How to Stop Spam in Discord

To stop spam in Discord, open Server Settings → AutoMod and turn on Block Spam Content plus Block Mention Spam. Set both to Block message and Send alert. That filter runs on Discord’s side and can stop a message before it appears. BetterAntispam does not replace AutoMod. Run /setup, then /antispam settings (Administrator) for floods, duplicates, caps, ghost pings, links, embeds, reactions, and edit spam. AutoMod misses copy-paste across several messages. That is the bot.

Editorial disclosure: This guide is published by BetterAntispam. We recommend BetterAntispam when you want AutoMod plus a slash-command flood ladder, with raid and lock tools in the same stack. We name the cases where Discord’s own AutoMod, Dyno, Carl-bot, Wick, YAGPDB, MEE6, or ProBot already cover the job. AutoMod limits come from Discord. Command defaults come from the bot’s source.

TL;DR: People searching how to stop spam in discord, stop discord spam, how to prevent spam in discord, discord spam filter, and discord automod spam want a filter tonight, not a bot bake-off. Native path: Server Settings → AutoMod → Block Spam Content and Block Mention Spam (limit up to 50). You need Manage Server or Administrator. AutoMod cannot be edited on mobile. Invite BetterAntispam and run /antispam settings. Default flood is 5 messages in 5000 ms, 3 warnings, then a 5-minute mute. Caps fire at 70% uppercase. Duplicates need 3 identical messages (2 if they are very short). Free blacklist is 50 words. If they are still typing, /lockdown or /slowmode. If the dump already landed, /purge or /nuke (max 1000, Discord’s 14-day bulk-delete). Join floods are a raid, not this page.

Dark Discord-style AutoMod panel blocking neon spam bubbles before they reach #general

Turn on AutoMod, then `/antispam settings`

This is the first body section: Discord’s screen, then the command.

Discord AutoMod (desktop)

You need Manage Server or Administrator. Discord’s AutoMod FAQ says rule edits are desktop-only.

Server Settings → AutoMod.
Enable Block Spam Content. Responses: Block message and Send alert. Discord’s safety page says this model is trained on reported spam: free Nitro ads, invite dumps, similar unsolicited copy. It is not perfect. It misses repeated copy-pasta across messages. The Spam Content filter and the Commonly Flagged Words lists are English-only right now.
Enable Block Mention Spam. Set a mention limit, maximum 50 per message. Block message, Send alert, Timeout if you want the extra stick.
Under Custom Keyword, add the phrases you already see. Discord caps each rule at 1000 terms, 60 characters each. Wildcards use *. Regex how-to: Filter Messages Using Regular Expressions. Ready templates: 4 AutoMod rules and keyword blacklist Discord.
Pick a staff-only alert channel. Exempt staff roles, not random VIPs. Administrator and Manage Server are always exempt.
On Roles, turn off Mention @everyone, @here, and All Roles for everyone who is not staff. Discord’s raid 101 lists that as a first move.

AutoMod does not watch DMs. It does not score five messages in five seconds. It does not run a warn-then-mute ladder. It does not flag messages from apps installed on the server.

Add BetterAntispam, run /setup (Administrator), pick a log channel, then /antispam settings (Administrator). There is no website login. Configuration stays in the slash-command panel.

Docs: customer documentation. Support: Discord support server. Feature page: Discord anti-spam.

What `/antispam settings` actually catches

/antispam settings (Administrator) watches message floods, duplicate messages, excessive caps, overlong messages, ghost pings, link spam, embed spam, reaction spam, and edit spam.

Defaults from the bot’s source:

Setting	Default
Flood trigger	5 messages in 5000 ms
Warnings before punishment	3
Default punishment	5-minute mute
Caps ratio	70% uppercase
Duplicates	3 identical messages (2 if they are very short)
Word blacklist	Up to 50 words on the free tier

Shield unlocks external bot-command spam detection, blacklists over 50 words, and a punishment approval gate where staff confirm before action. Image scanning is /imagefilter settings and is Shield entirely. Upgrade: Shield in the application store.

BetterAntispam detects and responds. It does not prevent every spam message. Leave AutoMod on so the obvious scam never posts. Let the bot handle velocity and repeats AutoMod’s own FAQ says it misses.

/logging settings (Administrator) should point the antispam stream at a channel staff actually read.

Spam versus a raid versus DMs

Use the tool that matches the night.

What you are looking at	First move	Not this
Same person dumping lines in #general	/antispam settings, then /slowmode or /lockdown	A new bot
Mentions of half the server	AutoMod Block Mention Spam	Slowmode alone
Free Nitro / fake invite text	AutoMod Block Spam Content	A timeout on a real member
A join wave of throwaway accounts	/antiraid settings, /raidmode enable, Pause Invites	Antispam thresholds
Fresh accounts posting the second they join	/verification settings, raise Discord’s verification level	A word list
Ads in chat or profiles	/adblock settings	The flood timer
Scam DMs	Discord DM settings, /dmlock (Manage Server)	AutoMod

A raid is joins. Spam is messages. The raid playbook is How to Stop a Discord Raid. DM playbook: stop Discord DM spam. Bot comparison: Best Discord Antispam Bot in 2026.

