Error 50013
Discord Discord
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Discord Error 50013 means 'Missing Permissions' — you or a bot tried to perform an action in a Discord server that you do not have permission to do. This includes things like sending messages in a read-only channel, managing roles above your own role level, or a bot trying to perform an action it was not granted permission for. This error is a permission problem, not a technical bug. The fix is to grant the missing permission.
Affected Models
- Discord on Windows
- Discord on macOS
- Discord in Browser
- Discord on Linux
- Discord on iOS
- Discord on Android
Common Causes
- Your Discord role in the server does not have permission to perform the action you attempted
- The specific channel has overridden permissions that restrict your role
- A bot is trying to perform an action (kick, ban, manage channels) that it was not granted permission for
- You are trying to assign a role to someone that is higher in the server's role hierarchy than your own role
- The server owner has recently changed role permissions and your access was restricted
How to Fix It
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Identify what action triggered the 50013 error. Discord usually shows which action failed. For example: 'You do not have permission to send messages in this channel' or a bot returning 50013 when trying to moderate.
Knowing the exact action that failed tells you exactly which permission needs to be granted.
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If you are a server member: contact the server admin or owner. Explain the action you were trying to perform and ask them to check your role permissions. They can grant the needed permission to your role.
Regular members cannot change their own permissions — only users with 'Manage Roles' or 'Administrator' permissions can adjust permissions.
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If you are a server admin seeing 50013 from a bot: go to Server Settings > Integrations > (your bot) > Permissions. Review which permissions the bot has been granted and add any that are missing for the actions you want it to perform.
Common bot permissions that are often missing: Manage Messages, Kick Members, Ban Members, Manage Channels, and Send Messages in Threads.
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Check channel-specific permission overrides. Even if your role has a permission, a channel can override it and deny access. Go to Channel Settings > Permissions and check whether your role is explicitly denied the permission in that channel.
Channel overrides take priority over role permissions. An explicit 'Deny' on a channel beats a 'Permit' on the role.
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For bot developers: when your bot receives error 50013, implement proper error handling. Before attempting a privileged action, use Discord's API to check whether the bot has the required permission in the target channel. Handle the 50013 response gracefully with a user-friendly message.
In discord.py use commands.MissingPermissions handler. In discord.js use permissionsFor() to pre-check before executing the command.
When to Call a Professional
Error 50013 is a permissions configuration issue within Discord. No professional support is needed. If you are a server member who needs a permission, contact the server owner or an admin. If you are a bot developer, review the bot's role permissions in the server settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix Error 50013 as a regular server member?
Not by yourself. Permissions in Discord are set by the server owner and admins. As a regular member, you cannot grant yourself additional permissions. You need to contact an admin or the server owner and ask them to update your role's permissions.
Why is my bot getting Error 50013 even though I gave it Administrator permission?
Administrator permission grants nearly everything — but there are a few edge cases. Discord bots cannot perform certain actions on users who have a higher role than the bot's own role. For example, a bot with Administrator cannot ban the server owner. Check where the bot's role sits in the server's role hierarchy (Server Settings > Roles) and make sure it is above the users it needs to manage.
Does Error 50013 affect my ability to read messages?
It depends on which permission is missing. If you lack 'View Channel' permission, you cannot even see the channel. If you can see the channel but lack 'Send Messages', you can read but not write. Error 50013 is triggered specifically when you try to perform an action you lack permission for — reading without 'View Channel' typically just hides the channel entirely.