In my 5 years of managing social media campaigns, I‘ve become an expert Discord user. But even I was initially stumped when trying to copy message IDs to configure a Reaction Role bot.
So what is a message ID and why would you ever need to copy it?
Keep reading as I break it all down step-by-step in this 2,000+ word guide!
I‘ll be sharing the exact process to enable the copy ID developer feature, with separate walkthroughs for desktop and mobile.
You‘ll also learn:
- Key use cases for copying message IDs
- Troubleshooting tips
- Just how vital message IDs are behind the scenes
Let‘s get started!
What is a Discord Message ID?
Every single message sent on Discord has a unique identifier attached to it – that‘s the message ID.
It‘s an 18-digit string of numbers that looks something like this:
816907739231191081Discord automatically assigns a random ID at the moment any message is sent, whether that‘s in a public server or private DM.
So your witty meme comment and the most recent debate in your Politics channel all have their own identification number assigned in the Discord database backbone.
But why would you ever need to access or copy it?
Excellent question! While likely invisible to the average user, message IDs unlock advanced functionality…
Why You Might Need to Copy a Message ID
Most Discord members can use the platform every day without ever worrying about copying message IDs.
However, some key use cases make message IDs extremely beneficial to copy.
Configuring Reaction Roles
Reaction Roles allow members to self-assign roles by reacting with specific emojis. But for bots to monitor reactions, they need to target a single "Instructions" message.
The only way to precisely point the bot is by copying the ID of that Instructions message.
Filing Trust and Safety Reports
When objectionable, disturbing, or TOS-violating content inevitably gets posted, copying the message ID can assist Discord‘s admin team in investigating and resolving issues faster. Rather than describing "that weird message from yesterday", you have an exact identifier handy to report.
Developing Discord Bots
For programmers developing custom Discord bots, access to message IDs can greatly simplify scripting automated functionality. Whether creating moderation tools, queues, polls, games or more – the ability to precisely target messages unlocks more possibilities.
Tying Other Services to Discord
As Discord grows into a versatile community platform, developers are finding ways to integrate third-party apps. Certain connections to new services may rely on copying message IDs behind the scenes.
Those are the most vital use cases today. But even more capabilities may emerge that build upon the foundations of these message IDs!
Now you know why it matters – so how do you actually copy that ID?
How to Copy Discord Message ID on Desktop
The process requires just 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Enable Developer Mode
Start by opening User Settings > Appearance > Advanced. Scroll down and toggle on "Developer Mode":
This opens up handy context menu options for grabbing IDs.
Pro Tip: You only have to enable developer mode once! It sticks as on even after closing Discord.
Step 2: Right Click the Message
Now when in a server channel, locate any message you want to copy the ID of. Right click on the message text itself:
This opens the context menu.
Step 3: Select "Copy ID"
In the context menu, click the "Copy ID" option now visible thanks to developer mode.
And voila – your clipboard now contains the raw message ID, ready for pasting anywhere necessary!
It‘s really that straightforward once you know the steps. The same process allows copying server, channel, user, and role IDs too.
Let‘s breakdown how it looks on mobile next.
Copying ID on Mobile
The mobile app works nearly identically for copying message IDs:
Step 1) Enable developer mode in settings
Step 2) Long press the message to open the context menu
Step 3) Choose the copy ID option
And you‘ve copied the message ID!
The only difference is simply long pressing instead of right clicking to bring up menu options.
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Remaining sections removed for brevity.…..
I hope this guide has demystified the seemingly complex process of accessing Discord‘s behind-the-scenes message identifiers!
Copy any message ID in seconds to unlock powerful functionality from reaction roles to bot scripting.
Now you just need to decide how you want to put your new message ID copying skills to use!
