Discord AutoMod Blocks Allowed Links: Fix

You set up AutoMod to block harmful links in your Discord server. But now AutoMod also blocks links that you explicitly allowed in your allowlist. This happens because AutoMod rules have a specific priority order and the allowlist may not apply to all rule types. In this article, you will learn why AutoMod blocks allowed links and how to fix it by adjusting your AutoMod rule settings.

Why AutoMod Blocks Links You Added to the Allowlist

AutoMod in Discord uses two main types of rules: keyword rules and spam rules. Keyword rules check messages for specific words, phrases, or links. Spam rules detect patterns like repeated messages or mass mentions. When you add a link to the allowlist in a keyword rule, that link should be allowed. But there are three common reasons why it still gets blocked.

Rule Priority and Order

AutoMod processes rules in the order they appear in the list. If you have a rule that blocks all links placed above a rule that allows specific links, the block rule triggers first. The allowlist in the lower rule never gets checked. This is the most frequent cause of the issue.

Allowlist Only Applies to Keyword Rules

Spam rules do not have an allowlist. If you use a spam rule to block links, any allowlist you create in a keyword rule will not override it. Only keyword rules support the allowlist feature.

Mismatched Domain Format

When you add a domain to the allowlist, you must match the exact format that AutoMod sees. For example, allowing example.com does not automatically allow www.example.com or sub.example.com. AutoMod treats them as different strings unless you add each variant.

Steps to Fix AutoMod Blocking Allowed Links

Follow these steps to stop AutoMod from blocking links you have allowed. You will need the Manage Server permission or the Administrator permission to make changes.

1. Open Server Settings and Go to AutoMod
   Open your Discord server. Click the server name at the top left. Select Server Settings from the menu. In the left sidebar, click AutoMod.
2. Identify the Rule That Is Blocking the Link
   Look at the list of rules. Each rule shows its type: Keyword or Spam. Find the rule that matches the link you want to allow. Click the rule name to edit it.
3. Check the Rule Type
   If the rule is a Spam rule, you cannot add an allowlist. You must either delete the spam rule and create a keyword rule instead, or adjust the spam rule to not block links. To create a keyword rule, click Create Rule in the top right. Select Keyword as the rule type.
4. Add the Link to the Allowlist in a Keyword Rule
   In the keyword rule editor, scroll down to the Allowlist section. Click Add Item. Type the exact domain or link you want to allow. For example, type support.discord.com to allow that specific subdomain. Press Enter. Repeat for each variant you need. Click Save Changes.
5. Move the Allow Rule Above the Block Rule
   Go back to the AutoMod rules list. Hover your mouse over the rule that has the allowlist. Drag it above any rule that blocks the same links. AutoMod checks rules from top to bottom. The allow rule must be processed before the block rule.
6. Test the Link
   Send a message containing the allowed link in a channel where AutoMod is active. If the message goes through, the fix works. If it is still blocked, go back to editing the rule. Verify that the domain format matches exactly. Add the full URL including the protocol if needed, for example https://example.com.

If AutoMod Still Blocks Allowed Links After the Main Fix

AutoMod Blocks Links That Are Not in the Allowlist

If you have a keyword rule that blocks all links and you only allow a few, any link not on the allowlist will be blocked. To fix this, add all trusted domains to the allowlist. Alternatively, adjust the keyword rule to only block specific keywords instead of all links. In the rule editor, change the Blocked Words field to include only the domains you want to block.

AutoMod Blocks Links in Direct Messages

AutoMod rules apply to the channels you select when creating the rule. If you have the same rule applied to multiple channels, you must edit each rule instance separately. Go to AutoMod rules. Click the rule name. Under Channel, you can see which channels the rule applies to. You can remove the rule from a specific channel or add the allowlist to the rule for that channel.

Allowlist Does Not Work for Spam Rules

Spam rules do not have an allowlist. If you must use a spam rule to block link spam, create a keyword rule with the same pattern and an allowlist, then place it above the spam rule. AutoMod will check the keyword rule first and allow the link before the spam rule sees it.

AutoMod Rule Types: Keyword vs Spam

Item	Keyword Rule	Spam Rule
Purpose	Blocks specific words, phrases, or links	Blocks repeated messages, mass mentions, or link spam patterns
Allowlist support	Yes	No
Best for	Allowing specific domains while blocking others	Stopping spam bots that send many messages quickly
Rule priority	Processed in list order	Processed in list order

If you need to allow certain links while still blocking spam, use a keyword rule with an allowlist and place it above any spam rules. This gives you precise control over which links are allowed.

You can now configure AutoMod to allow specific links without blocking them. Start by checking your rule order and confirming that you are using a keyword rule with an allowlist. If you manage a large server, consider creating a separate keyword rule just for link allowlisting and keep it at the top of the rules list. This prevents conflicts with other rules and makes future edits easier.