server. For regular members, permissions are set by the server staff — you cannot grant yourself permissions. The only path forward is to ask a moderator or admin to adjust your role.

Why can some people in the server do what I cannot?

They likely have a different role with higher or different permissions. Discord's permission system is role-based — each role can have different combinations of allowed and denied actions. Ask a moderator to give you the correct role for the access you need.

I am the server owner and I am getting Error 20006. How is that possible?

Server owners have a special override that grants all permissions by default. However, if you accidentally removed yourself from the owner role (which is rare but possible through ownership transfers), you would lose those permissions. Check Server Settings > Members to confirm you still appear as the server owner.