Discord: fix allowlist gating. Closes #961

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 - Browser: extension mode recovers when only one tab is attached (stale targetId fallback).
 - Browser: fix `tab not found` for extension relay snapshots/actions when Playwright blocks `newCDPSession` (use the single available Page).
 - Telegram: add bidirectional reaction support with configurable notifications and agent guidance. (#964) — thanks @bohdanpodvirnyi.
+- Discord: allow allowlisted guilds without channel lists to receive messages when `groupPolicy="allowlist"`. — thanks @thewilloftheshadow.
 
 ## 2026.1.14-1
 

docs/channels/discord.md

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ Notes:
   - Your config requires mentions and you didn’t mention it, or
   - Your guild/channel allowlist denies the channel/user.
 - **`requireMention: false` but still no replies**:
-  - `channels.discord.groupPolicy` defaults to **allowlist**; set it to `"open"` or explicitly list channels under `channels.discord.guilds.<id>.channels`.
+  - `channels.discord.groupPolicy` defaults to **allowlist**; set it to `"open"` or add a guild entry under `channels.discord.guilds` (optionally list channels under `channels.discord.guilds.<id>.channels` to restrict).
   - `requireMention` must live under `channels.discord.guilds` (or a specific channel). `channels.discord.requireMention` at the top level is ignored.
 - **Permission audits** (`channels status --probe`) only check numeric channel IDs. If you use slugs/names as `channels.discord.guilds.*.channels` keys, the audit can’t verify permissions.
 - **DMs don’t work**: `channels.discord.dm.enabled=false`, `channels.discord.dm.policy="disabled"`, or you haven’t been approved yet (`channels.discord.dm.policy="pairing"`).
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ Allowlist matching notes:
 - Prefixes like `discord:`/`user:` (users) and `channel:` (group DMs) are supported.
 - Use `*` to allow any sender/channel.
 - When `guilds.<id>.channels` is present, channels not listed are denied by default.
+- When `guilds.<id>.channels` is omitted, all channels in the allowlisted guild are allowed.
 
 Native command notes:
 - The registered commands mirror Clawdbot’s chat commands.

docs/start/faq.md

@@ -1542,10 +1542,11 @@ See [Streaming](/concepts/streaming).
 ### Discord doesn’t reply in my server even with `requireMention: false`. Why?
 
 `requireMention` only controls mention‑gating **after** the channel passes allowlists.
-By default `channels.discord.groupPolicy` is **allowlist**, so guild channels must be explicitly enabled.
+By default `channels.discord.groupPolicy` is **allowlist**, so guilds must be explicitly enabled.
+If you set `channels.discord.guilds.<guildId>.channels`, only the listed channels are allowed; omit it to allow all channels in the guild.
 
 Fix checklist:
-1) Set `channels.discord.groupPolicy: "open"` **or** add the guild/channel allowlist.
+1) Set `channels.discord.groupPolicy: "open"` **or** add a guild allowlist entry (and optionally a channel allowlist).
 2) Use **numeric channel IDs** in `channels.discord.guilds.<guildId>.channels`.
 3) Put `requireMention: false` **under** `channels.discord.guilds` (global or per‑channel).
    Top‑level `channels.discord.requireMention` is not a supported key.

src/discord/monitor.test.ts

@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ describe("discord groupPolicy gating", () => {
     expect(
       isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "open",
+        guildAllowlisted: false,
         channelAllowlistConfigured: false,
         channelAllowed: false,
       }),
@@ -225,26 +226,40 @@ describe("discord groupPolicy gating", () => {
     expect(
       isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "disabled",
+        guildAllowlisted: true,
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: true,
       }),
     ).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("blocks allowlist when no channel allowlist configured", () => {
+  it("blocks allowlist when guild is not allowlisted", () => {
     expect(
       isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
+        guildAllowlisted: false,
         channelAllowlistConfigured: false,
         channelAllowed: true,
       }),
     ).toBe(false);
   });
 
+  it("allows allowlist when guild allowlisted but no channel allowlist", () => {
+    expect(
+      isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
+        groupPolicy: "allowlist",
+        guildAllowlisted: true,
+        channelAllowlistConfigured: false,
+        channelAllowed: true,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("allows allowlist when channel is allowed", () => {
     expect(
       isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
+        guildAllowlisted: true,
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: true,
       }),
@@ -255,6 +270,7 @@ describe("discord groupPolicy gating", () => {
     expect(
       isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
+        guildAllowlisted: true,
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: false,
       }),

src/discord/monitor/allow-list.ts

@@ -197,13 +197,15 @@ export function resolveDiscordShouldRequireMention(params: {
 
 export function isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy(params: {
   groupPolicy: "open" | "disabled" | "allowlist";
+  guildAllowlisted: boolean;
   channelAllowlistConfigured: boolean;
   channelAllowed: boolean;
 }): boolean {
-  const { groupPolicy, channelAllowlistConfigured, channelAllowed } = params;
+  const { groupPolicy, guildAllowlisted, channelAllowlistConfigured, channelAllowed } = params;
   if (groupPolicy === "disabled") return false;
   if (groupPolicy === "open") return true;
-  if (!channelAllowlistConfigured) return false;
+  if (!guildAllowlisted) return false;
+  if (!channelAllowlistConfigured) return true;
   return channelAllowed;
 }
 

src/discord/monitor/message-handler.preflight.ts

@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ export async function preflightDiscordMessage(
     isGuildMessage &&
     !isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
       groupPolicy: params.groupPolicy,
+      guildAllowlisted: Boolean(guildInfo),
       channelAllowlistConfigured,
       channelAllowed,
     })

src/discord/monitor/native-command.ts

@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ async function dispatchDiscordCommandInteraction(params: {
     const channelAllowed = channelConfig?.allowed !== false;
     const allowByPolicy = isDiscordGroupAllowedByPolicy({
       groupPolicy: discordConfig?.groupPolicy ?? "open",
+      guildAllowlisted: Boolean(guildInfo),
       channelAllowlistConfigured,
       channelAllowed,
     });