Time CapsuleUser handbook
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Server members

Send a moment to the future.

The Discord composer keeps your draft private while you choose an open condition, write the message, add optional files, select one human recipient, preview the result, and seal it. Each capsule uses one recipient and one destination.

Works in DiscordPrivate composerOne recipient per capsule

Create a capsule

Compose, preview, and seal.

/timecapsule compose

  1. Open the composer

    Input: Run /timecapsule compose in an allowed server channel.

    Expected result: Time Capsule opens a private panel titled Capsule composer and asks How should this capsule open?

  2. Choose the open type

    Input: Select At a date or time, After enough reactions, or When a keyword appears. On a Plus server, you may also choose Poll, Role change, Invite use, Milestone, Recurring, or Bot message. Advanced workflows and vault creation remain manager-only. A capsule type temporarily disabled by the platform is not selectable.

    Expected result: The composer moves to direct condition controls for time, reaction, or keyword. For another safe Plus event, an ordinary member receives a one-time link to finish a private member draft, while an authorized manager continues in the Moderator Portal. A server without Plus sees only its available standard choices; staff can use the plan controls when Plus access is required. Cancel discards this private draft.

  3. Provide the opening condition

    Input: For time, select 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, or Custom time. Custom examples include 2h30m, 3d, or 2026-12-25 18:30; absolute date/time text is parsed as UTC. For reaction, enter an emoji, a number from 1 to 5000, and the required field labeled Backup unlock time. For keyword, choose one text/announcement channel, enter a 2–120 character word or phrase, and fill the same labeled time field.

    Expected result: Continue to message becomes available when the selected condition is complete.

  4. Add the message and optional files

    Input: Select Add message. Enter an optional title up to 100 characters and a required message up to 1900 characters. Select Upload files for supported images, videos, or files. Before selection, the upload panel shows this server’s maximum file count, maximum size per file, and remaining slots.

    Expected result: The composer summarizes the message and attachment count. At the file limit, the upload control is unavailable until a file is removed. Continue to delivery is enabled after the message is saved.

  5. Choose whether the sender is shown

    Input: Leave Anonymous: off, or switch it on if the server’s current entitlement and policy allow anonymous capsules.

    Expected result: The composer shows the selected state. Anonymous delivery hides the sender from the reveal audience but does not remove authorized safety/audit context.

  6. Select one human recipient and delivery method

    Input: Choose exactly one recipient and one destination. Select one human recipient, then choose Direct Message or Channel. For Channel, select one server text channel, announcement channel, public thread, or forum that server policy permits.

    Expected result: The private summary shows the recipient and destination. The Seal button stays unavailable until all required delivery choices are valid. Start a separate composer for every additional recipient or destination.

  7. Preview and seal

    Input: Select Preview, verify the message, condition, recipient, destination, anonymity, and files, then select Seal time capsule.

    Expected result: Time Capsule validates server policy, content, destination, entitlement, and media. On success, the composer becomes a green terminal confirmation with the capsule code, recipient, unlock display, delivery route, anonymity state, and file count. Seal time capsule is disabled, Details opens management, and Exit lets you delete the ephemeral composer message, not the sealed capsule.

Reaction and keyword limitation: The current modal requires a field labeled Backup unlock time, but you should not rely on it as a guaranteed time fallback. The release remains condition-driven. Keep the capsule code and check its details with /timecapsule list.

Example:

  • Select At a date or time → 1 week.
  • Use the title “Next Friday.”
  • Write “What did we learn this week?”
  • Select @Alex as the recipient.
  • Choose Channel → #time-capsules for delivery.
  • Choose Preview, then Seal.
  • Confirm that the receipt names Alex, the channel, and the scheduled time.

Open-condition reference

Choose the condition that matches the moment.

Composer choice Input Expected behavior
At a date or time Preset or custom time; absolute text is UTC The capsule is scheduled for that parsed date/time.
After enough reactions Emoji, 1–5000 reactions, required labeled time field A matching reaction opens immediately. The required time is the backup if the threshold never arrives.
When a keyword appears One text/announcement channel, 2–120 character phrase, required labeled time field The condition uses a case-insensitive substring/contains match in the selected channel and opens immediately—even when delivery is by DM. The labeled time is its backup.
Community poll · Plus Private member editor or Moderator Portal An ordinary member receives a short-lived, one-time link to finish the seeded private draft. An authorized manager continues in the Moderator Portal.
Role, invite, milestone, recurring, or bot message · Plus Private member editor or Moderator Portal The selected event is preserved in a private member draft and one-time editor link; managers use the full Moderator Portal form.
Advanced workflow or create vault · Plus Moderator Portal These controls remain manager-only. Approved members add capsules to an already published vault from its Discord buttons.