/antiraid settings (Administrator) watches join rate. Under 50 members, 3 joins in 10 seconds is worth noticing and 5 is a strong signal. Manual default, auto-scale off, is 5 joins in 10 seconds. /raidmode enable (Administrator) is the live switch. Default punishment is kick.

/verification settings (Administrator) has four modes: button, image CAPTCHA, math, hidden word. Default is button.

/adblock settings (Administrator) covers advertising in chat and in profiles.

/antiping settings (Administrator) writes Discord’s own AutoMod keyword rules. Do not run a second ping filter that fights it.

/honeypot settings (Manage Server) is a trap channel no legitimate member should post in. Default action is a softban. Voice traps are Shield.

If they are still typing

Lock or slow the channel before you clean.

Slowmode when the room should stay open. /slowmode (Manage Channels) sets Discord’s per-person cooldown, 0–21600 seconds. Slider how-to: How to Use Discord Slowmode.

Lock when you do not want anyone without an overwrite posting. /lockdown (Administrator) denies Send Messages and Add Reactions to @everyone and snapshots the previous overwrites. One channel is free. all / unlockall are Shield. Guide: How to Lock a Discord Channel.

Purge or nuke after the dump landed. /purge and /nuke (Administrator) take at most 1000 messages. Discord’s bulk-delete API only covers messages under 14 days old. Guide: How to Use the Discord Purge Command.

Do not run two bots deleting the same channel at once.

Five stacked spam tiles hitting a stop gate next to a mute hourglass and a broom clearing leftover messages

Other tools that already filter spam

Keep the one staff already trained on.

Tool	What it filters	Notes
Discord AutoMod	Keywords, mention spam, suspected spam content	Only filter that can block before the message appears
BetterAntispam	/antispam settings, /adblock settings, /antiping settings	Free core. No website login
Wick	Security suite, raids and nukes	Keep Wick if restore after a wipe is why you opened this tab
Dyno	Automod modules	Dyno’s FAQ says it has no anti-raid and no anti-nuke
Carl-bot / YAGPDB	Automod and custom rules	Use them if that dashboard is already muscle memory
MEE6	Moderator tools on the dashboard	Keep if XP already lives there
ProBot	Automod stack	Not why you searched this page

Do not stack three flood detectors on the same channel. One warn ladder is enough.

Which tool should you use?

Discord AutoMod first, every server, even if you never add a bot. Block Spam Content and Block Mention Spam. Custom keywords for the phrases you already banned by hand.

BetterAntispam if you want /antispam settings for floods and duplicates, plus /antiraid settings, /raidmode, /lockdown, and /purge without a website login.

Wick if a compromised moderator deleting channels is the nightmare, and you will finish Wick’s setup.

Dyno, Carl-bot, or YAGPDB if staff already live in that automod panel.

MEE6 or ProBot if that dashboard already owns the server and you will not move it.

Do not install a second antispam bot “to be safe.” Tune one.

FAQ

How do I stop spam in Discord?

Server Settings → AutoMod → Block Spam Content and Block Mention Spam → Block message and Send alert. Then invite BetterAntispam and run /antispam settings (Administrator).

Does Discord have a built-in spam filter?

Yes. AutoMod’s Block Spam Content and Block Mention Spam. It can stop a message before it posts. Discord’s FAQ says it misses repeated copy-pasta across messages and does not watch DMs or friend-request spam.

What permission do I need?

AutoMod: Manage Server or Administrator, desktop only. /antispam settings, /setup, /purge, /nuke, and /lockdown need Administrator. /slowmode needs Manage Channels. /honeypot settings and /dmlock need Manage Server.

Will `/antispam settings` stop a raid?

No. A raid is a join wave. Use /antiraid settings and /raidmode enable (Administrator), plus Pause Invites. Antispam is the chat flood after people are already inside.

Why did AutoMod miss the spam?

The Spam Content filter is English-only and trained on reports. Discord says it misses nonsense across several messages. That is why you still run /antispam settings.

How do I clean the channel after spam?

/purge or /nuke (Administrator), limit 1–1000. Messages older than 14 days delete one at a time. Lock first if they are still typing.

Is the word blacklist free?

Yes, up to 50 words. Over 50 is Shield. AutoMod custom keywords are a separate list and stay free.

Can I set this up on mobile?

You can run slash commands on mobile. You cannot edit AutoMod rules on mobile. Discord’s FAQ is explicit about that.

Final Verdict

How to stop spam in Discord is AutoMod first, then a flood command. Server Settings → AutoMod → Block Spam Content and Block Mention Spam. Invite BetterAntispam, run /setup, then /antispam settings. Use /slowmode or /lockdown while they type. Use /purge after. Use /raidmode when the problem is joins. Keep Wick or Dyno if they already own that job.