How to Set Up Sticky Messages in Discord (Keep Rules Pinned to the Bottom)
To set up a sticky message in Discord, add a bot like PeakBot to your server, run its sticky-message command in the channel you want, paste the text you want kept at the bottom, and the bot automatically re-posts that message every time someone else sends one — so it always stays as the newest, most visible message in the channel.
Discord has no built-in sticky-message feature, and pins live at the top behind a menu most people never open. A sticky message solves a specific problem: keeping one important note — rules, a link, a format reminder — locked to the bottom of a busy channel where everyone actually looks. This guide explains what sticky messages are, where they help, and exactly how to set one up, edit it, and remove it.
What a sticky message is (and why pins aren't enough)
A sticky message is a message a bot keeps at the bottom of a channel automatically. Every time a new message is posted, the bot deletes its old copy and re-posts the same text, so your note never scrolls out of view. Members always see it as the latest message without needing to scroll up or open any menu.
Pinned messages do something different. When you pin a message, it gets stored in the channel's pin list — reachable only by clicking the pin icon at the top right. In a slow channel that's fine. In an active one, a pin is effectively invisible: new members never click the icon, and the pin sits buried while dozens of fresh messages pile up below it.
The difference comes down to placement. Pins ask people to go looking. Sticky messages put the note exactly where attention already is — the bottom of the feed, right above the text box. If your goal is "everyone who types here should see this," a sticky message is the right tool.
Where sticky messages help most
Sticky messages earn their keep in channels where the same question or rule comes up constantly. A few common cases:
- Channel rules. A short rules reminder stuck to the bottom of a chat or support channel stops the "is this allowed?" loop before it starts.
- Self-promo and trading channels. Keep the posting format ("link + one sentence, no spam") visible so you spend less time moderating broken posts.
- Support and help channels. Keep the "search before asking, include your error message" note where people will actually read it.
- Introductions or verification channels. Show the template you want new members to follow.
- Giveaway or event channels. Keep the current rules or entry link locked to the bottom during a busy event.
If a channel is quiet, you don't need a sticky — a pin is enough. Stickies are for channels moving fast enough that a pin would scroll away in minutes. If you're still mapping out which channels do what, it's worth reading our guide on how to organize Discord channels and categories first, so your stickies land in the right places.
Step 1: Pick the channel and write the message
Decide which channel needs the sticky and what it should say. Keep it short — a sticky competes with real conversation, so two or three lines beats a wall of text. A good rules sticky reads like:
Channel rules: Be civil, no spam, keep posts on-topic. Full server rules in #rules. Breaking these gets your message removed.
Write the exact text before you touch the bot. If you want formatting, Discord markdown works inside most sticky bots: **bold**, *italics*, # headings, and bullet lines all render. Decide whether you want a plain message or an embed (a boxed message with a colored side bar) — embeds stand out more and are worth it for rules. Have the final wording ready so the next step is a quick paste.
Step 2: Set up the sticky with a bot
Because Discord has no native sticky feature, you need a bot. Here's the flow with PeakBot, a free AI-powered bot that handles sticky messages alongside moderation, leveling, tickets, and logging:
- Add the bot. Invite PeakBot to your server from peakbot.pro and grant it permission to read messages, send messages, and manage messages in the channel you chose. The "manage messages" permission is the important one — that's what lets the bot delete its old copy and re-post the sticky cleanly.
- Open the target channel and run the sticky-message command (for example,
/sticky set). The bot will ask for the text or open a short form. - Paste your message from Step 1. Choose plain text or embed if the bot offers it, and pick an accent color for embeds if you want.
- Confirm. The bot posts the sticky immediately and starts watching the channel. From now on, every time a member sends a message, the bot quietly removes its previous sticky and re-posts it at the bottom, so your note stays as the newest message.
That's the whole setup. There's no code, no webhook, and no recurring action on your part — the bot maintains it. Most sticky bots let you keep one sticky per channel and run separate stickies in as many channels as you like.
Sticky messages and scheduled posts solve related problems, so people often set them up together. If you also want timed reminders — a weekly rules recap or an event countdown that posts on a schedule — pair this with how to schedule recurring Discord announcements.
Step 3: Edit or remove a sticky later
Rules change, links break, events end. Updating a sticky should be just as easy as creating one.