Collaborative vaults · Plus

Add a new contribution to a shared release.

When you are eligible, select Create capsule for the full Discord composer or Quick contribution for the shorter form. The vault owns the shared unlock rule; contributing does not grant access to server settings.

Vault state is explicit: Entries Closed, Capsules Locked, Entries Open, Capsules Locked, or Sealed, Capsule/Vault locked. When the vault opens, every sealed capsule inside opens with rate-limit-aware delivery.

A capsule that staff move into a vault stops using its previous event condition and backup release time. It inherits the vault’s unlock configuration instead.

Manage a capsule

Find it before you change it.

  1. Open your capsule list

    /timecapsule list

    Input: Run the command and use the returned private list/action controls.

    Expected result: Your authored capsules appear; this is not a server-wide manager list. The first five entries get buttons. Details content is original-sender-only; Pause/Resume is Plus and locked-only; list-button Delete/Unlock asks for confirmation. Each row includes the stable capsule ID.

    When member edits are enabled, Edit in portal creates a short-lived one-time link to a capsule-only page with no server navigation. If it says Edits disabled, ask a moderator about the server policy.

  2. Update an eligible scheduled capsule

    /timecapsule update

    Input: Choose among the first 25 eligible locked capsules you authored. Edit only the optional title (100), required message (1900), unlock time, and delivery channel ID/mention. Recipient, DM/channel mode, files, anonymity, and condition are not editable here.

    Expected result: Time Capsule confirms the updated code and refreshes its locked announcement where possible. Delivered capsules are not editable.

  3. Delete a scheduled capsule

    /timecapsule delete id:CAPSULE-CODE

    Input: Select or type the eligible capsule code in the required id field. Check the code carefully: the direct slash command executes without a separate confirmation prompt.

    Expected result: A private reply confirms deletion or explains why the capsule or caller is not eligible.

  4. Unlock a capsule now

    /timecapsule unlock id:CAPSULE-CODE

    Input: Select or type the eligible capsule code in the required id field. Check the code carefully: the direct slash command executes without a separate confirmation prompt.

    Expected result: Time Capsule irreversibly queues immediate delivery and returns a private status. If the destination or permission is no longer usable, contact a moderator with the code and timestamp.

After delivery: Time Capsule cannot pull back copies already delivered into Discord DMs or channels. Ask server staff for help with a delivered-content concern.

Safety & reporting

Report concerns without sharing secrets.

  1. Keep the useful reference

    Input: Save the capsule code, Discord message link if available, server name, and approximate time.

    Expected result: Staff can identify the relevant capsule without you reposting sensitive content publicly.

  2. Use an available report control

    Input: If a Report button is visible and you are authorized for that capsule, use it and follow the prompts.

    Expected result: Eligible reports enter the server’s moderation flow.

  3. Use support when the report control fails

    Input: Run /timecapsule help, choose Contact support in the help hub, and complete its modal—or ask a moderator to use the portal support form. Include the references from step 1, not credentials.

    Expected result: The help hub offers the handbook, command reference, support server, and Contact support. Submitting the Contact support modal returns a support reference for follow-up.

Never send a Discord password, user token, bot token, recovery code, or payment-card details. Sensitive security reports must follow the private security-reporting instructions.

Troubleshooting

Read the exact response before retrying.

What you see What it means Next step
Command does not appear The app/commands may not be installed or allowed in that channel. Ask a moderator to verify installation and command permissions.
Seal remains disabled A condition, message, human recipient, delivery method, or channel is incomplete. Use Back and fill every required composer control.
Media or anonymous error The server/channel policy or current entitlement does not allow that choice. Remove the files or anonymity choice, or ask staff about policy.
IN MAINTENANCE The platform has temporarily disabled that capsule type; existing records remain safe. Use another available type or wait until maintenance finishes.
Destination/delivery error The channel, recipient, entitlement, or bot permission is unavailable. Give staff the capsule ID. An explicitly selected channel that was deleted pauses for review; it never silently falls back to the server default channel.
You are restricted A server-local Time Capsule ban is active. Follow the server’s moderator/appeal process; /timecapsule help and /timecapsule version remain available.
Only upload content you are allowed to share.