Getting Started
Common Questions
Quick answers to what people ask most. The same questions are in the FAQ panel in our support server, so you can find them in either place.
🚀 Getting Started
What is Sparrow?
An all-in-one Discord bot with a web dashboard: tickets, applications, giveaways, reviews, custom messages and FAQ panels, plus leveling, welcome messages, reaction roles, logs and more, all managed from one place.
How do I add Sparrow to my server?
You need the Manage Server permission. Use the Add to Server link on our website or dashboard, pick your server, and accept the permissions.
What do I do after adding it?
Log in to the dashboard with Discord, pick your server and click "Set up Sparrow here". Then create your first panel, either from a template or with /ticketpanel. The Setup guide walks through it.
Where do I find all the commands?
Run /help for a browsable menu, or see the Commands page. Most setup happens on the dashboard, and commands are for day-to-day use.
Is Sparrow free?
Yes. Every module works for free, and Premium raises limits and adds extra customization.
🎫 Tickets
How do I create a ticket panel?
Run /ticketpanel in the channel you want it in and choose Thread or Channel mode. Then finish on the dashboard: embed, questions, staff roles and more. You can also start from a template.
Thread or Channel mode: which should I pick?
Thread mode keeps your channel list tidy. Channel mode gives each ticket its own private channel, and you choose whether staff get full access, view-only, or only the person who claimed it.
Who can see and handle tickets?
Add Support Roles on a panel (that panel only) or in Ticket Settings (every panel). Manager Roles configure things but aren't added to tickets automatically.
Can I ask questions before a ticket opens?
Yes, on the panel's Questions tab: text, dropdown, user/role/channel select, or checkbox. Free allows 10 questions per panel and Premium allows 25.
How do I close a ticket?
Staff can use /ticket close or the Close button, and /ticket request-close asks the opener to agree first. You can read the full conversation later in Ticket History on the dashboard.
Can I collect feedback on support?
Yes. After a ticket closes, the opener is asked for a star rating and comment. You'll find them in Reviews on the dashboard.
Can staff reply from the dashboard?
With Premium, yes, and the reply appears under the staff member's own Discord name and avatar. Free can still read and close tickets from the dashboard.
Can members read their ticket again after it closes?
Yes. When a ticket closes, the member who opened it gets a View transcript button in their DMs, and finds it under My Account → Transcripts in the account menu. Transcripts are private: only the people who were part of the ticket and the server's staff can open them.
Can I stop members sending files or voice messages in tickets?
Yes, in Channel mode. On the panel's General tab, choose what members can do in the ticket: reactions, links, files, emojis and stickers from other servers, and voice messages.
Can I close tickets for a while?
Yes. Turn the panel off on its dashboard page and write the message members see when they press the button, like "Tickets are closed right now." Only they see it. Turn it back on any time.
📝 Applications
How do applications work?
Members click Apply, fill in the form, and staff approve or deny with a reason. Answers stay available in Application History.
Can approving an application give a role automatically?
Yes, through role rules that grant or remove roles on approve or deny. Free allows 1 grant and 1 revoke; Premium allows 10 of each.
Can staff discuss an applicant privately?
Yes. Turn on Staff Discussion Thread on the panel's Advanced tab. The applicant can't see it, and staff shouldn't @mention them there.
How many questions can an application have?
15 on free and 50 with Premium.
Can I stop taking applications for a while?
Yes. Turn the panel off on its dashboard page and write the message members see when they press Apply, like "Applications are closed." Only they see it.
🎁 Giveaways
How do I start a giveaway?
Use /giveaway create, or build it on the dashboard. /giveaway scheduled posts it automatically later.
Can I limit who enters or give bonus entries?
Yes: bonus-entry roles, bypass roles, blocked roles and a blacklist.
How do I end one early or pick a new winner?
/giveaway end, /giveaway cancel and /giveaway reroll. /giveaway list shows them all.
Are winners notified?
Winners are announced in the channel. Turn on DM Winners in Giveaway Settings to also send them a DM with claim instructions.
👋 Welcome & Goodbye
How do I set up a welcome message?
Open Welcome & Goodbye in the dashboard, choose a channel, turn the welcome message on and edit the text. It starts with an example. Send test posts a sample in the channel.
Can I DM new members or celebrate milestones?
Yes. The Welcome DM tab sends a private message when someone joins, and Member Milestones posts a message (with an optional card) at member counts you choose, like every 1,000.
What's the welcome card?
A picture with the member's avatar and name, drawn from a background you pick. Free includes 7 backgrounds. Premium adds your own image, colours and font. See the Welcome & Goodbye docs.
🚀 Boost Messages
What's the boost card?
A picture with the member's avatar and name, drawn from a background you pick. Free includes 7 backgrounds. Premium adds your own image, colours and font.
Does Boost Messages need Discord's own boost announcement turned on?