To edit: run the same command in update mode (for example, /sticky edit) in the channel, and replace the text. The bot swaps the wording in place — the sticky keeps its position at the bottom, so members just see the new content next time they post. No need to delete and rebuild.
To remove: run the remove command (for example, /sticky remove or /sticky clear) in the channel. The bot deletes the current sticky and stops re-posting. The channel goes back to normal immediately.
A few practical notes. If your sticky stops showing up, check that the bot still has the "manage messages" and "send messages" permissions in that channel — a permissions change or a new channel-override is the usual cause. If you reorganize the server and move a channel, the sticky travels with the channel, but double-check the bot's role still has access in the channel's new category. For tracking who changed what (including bot actions), a Discord mod-log channel gives you a clean audit trail.
Sticky messages vs pinned messages vs slowmode notices
These three tools overlap, and picking the wrong one wastes effort. Here's how they differ.
Sticky messages
Always sit at the bottom as the newest message, maintained by a bot. Best for notes everyone should see while a channel is active — rules, formats, current links. The trade-off: they take up a line of the live feed and require a bot.
Pinned messages
Native to Discord, no bot needed, and don't clutter the feed. Best for reference material people will look up deliberately — a FAQ, a long ruleset, an announcement you want preserved. The trade-off: they're hidden behind the pin icon and easy to miss in busy channels.
Slowmode notices
Slowmode is a Discord setting that limits how often each member can post (from 5 seconds up to 6 hours). When it's on, Discord shows a small built-in notice in the text box. It's not a message you write — it's a rate limit. Use slowmode to calm a channel that's moving too fast to moderate; use a sticky or pin to communicate actual information. They work well together: slowmode slows the flood, a sticky tells people why.
The short version: sticky for "see this now," pin for "look this up later," slowmode for "post less often." Many well-run servers use all three in the same busy channel.
Keeping channel rules visible automatically
The most common reason people set up sticky messages is rules enforcement. A rules sticky does two jobs: it informs new members who never read your dedicated #rules channel, and it gives moderators something to point to ("see the sticky") when removing a message. That combination cuts down repeat violations without anyone lifting a finger.
Pair the sticky with automated moderation and you get rules that are both visible and enforced. PeakBot's context-aware AI moderation reads the intent behind a message and adapts per channel, rather than just matching a fixed keyword blocklist — so the sticky states the rule and the bot quietly handles breaks of it. PeakBot is free with no time limit on 30+ features and currently powers 500+ Discord communities, so you can run stickies, moderation, logging, and welcome messages from one bot instead of stitching several together.
If you're starting a server from scratch, PeakBot's AI Server Builder (a Pro feature at $8.25/month, or $69/year) can generate a full server — channels, roles, categories, permissions, and automations — from a plain-English description in under 60 seconds, then you drop stickies into the channels that need them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Discord have a built-in sticky message feature?
No. Discord supports pinned messages but has no native sticky feature that keeps a message at the bottom of a channel. You need a bot to do it. PeakBot, Carl-bot, and a few others all offer sticky messages; PeakBot bundles it with free moderation, leveling, tickets, and logging.
How is a sticky message different from a pinned message?
A pinned message is stored in the channel's pin list and reached by clicking the pin icon at the top — it doesn't move with the conversation. A sticky message is automatically re-posted at the bottom of the channel as the newest message every time someone posts, so it stays visible in the live feed without anyone opening a menu.
Will the sticky message spam or ping members?
No. A sticky bot deletes its previous copy before re-posting, so only one sticky exists at a time and the channel doesn't fill up with duplicates. Stickies also don't send notifications or pings unless you deliberately include an @mention in the text, which you should avoid for a permanent message.
Can I set up sticky messages for free?
Yes. Sticky messages are part of PeakBot's free feature set — there's no trial period and no time limit on the free plan. For honest comparison, Carl-bot also offers sticky messages on its free tier (premium is $7.99/month), and MEE6 ($11.95/month premium) and Dyno ($4.99/month premium) cover similar ground; PeakBot's edge is bundling stickies with AI moderation and 30+ other features at no cost. See the full feature and pricing breakdown to compare.
How many sticky messages can I have?
Most bots, including PeakBot, allow one sticky message per channel, but you can run a separate sticky in as many different channels as you want. So a 20-channel server can have 20 distinct stickies — one tailored to each channel's purpose.
