Discord bot failing to deliver private messages

Other Questions Discord bot
1 
# Help needed with Discord bot DM functionality

I'm trying to make my Discord bot send a private message to users when they mention a specific phrase. Here's the code I'm using:

```javascript
bot.on('messageReceived', (msg) => {
  if (msg.text.indexOf('hidden phrase') !== -1) {
    msg.sender.sendPrivate({embeds: [specialEmbed]});
  }
});

But I’m getting an error. The console shows a 403 status code with the message “Cannot send messages to this user”. I think it’s related to permissions, but I’m not sure how to fix it.

The embed I want to send contains server info and some commands. Any ideas on how to make this work? Thanks in advance for any help!

2

I’ve encountered this issue before and found it is often due to Discord’s privacy settings, which prevent the bot from sending direct messages to users who have disabled DMs from server members. In my experience, a more reliable approach is to handle a failed DM attempt by providing a fallback, such as sending the information directly in the channel or setting up an opt-in system for those willing to receive private messages. Additionally, ensuring the bot has the correct permissions in the server settings is essential for a more consistent performance.

3

This 403 error typically occurs when users have their privacy settings configured to block DMs from non-friends or server members. A workaround I’ve implemented is to first check if the user allows DMs before attempting to send one. If they don’t, you can notify them in the channel to adjust their settings or provide an alternative method to receive the information. Here’s a basic example:

bot.on('messageReceived', async (msg) => {
  if (msg.text.includes('hidden phrase')) {
    try {
      await msg.sender.sendPrivate({embeds: [specialEmbed]});
    } catch (error) {
      msg.channel.send(`${msg.sender}, I couldn't send you a DM. Please check your privacy settings or contact an admin for assistance.`);
    }
  }
});

This approach maintains functionality while gracefully handling potential permission issues.

4

Hey DancingFox, 403 error sucks! i had same issue. try catching the error and sending a public message instead. like:

try {
  await msg.sender.sendPrivate(embed);
} catch {
  msg.channel.send('cant DM u, check ur settings');
}

this way users still get the info even if DMs r blocked. hope it helps!