No, Sparrow notices a first boost without it. Turning on Send a message when someone boosts (Server Settings → Overview) also covers extra boosts and new boost levels. Sparrow needs to see the channel that setting posts to.
🎭 Reaction Roles
How do I set up reaction roles?
Open Reaction Roles in the dashboard, create a panel, build the message, add buttons, a dropdown or reactions on the Roles tab, then press Post and pick a channel.
Can one message have buttons, a dropdown, and reactions together?
Yes. All three can be on the same panel, each with its own roles.
What's the difference between Toggle and Exclusive?
Toggle lets a member add or remove a role freely. With Exclusive, a member can only have one role from the group. Picking one removes the other.
Can I limit who sees or uses a panel?
Yes, on the Access tab. Members need one of the Allowed roles, and anyone with a Blocked role is refused.
If I add an existing temporary role here, does it still expire?
Yes. A role set up in Temporary Roles keeps its duration however it's given, including from a reaction role panel.
Why did Sparrow take my reaction off?
Remove on click and Exclusive take reactions off on purpose. While a panel is turned off, Sparrow also takes new reactions off and gives no role. Sparrow needs Manage Messages in that channel to do this.
⏱️ Temporary Roles
How do I set up a temporary role?
Open Temporary Roles in the dashboard, add a role, and set how long it should last. You can also run /temprole grant on a role that isn't set up yet. It asks for a duration and saves it for next time.
Does it matter how the role was given?
No. Once a role is set up, it works the same whether it's given by command, a Reaction Roles pick, or by hand in Discord.
What happens if I remove the role early?
Its timer is cancelled, however it was removed.
Can I turn one role off without affecting the others?
Yes. Each role has its own switch on the Temporary Roles page. Turning one off keeps its duration for later.
🎖️ Auto Roles
How do I give new members a role?
Open Auto Roles in the dashboard, turn on Give roles when someone joins, pick the roles and save.
Can bots get a different role?
Yes. Pick Roles for bots. Bots get those right away, and never get the member roles.
Can new members get roles only after accepting the rules?
Yes. Turn on Wait until they accept the rules. It works with Discord's Rules Screening.
Will someone who rejoins get their old roles back?
Yes, with the Persistent Roles tab turned on, if they left after it was turned on. Roles are kept for 30 days by default.
Can I stop admin roles from coming back?
Yes. Choose All roles except these and block them. The dashboard warns you about roles with powerful permissions.
🏷️ Server Tag Role
What is a server tag?
A short badge members can show next to their name across Discord. You set your server's tag in Discord's server settings.
What happens if I change our tag?
Nothing changes for members. Sparrow checks the tag belongs to your server, not what it says.
Can I give the role to someone by hand?
Sparrow removes it from anyone not showing the tag, so use a role just for this.
📈 Leveling
How do I turn on leveling?
Open Leveling in the dashboard (under Community Tools) and turn it on with the switch at the top right. Messages earn XP by default.
How do members earn XP?
From messages, time in voice, slash commands and reactions. Each can be turned on or off, with its own XP amount and cooldown.
Can I give roles at certain levels?
Yes. Add role rewards on the Role rewards tab. There's no limit. You can also give roles for a number of messages, voice hours or reactions (5 of each free, more with Premium).
Can the level up message only post sometimes?
Yes. Post it every level, every few levels, only at levels you pick, or only at levels with a reward role.
Is there a leaderboard?
Yes. /leaderboard in Discord, a web leaderboard you can share, and a top 10 message that keeps itself up to date in a channel.
Can staff change someone's XP?
Yes. /xp gives, removes, sets or moves XP, and /level changes levels. Only Administrator, Manage Server or a Sparrow Master Role can use them, and with Logs on every change is logged with who made it and why.
Can members lose XP for being inactive?
Yes. Turn on XP decay and pick how much they lose each day. It starts after 30 days without earning XP, and Premium can pick any number of days or months. By default they never lose a level. Earning any XP stops it. With Premium you can also ask for a minimum amount of XP each week or month, and members who earn less lose XP too.
Can members get more voice XP in a busy channel?
Yes. Turn on Crowd bonus on the Earning XP tab and add ranges of people, like 3 to 5 people for +5%, as a percent or as extra XP each minute. Bots don't count. Free servers get 2 ranges, Premium 5. A bonus limit stops the bonus after a set amount, and a Voice XP limit per day, week or month stops voice XP altogether, so nobody earns endless XP by sitting in voice.
Can I run a double XP event?
Yes, on the XP events tab. Pick a boost (1.5x, 2x, 3x or your own), when it starts and ends, and where it counts: the whole server, text channels, voice channels or channels you pick. You can also choose roles that get it or never do. Free servers can have one event at a time up to 2x. Premium can schedule 10, up to 5x.
What are activity streaks?
