How do you set up AutoMod on Discord?
6
Configuration steps
5
Final tests
4
Errors solved
~7 min
Reading time
The answer
The short answer
To set up AutoMod on Discord, first enable the detectors (anti-spam, anti-caps, the mention limit), then set thresholds that match the pace of conversation on your server, and finally choose the response to a violation — from deleting the message to a timeout. In Venon Security you do all of it on one screen: Panel → Security → Content protection, where AutoMod and LinkShield share the same save. The most important rule: start with gentle thresholds and tighten them based on the logs rather than on hunches — an overly aggressive filter punishes ordinary members and teaches them to work around the bot.
The content is checked against the bot's configuration — last verified: 2026-08-06.
Context
What the problem is
AutoMod is meant to take repetitive work off the moderators, but it is very easy to overshoot in either direction. Too gentle and it lets spam and adverts through; too strict and it deletes messages written in caps out of excitement, or blocks people pasting a few lines of code. The side effect of a badly set filter is worse than not having one: members start working around the rules on purpose.
Without an extra bot
What you can do with Discord alone
- 01
In Discord's native AutoMod (Server settings → AutoMod) enable mass-mention blocking and the basic spam rules.
- 02
Set slowmode on the channels that regularly get crowded.
- 03
List the channels where conversation is looser — some filters will get in the way there.
- 04
Prepare a list of banned words and a list of exceptions for staff roles and integration bots.
Venon Security
What Venon Security adds
Venon's AutoMod combines content detectors with actions per detector — one response to spam, another to profanity, another to too many mentions.
The word blacklist and the regex blacklist let you target specific patterns, such as server adverts, without blocking whole categories of speech.
Every violation can go to the moderation log channel together with the content, so you can see whether a threshold is catching ordinary conversation.
Configuration
Configuration step by step
0 of 6 steps
Open the content protection screen
Panel → Security → Content protection/venonsec-panelIn Venon, AutoMod and LinkShield share one screen, because they are almost always configured together. You save the changes in one place, so it is impossible to enable a filter and forget about the action.
- The AutoMod active switch is the main switch for message automoderation.
- The Block links switch is tied to the VenonSec core (invite blocking) — bear that in mind if invites are meant to be allowed.
Enable the detectors one at a time
Panel → Security → Content protection → DetectorsDo not turn everything on at once. Start one detector, wait a day and check the logs — only then move to the next. That way you know which filter produces false hits.
- Anti-spam: catches runs of messages in a short time window.
- Anti-caps: reacts to messages written mostly in capital letters.
- Mention limit: defends against mass tagging of people and roles.
Set the starting thresholds
Panel → Security → Content protection → DetectorsThe values below work on servers with a normal pace of conversation. On a very busy chat raise them by a point or two rather than switching the detector off.
- Spam threshold (messages): 5, Spam window (seconds): 5.
- Caps threshold (%): 70, Min. message length (caps): 10 characters — so a short OK or YES is not punished.
- Max. mentions in a message: 4.
Choose the response to a violation
Panel → Security → Content protection → Response to a violationThe response should be proportionate. To start with, deleting the message plus a log entry is enough — enable automatic penalties once you see repeated abuse.
- Delete the message: on.
- Send a DM to the member: on, so they know what happened and why.
- Log to the moderation log channel: on — without it you cannot judge the quality of the thresholds.
- In the Actions per detector section, set a stricter response only where it is justified.
Add the word and pattern blacklists
Panel → Security → Content protection → Word blacklist / Regex blacklistThe word blacklist works on exact words, the regex blacklist on patterns. Leave regex for the cases a list cannot describe, such as invites with substituted characters.
- Keep the list short — long lists produce false hits inside innocent sentences.
- Test every regex pattern on a test channel before leaving it in production.
- After every larger change, check the logs to see whether it is catching ordinary conversation.
Connect the penalty escalation thresholds
Panel → Server → General settings → Warning thresholdsAutoMod deletes messages, but it is escalation that turns repeated violations into a real consequence. Without it the same member will spam every day.
- Mute after (warnings), Kick after (warnings), Ban after (warnings): set a rising ladder, for example 3 / 5 / 7.
- Warning expiry (days): 30–90 days, so a one-off mistake does not weigh forever.
The steps you tick are saved in your browser — you can come back and finish later.
Verification
How to check the configuration worked
- 1
On a test channel send 6 short messages in 5 seconds — they should disappear, and the moderation logs should carry an entry from the spam detector.
- 2
Write a sentence in capitals longer than 10 characters — anti-caps should react; a short OK should pass with no action.
- 3
Mention five people in one message with the limit set to 4 — the message should be removed.
- 4
Check that the test account received a DM about the violation.
- 5
After 24 hours go through the moderation log channel: if more than one hit in ten concerns ordinary conversation, the thresholds are too strict.
Diagnostics
When something does not work
AutoMod deletes messages from moderators and integration bots.
- Cause
- The detectors apply to everyone until you point out the exceptions.
- Fix
- In the Actions per detector section, limit the response for staff roles, and give integration bots a separate channel where the filters are off.
The filter catches ordinary conversation on a busy channel.
- Cause
- The spam window is too long for the pace of the chat, or the threshold is too low.
- Fix
- Raise the Spam threshold (messages) by 2 and shorten the Spam window (seconds) to 3–5. Judge the change by the next day's logs, not by a single report.
Messages disappear, but leave no trace in the logs.
- Cause
- The Log to the moderation log channel option is off, or the Moderation category has no channel.
- Fix
- Enable logging in the Response to a violation section and check in Panel → Moderation → Logs whether the Moderation category has a channel assigned.
A regex from the blacklist does not work, or blocks everything.
- Cause
- The pattern is too general, or contains special characters without escaping.
- Fix
- Start with the simplest pattern matching one specific case and extend it only after testing on a test channel.
Honestly
What this configuration does not solve
AutoMod works on text. It does not analyse images, attachments or voice conversations.
A word filter does not understand context — a quote, a joke and a genuine insult look the same to it. Disputed cases still need a human.
A determined spammer will get around a word list by substituting characters. A regex blacklist raises the cost, but does not close the subject.
AutoMod will not replace raid protection — it reacts to message content, and a raid starts with a wave of joins.
Venon does not moderate private messages between members, including those sent after making contact on your server.
Commands
The commands used in this guide
Read on
Related guides
How do you clear spam on Discord?
How to clear spam on Discord: the /clear command, muting the author, the log entry and the AutoMod settings that stop it coming back.
Read the guideHow do you block phishing links on Discord?
How to block phishing links on Discord: LinkShield, link rate limits, trusted domains, member reports and the threat database.
Read the guideHow do you check Discord moderation logs?
How to check Discord moderation logs: the audit log, the bot's log categories, the penalty channel, the access role and data retention.
Read the guide
FAQ
FAQ – common questions
Which AutoMod thresholds should you start from?+
From 5 messages in a 5-second window for spam, 70 per cent capital letters with a minimum of 10 characters for caps, and 4 mentions per message. Watch the logs for a few days and tighten only the detectors that genuinely let abuse through.
Does Venon's AutoMod replace Discord's native AutoMod?+
It does not have to — they can run together. Discord's native filter blocks a message before it appears, while Venon's AutoMod adds actions per detector, regex blacklists, log entries and a connection to the penalty system.
How do you make an exception for an administrative channel?+
Do not enable the detectors you care least about there, and limit the responses for staff roles in the Actions per detector section. For channels carrying code or bot logs it is best to leave the filters off.
Set this up in your own Venon Security panel
Every screen mentioned in the guide is in the web panel. You save the configuration by hand and see its state before anything takes effect on the server.