How to host a Python Discord bot

This guide is for bots written in Python, for example with discord.py.

Switch the server to Python

A new bot server starts as a Node.js server. Change it before you upload anything, because changing the type reinstalls the server and by default deletes its files.

1. Open your server in the panel and stay on Overview.
2. Click Edit Server Type and choose Python Bot, then follow the steps. See How to change your server type or game version if you want the full walkthrough.

Add your bot

1. Open Files and upload your bot, including requirements.txt if you have one.

   • Using git instead? Open Settings, then Game Settings and fill in Git repository. For a private repository also set the git username and an access token.
2. In Game Settings, set Main file to the file that starts your bot, such as bot.py or main.py.
3. Check Requirements file. The default is requirements.txt. When that file exists, its packages are installed on every start.
4. Paste your token into Discord bot token (optional). Your code reads it with os.environ["DISCORD_TOKEN"].

Start it

Open Console and start the server. The server installs your requirements, then runs your main file with Python 3.12. The first start takes longer while packages download.

Good to know

• Extra packages: the Extra pip packages field installs more packages on every start without editing requirements.txt.
• Print with flush: Python holds output back when it is not on a terminal. If your print lines do not show in the console straight away, use print("text", flush=True) or the logging module.
• Updates from git: turn on Update from git on every start to pull your latest code each restart.

If it stops right away: read Why your Discord bot keeps stopping.