Members build a streak by earning XP every day. Each day in a row can give a little bonus XP, or the streak can just be for show. The rank card on /rank shows it as a flame badge with the number of days. You can ask for a minimum amount of XP in a day for it to count. It's free.
Do members get more XP for voting for Sparrow?
Yes, while vote perks are on. For 12 hours after voting on top.gg, members get +5% or +10% XP (you pick). /rank has a Vote for boost button. Servers with Premium can turn the boost off.
Can I bring levels over from another bot?
Yes, from MEE6, Lurkr or Noctaly, on the Import tab of the Leveling page. MEE6 and Lurkr bring everyone. Noctaly brings everyone too, from a saved copy of your Noctaly leaderboard page. Scroll to the bottom of it before saving, or only the top 100 come over. Members keep their level. Amari and Arcane can't be imported, since they don't share their data.
Someone reset everyone's XP. Can I get it back?
Yes. Sparrow saves a copy of everyone's XP once a day. Open the Backups tab on the Leveling page, pick a day before it happened and restore it.
Can I reset the XP of someone who was banned or left?
Yes. Use /xp reset member with their user ID, or click their name on the web leaderboard if you have Manage Server.
Can I reset everyone's XP for a new season?
Yes. /xp reset everyone, or Reset everyone's XP at the bottom of the Earning XP tab on the dashboard. /xp reset role resets everyone with a role. Only Administrator, Manage Server or a Sparrow Master Role can do it. Sparrow asks first and saves a backup, which Premium can restore.
Can members change how their rank card looks?
Yes. /rank has an Edit your card button. Members pick their own colors, and with Premium a background image. It only changes their card. Admins can turn it off on the Rank card tab.
Can I hide banned or inactive members from the leaderboard?
Yes, with Premium, on the Leaderboard tab. You can hide banned members, members who left, or members who haven't earned XP in a while. Everyone is shown by default.
📜 Logs
How do I turn on logs?
Open Logs in the dashboard (under Server), turn on Post logs, pick a log channel and save.
Can different logs go to different channels?
Yes. Give a group, like Messages, its own channel, or give a single event like bans its own channel.
Why doesn't a log say who did it?
Sparrow needs the View Audit Log permission for that. The Logs page warns you if it's missing.
Why does a deleted message say its text isn't available?
Discord doesn't tell bots what a deleted message said, so Sparrow remembers recent messages. Messages sent before Sparrow last started can't be shown.
Can I change the colors?
Yes. Open a group on the Logs page and pick a color next to any event.
Is Logs free?
Yes, every part of it.
📌 Sticky Messages
How do I add a sticky message?
Open Sticky Messages in the dashboard, create one, pick a channel and write the message. Sparrow posts it within about 15 seconds.
How often is it posted again?
After every message, or every few messages if you set a higher number. Sparrow waits a couple of seconds so a burst of messages gets one repost.
Can a channel have two sticky messages?
No. Each channel can have one.
Does it ping anyone?
No. A sticky message never pings, even if it has a mention in it.
🪪 Bot Profile
How do I change how Sparrow looks in my server?
Open Bot Profile in the dashboard, just below Dashboard. Set a nickname, avatar, banner, bio or name style, then save. Only your server sees it.
Why can't I save a nickname?
Sparrow needs the Change Nickname permission. Give it to Sparrow's role in Server Settings > Roles, then press Check again on the Bot Profile page.
Can Sparrow have its own status or activity in my server?
No. Discord gives a bot one status and activity for every server it's in. Sparrow's is Watching /help.
How do I undo it?
Press Reset to default on the Bot Profile page.
🕒 Staff Activity
How do I see who changed someone's XP?
Open Staff Activity in the dashboard and click the member's name. It shows every change made to them in the last 30 days, who made it and the reason. Staff Activity is a Premium feature.
Why isn't a change in Staff Activity?
It only has changes made through Sparrow: /xp, /level, /temprole, the web leaderboard, imports and restores. Changes made in Discord itself, like giving a role by hand, are in Logs instead. Changes older than 30 days are deleted.
💬 Auto Responders
Why didn't it reply?
Check that it's turned on, that the message matches one of its phrases with the match type you picked, and that the channel and role lists allow it. A cooldown also stops it. Type the message into Try it on the Trigger tab to test it.
Can two auto responders reply to the same message?
No. The first one in your list that matches replies. Drag them in the list to change the order.
Does it reply to bots?
No. Messages from bots and webhooks are always ignored.
How do I stop it pinging people?
Turn off Notify them on the Reply tab. {user} then shows their name in bold instead of a mention.
Why wasn't my message deleted?
Sparrow needs the Manage Messages permission in that channel to delete it. The auto responder list shows the reason when this happens.
🏆 Events
What are Sparrow Events?
