---
url: https://docs.lfghub.gg/guide/faq.md
description: >-
  Fixes for the common LFG Hub problems: slash commands not showing, permission
  errors, voice channels not created, Join not working, pings and scheduling.
---

# FAQ & Troubleshooting

## Setup

### The bot's slash commands don't appear

Commands are registered globally and can take **up to an hour** to propagate after the bot is added or updated. Also confirm the bot was invited with the `applications.commands` scope — without it, slash commands never show. Try fully reloading Discord (Ctrl/Cmd+R).

### I didn't get a welcome DM when I added the bot

The bot DMs whoever invited it (or the server owner). If you have DMs from server members disabled, you won't receive it. You don't need the DM to get started — members can use `/lfg` (or `/create-group`) and `/open-to-play` right away, and you can optionally run `/setup-lfg-channel` to pre-configure games, channels, and options (recommended — it also makes your server discoverable across the LFG Network).

### `/setup-lfg-channel` says a permission error while creating channels

The bot is missing a permission or its role is too low. See the two checks below.

## Permissions

### Voice channels aren't being created or members aren't moved

Almost always one of:

1. **Missing permission** — the bot needs Manage Channels, Move Members, Connect, and Speak (Administrator covers all). Check the channel's own permissions too: a deny there applies to the bot even when its role has the permission server-wide. See [Permissions](/guide/permissions).
2. **Role too low** — if the bot doesn't have Administrator, its role must be within the **top 5 non-admin roles**. Drag it up in **Server Settings → Roles**. This is the single most common cause, and it fails silently. See [Role hierarchy](/guide/permissions#role-hierarchy).

The bot posts a warning in `#lfg-reports` when it detects a role-position problem.

### Groups post, but clicking Join doesn't work

The bot couldn't open a group chat in that channel, so the group has nowhere to send anyone. This happens when the LFG channel denies it **Create Private Threads** and **Create Public Threads** — usually through a deny on `@everyone`, which applies to the bot too even though the permission is granted to its role server-wide.

The same overwrite often denies **Embed Links**, which is why the group card looks empty apart from its buttons.

**Fix:** open the LFG channel → **Edit Channel → Permissions → Add members or roles** → pick the **LFG Hub** role → allow those permissions. See [Channel overwrites](/guide/permissions#channel-overwrites). Granting the bot **Manage Roles** on the channel lets it repair this by itself in future.

### A non-admin should be able to run `/setup-lfg-channel`

Go to **Server Settings → Integrations → LFG Hub** and grant that role/member access to the command, without giving full Administrator.

## Features

### Smart LFG Ping isn't pinging anyone

Check all of these:

* It's enabled for the server in the [Members Ping step](/guide/configuration#step-2-members-ping).
* Your server has **fewer than 15,000 members** (it's auto-disabled above that).
* The members you expect to be pinged are online, have opted into the game, played recently, and aren't muted.
* The 15-minute cooldown between pings hasn't just fired.

### Smart DM Recommendations aren't sending

Recommendations rely on **presence** (seeing what members are playing), fire at most once every 8 hours per member, and skip anyone already in a voice channel. Members must also allow DMs from the server.

### Scheduling a session is rejected

Sessions must be **between now and 7 days ahead**. Past times and anything more than a week out are rejected. Double-check the timezone you picked in the dropdown.

### Joining a voice channel doesn't start LFG

A voice channel is only auto-detected when it sits **in the same category as that game's voice creator channel**. An LFG text channel in the category doesn't count, and channels that aren't under any category are never auto-detected. Move the voice creator channel into the category you want covered — or just post a message in the LFG channel while sitting in the voice channel, which starts LFG for it immediately. See [Auto-LFG channels](/features/voice-channels#auto-lfg-channels).

### Empty voice channels are disappearing

That's intended — temporary group voice channels are deleted once empty. If you want a channel that persists, use a [permanent voice channel](/features/voice-channels#permanent-voice-channels).

## Still stuck?

Use `/help` or `/feedback` in Discord to reach the LFG Hub team — you can attach screenshots.