Log in at mee6.xyz, pick your server, open the Reaction Roles plugin, create a new reaction role message in a channel, and pair each emoji with a role. Before you publish, go to Server Settings > Roles in Discord and make sure MEE6's role sits above every role it hands out and has Manage Roles. Most "MEE6 isn't giving the role" problems come from that role order. MEE6's own plan comparison lists Reaction Roles as a Premium feature, so check what your plan allows before you build a big menu.
Checked on each bot's own site or docs on 3 November 2026. We make PeakBot. Nobody paid to be in this post.
Before you start: what your MEE6 plan covers
MEE6's free vs Premium comparison on help.mee6.xyz (dated 16 June 2026) lists Reaction Roles as a Premium feature, with up to 40 reaction roles on Premium. Older guides quote a free allowance, but the comparison page doesn't make that clear, so look at what your own dashboard lets you create. MEE6 doesn't publish Premium prices on a readable public page. See mee6.xyz/premium for current pricing.
Also decide two things before you build:
- Emoji reactions or buttons. The pros and cons are below.
- Pick one or pick many. Color roles and region roles usually need "one only". Ping roles and game roles usually allow several.
Step 1: Fix the role order in Discord first
Discord has one rule here. A bot can only give members roles that sit below its own highest role, and it needs the Manage Roles permission (Discord's permission hierarchy docs). If you skip this step, MEE6 will post your menu and then quietly fail to assign anything.
On desktop:
- Right-click your server icon and choose Server Settings, then Roles.
- Click the MEE6 role and open its permissions. Turn on Manage Roles. Administrator also works, but it gives the bot much more power than it needs.
- Back on the roles list, drag the MEE6 role so it sits above every role you want it to give out.
- Save changes.
On mobile:
- Tap and hold the server, or tap the three dots next to its name, then tap Settings and Roles.
- Open the MEE6 role and check that Manage Roles is on.
- Tap Reorder and move the MEE6 role above the roles it will assign.
- Save.
Labels in the Discord app change from time to time. If one doesn't match, Discord's help center has the current path.
You don't have to drag MEE6 to the very top. It only needs to be higher than the roles it hands out. Keep your admin and moderator roles above it, so the bot can't hand out staff roles if someone misconfigures a menu. For more on how role order and permissions interact, see How to set up Discord roles and permissions the right way.
Step 2: Create the reaction role in MEE6
The button names below follow MEE6's dashboard. They can shift between updates, and MEE6's reaction roles wiki page has the current screens.
- Go to mee6.xyz, log in with Discord, and select your server.
- Open the plugin list and find Reaction Roles. Enable it if it's off.
- Create a new reaction role message.
- Choose the channel it will post in. Members need to be able to see that channel and read its message history.
- Write the message text or embed. Tell people what each choice does, for example "🎮 Gaming news pings" or "🇪🇺 Europe".
- Add each role and emoji pair (or button, if your dashboard offers that style).
- Set the selection behaviour if you want members limited to one role (see below).
- Save and publish. MEE6 posts the message and adds the starting reactions itself.
- Test it with a non-admin account. Admins can hide problems, because they already hold most permissions.
Members don't need the Add Reactions permission to click a reaction MEE6 has already placed. Discord's docs say that permission "does not apply to reacting with an existing reaction on a message." So ignore old guides that tell you to open up @everyone permissions. Leave Add Reactions off in that channel if you don't want people cluttering the menu with random emoji.
Emoji reactions vs buttons
This is about how Discord works, whatever bot you use:
| Emoji reactions | Buttons or dropdowns | |
|---|---|---|
| How members pick | Click an emoji under the message | Click a labelled button or pick from a menu |
| Clarity | Depends on your message explaining each emoji | The label is right on the button |
| Clutter | Random reactions can pile up unless you lock Add Reactions | No stray reactions |
| Feedback | The reaction is the only sign it worked | Bots can reply privately to confirm |
| Custom emoji | Must come from a server the bot can use | Not required |
If your MEE6 dashboard gives you a button or dropdown style, it's usually the clearer choice for long lists. Emoji reactions are fine for three or four obvious picks. For a full side-by-side, see Reaction roles in Discord: emoji vs buttons.
Letting members pick only one role
For color, pronoun or region menus, you want a pick to replace the old one, not stack on top of it. MEE6 handles this with a setting on the reaction role message itself, not in Discord. When you create or edit the message, look for the option that limits members to a single role, and turn it on before you publish.
Two things to know:
- In a one-role menu, it's normal for your old reaction to disappear when you pick a new one. That's the bot swapping your role.
- The limit only applies inside that one message. If you split colors across two messages, members can pick one from each.
Why MEE6 won't give the role
Work through this list in order:
- Role order. MEE6's role is below the role it should give. Move it up (Step 1). This is the cause most of the time.
- Missing Manage Roles. Check the MEE6 role itself, not only the server-wide setting. Also check the channel's permission overrides.
- The wrong bot role. If you use a custom bot account or profile, the role that has to sit high enough belongs to whichever bot actually posted the message.
- The role is managed. Roles that belong to another bot or to Server Boosting can't be handed out manually.
- The reaction flips back and no role arrives. That usually means the bot saw your click, tried, and failed. Go back to points 1 and 2.
- Plan limit reached. If new reaction roles won't save, you may have hit your plan's limit. See MEE6 Premium.
- Custom emoji from another server. The bot can only use emoji from servers it's in, and it needs Use External Emojis. Using your own server's emoji or a standard emoji avoids the problem.
- The message was deleted and reposted by hand. Reaction roles are tied to the message the bot made. Rebuild it from the dashboard.
How PeakBot does it
We make PeakBot, so take this section with that in mind. If you're open to another bot, PeakBot puts self-assign roles on its Roles page in the dashboard. The same page also has auto roles on join and if/then role rules. Self-assign roles are on the Free plan, which has no time limit. You set them up on the dashboard at peakbot.pro, not with a command: open your server, go to Roles in the sidebar, build the self-assign menu, and post it to a channel.
The same Discord rule still applies: PeakBot's role has to sit above the roles it assigns. The welcome, roles and verification wiki page covers the setup.
There are other options too. Dyno gives free servers 3 reaction roles, and Premium raises the limit (dyno.gg). Arcane's free plan includes 10 reaction roles (arcane.bot). Carl-bot is a common choice for reaction roles, and we have a Carl-bot reaction roles walkthrough. If MEE6 already runs the rest of your server, sticking with it and fixing the role order is often the least work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MEE6 reaction roles free?
MEE6's free vs Premium comparison (16 June 2026) lists Reaction Roles as Premium, with up to 40 on Premium. The free allowance isn't clearly stated there, so check your dashboard and mee6.xyz/premium.
Why does MEE6 remove my reaction?
In a one-role menu, your old reaction is removed when you pick a new one. That's expected. If your reaction disappears and you get no role at all, MEE6's role is usually too low in the list or is missing Manage Roles.
Do I need to drag MEE6 to the top of the role list?
No. It only needs to be above the roles it gives out. Keeping staff roles above MEE6 is safer.
Do members need the Add Reactions permission?
No. Discord's permission docs say Add Reactions doesn't apply to clicking a reaction that's already on the message. Members do need to see the channel and read its messages.
Can I use custom emojis from another server?
Only if MEE6 is in that server and has Use External Emojis. Your own server's emoji or standard emoji are more reliable.
Can I use buttons instead of emojis with MEE6?
Check the Reaction Roles plugin on your dashboard or MEE6's wiki for the styles it currently offers. Buttons are usually clearer for long lists, and emoji work fine for short ones.