Team competitions run through Sparrow: teams complete tasks for points, submit screenshot proof, and staff review each submission. You build the event on the dashboard and players use /event in Discord. See the Events guide.
How do I create an event?
Open Events Panel on the dashboard and click Create Event, then work through General, Task, Teams, Advance, Preview and Start. It stays a draft until you start it, so you can save and come back. You can also start from a template.
How do players submit a task?
They run /event submit, pick the task, and attach a screenshot. Sparrow finds their team from their roles, and staff approve or reject it.
Who can review submissions?
The event's staff roles, the Event Manager Role, Sparrow Master Roles and server admins (Administrator or Manage Server). They can approve, modify, reject or undo from Discord or from the Event Portal.
What is the Event Portal?
A web page for each event. Team members see their team's progress, staff review submissions, and everyone else sees the standings. You can also open it to the public with a password.
What happens when an event ends?
Results are posted to each team. A week later Sparrow removes the event's channels and roles, or staff can do it sooner with /event archive. Sparrow only deletes channels it created, and standings and submissions stay in Events History.
Can I collect ratings for an event?
Yes. Events have their own rating category in Reviews. Turn it on there and members are asked to rate after results go out. Each event can also have its own message.
Can I reuse an event's setup?
Yes. Save any event as a template, then start new events from Events Templates. Templates keep the tasks, tiers and hidden-task reveals, not dates or teams.
⭐ Community Tools
What are Reviews?
Star ratings collected after tickets and applications. The dashboard shows averages, rating breakdowns, trends, per-staff ratings, and a search by reviewer.
How do I build a custom message?
On the dashboard's Messages page, build an embed or a Components V2 message and post it to any channel.
How do I make an FAQ panel?
Add categories and questions under FAQ Panels on the dashboard, then post it with /faqpanel post. See the FAQ Panels guide.
Can I start from a template?
Yes. Ticket and application panels both have ready-made templates. See Templates.
🔐 Roles & Permissions
Who can manage Sparrow?
Server owners and anyone with Administrator or Manage Server, Sparrow Master Roles (everything), Manager Roles (one module), and Support Roles (handle tickets). Manage them with /roles.
Do these roles need Discord permissions?
No, a plain role with no permissions works. Don't give staff Administrator or Manage Server: both give full Sparrow access.
Why does the dashboard say "view only"?
Your account has no role with edit access. Ask an admin to add your role with /roles.
What permissions does Sparrow itself need?
They're listed on Access & Permissions, each with its reason. Sparrow never asks for Administrator.
💎 Premium
What does Premium add?
Higher limits, such as 25 embed fields instead of 5, unlimited panels and 25 teams per event, plus extras like longer custom ticket names, Application Mode, the Response Timer, replying from the dashboard, your own footer and Bot Profile. See the full comparison.
How much is it?
CA$4.99 per month or CA$45.99 per year, per server.
How do I check if my server has Premium?
Run /premium or /serverinfo.
What happens to my settings if Premium ends?
They're saved for 30 days. Premium features turn off, and Sparrow uses the free defaults. Get Premium again within 30 days and everything comes back as it was.
How do I cancel or change my plan?
Open your server's Premium page in the dashboard and press Manage billing. Premium stays on until the end of what you paid for.
Can I move Premium to another server?
Yes, paid Premium. On Manage Premium, press Change server and pick another server you manage. You can do it once every 30 days, and billing doesn't change. The old server's Premium settings are kept for 30 days.
I have a code. Where do I use it?
On your server's Premium page in the dashboard, under Have a code. Gift codes give free Premium. A discount code comes off when you get Premium. If your server already pays, it comes off your next payments, or upgrades you from Monthly to Yearly. Each server can use a code once.
Will I be charged after free Premium?
Only if you added a card. Free Premium from a gift code just ends, and Sparrow DMs you a week before. If you got a free month with a card, Sparrow DMs you a week before the first payment, and you can cancel any time before then.
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Slash commands aren't showing up.
Wait a minute, reload Discord with Ctrl/Cmd+R, and make sure you can use application commands in that channel. If they're still missing, re-invite Sparrow.
Staff can't see new tickets.
Their role must be in Support Roles, not only Manager Roles, and Sparrow needs Manage Channels and Manage Threads. See How staff get to see tickets.
Sparrow can't give a role.
Drag Sparrow's own role above that role in Server Settings → Roles. Discord doesn't let a bot hand out a role higher than its own.
A panel says it's closed.
The panel is turned off on its dashboard page. Members see the message you wrote there, or "This panel is closed right now." Turn it back on and it works again.
My server isn't on the dashboard.
Log in with the same Discord account. Sparrow must be in the server, and you need Administrator, Manage Server or a Sparrow role there.
Is Sparrow down?
/botinfo shows live status for the bot, dashboard and website, and the status page shows the same.
Still stuck?
Open a ticket in our support server.