<!-- canonical: https://hostdc.xyz/guides/host-discord-py-bot-24-7 · last updated 2026-09-06 · HostDC, Keep your Discord bot online 24/7. -->

# How to host a discord.py bot 24/7

To keep a discord.py bot online 24/7 you need a machine that never sleeps and a supervisor that restarts the process when it dies. HostDC is both, and the free plan does it with a 256 MB RAM pool, 0.5 CPU and 512 MB storage.

## 1. Prepare the project

Two files are the minimum:

```
requirements.txt
main.py
```

`requirements.txt`:

```
discord.py>=2.4
```

`main.py`:

```python
import os
import discord
from discord.ext import commands

bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix="!", intents=discord.Intents.default())


@bot.event
async def on_ready():
    print(f"Logged in as {bot.user}")


bot.run(os.environ["DISCORD_TOKEN"])
```

Read the token from the environment instead of a literal in the file. We scrub a token that reaches your output, but you have to rotate one you commit to Git.

## 2. Upload it

Zip the folder and drop it on the dashboard, or [deploy from GitHub](/guides/deploy-from-github) if the project already lives there.

## 3. Add the token and press Deploy

Paste the token on the Secrets tab. Press Deploy, and the console shows the install, then the boot, then your `Logged in as` line. That line marks the bot healthy.

## 4. Keep it online

Auto-restart is on by default and backs off between attempts, giving up after 5 crashes in 10 minutes. On Free, reactivate your bots weekly. Paid plans (Mini, Lite, Pro and Max) never need reactivation. See the [pricing page](/pricing).

## Related

- [Host a discord.py bot](/host/discord-py)
- [Environment variables and tokens](/guides/environment-variables-and-tokens)

## FAQ

### My bot logs in and then goes offline after a while
Usually the gateway connection died and the library did not reconnect. Look for a heartbeat warning in the console. Upgrading discord.py fixes most of these.

### `PrivilegedIntentsRequired` on start
Enable the intent in the Discord developer portal for your application, then restart the bot. The sandbox has nothing to do with it.

### Can I run scheduled tasks?
Yes, `discord.ext.tasks` works normally. Platform-level schedules are a Lite and Pro feature. See [cron jobs for Discord bots](/guides/cron-jobs-for-discord-bots).