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How Wikimedia Bot Accounts and Approval Rules Work

Wikimedia bots need separate accounts, and approval is wiki- and task-specific. Here are the global, automatic and local routes, plus the limits a flag does not remove.
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Wikimedia bots use separate accounts, and their authorization depends on the specific wiki and task. Meta-Wiki’s Global bot policy describes three routes: global bot status on wikis that allow it, automatic approval where local rules explicitly permit it, or approval through local community consensus. A flag or approval for one task does not automatically authorize a different task or another wiki.

Do Wikimedia bots need a separate account?

Yes. Meta-Wiki’s Global bot policy states: “A bot must be run using a separate account from the operator, as no human editor should be granted a bot flag.” The bot’s user page should identify it as a bot, and its human operator must be available to respond to comments. Automated scripts that answer comments are not permitted. If a bot cannot detect talk-page messages, some operators redirect its talk page to their own.

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The policy recommends including “bot” in the account name when possible, but treats this as guidance rather than a requirement; names that identify the operator in another way are also used.

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How do I get a bot flag on a Wikimedia wiki?

First identify the exact wiki and the bot’s proposed task. Then read that wiki’s bot policy and request page. The standard procedure is adopted individually by projects, so local rules determine which routes are available and where to apply. Meta-Wiki’s Bot policy/Implementation guidance explains how projects can establish request and discussion pages and specify whether requests go to local bureaucrats or stewards.

The Global bot policy describes three authorization routes:

Route Where it applies Decision and demonstration Task scope
Global bot status Only wikis that allow global bots Request discussed at Steward requests/Bot status for two weeks and publicized through MassMessage. The operator must show the task is welcomed on multiple projects; being flagged on five or more wikis for one task is given as a good way to demonstrate this. The task discussed and accepted; operators must respect each wiki’s preferences about the bot flag.
Automatic approval Only a wiki whose policy or request page explicitly allows it Demonstrate regular unflagged editing for at least a week or make 100 edits on the applicable wikis, then request the local flag directly from stewards. Fixing double redirects only.
Local community consensus The individual wiki where the request is discussed Obtain consensus on the most relevant local discussion page before running at high speed or without human supervision; a local bureaucrat can add the flag, or the operator may ask a steward. The task supported by the local community.

The one-week or 100-edit threshold and the two-week discussion period are policy requirements, not general measures of bot quality. Where a wiki has no local community and neither global status nor automatic approval applies, the policy says the bot must run without a bot flag or not run.

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What is the difference between a local bot and a global bot?

A local bot flag is granted for a particular wiki under that project’s process. Global bot status is cross-project, but only on wikis that allow global bots; it is not blanket permission across Wikimedia. New content wikis have had global bot access enabled by default since the policy’s stated change on 12 November 2022, but local communities can opt in or out through consensus. If a wiki does not allow global bots, the operator can seek its local flag instead.

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Before operating on any wiki, check its policy and request page for whether global bots are allowed, whether automatic approval is available for the proposed task, and where local applications belong. Approval on one wiki—or for one task—does not establish approval elsewhere.

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Can I run a Wikimedia bot before approval?

The policy describes a limited demonstration before flagging: for automatic approval, it requires regular editing without a bot flag for at least a week or 100 edits on the applicable wikis. That route is available only if the target wiki explicitly permits it, and it is limited to fixing double redirects. It is not a general trial period for running an unapproved bot at high speed or without human supervision.

For local applications, obtain community consensus before high-speed or unsupervised operation. For a proposed global bot, follow the global request process and observe the target wiki’s rules while the request is considered. The policy’s general throttle guidance says unflagged edits should be more than one minute apart; for authorized, appropriately flagged bots, the absolute minimum interval is five seconds. These are stated guidelines, not permission to ignore local restrictions or other operational constraints.

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What does a bot flag change?

The Meta-Wiki Bot overview says the bot user right allows higher rate limits for MediaWiki actions such as editing and hides bot edits from Recent Changes by default. Bot groups are also described as exempt from some rate limits used against web scrapers, but operators should consult current technical and policy documentation before relying on a particular exemption. A flag changes how the account is treated by the software; it does not authorize tasks beyond the bot’s approval.

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What restrictions and accountability apply?

  • Choose tasks likely to be supported by local editors and avoid controversial changes. If the bot’s task expands beyond what the community supported, post at the relevant discussion page to check for opposition.
  • Keep an automatically approved bot within that route’s double-redirect limit.
  • Do not use a bot for bulk content retrieval unrelated to an approved bot task. The policy points people who want to download or mirror project content to project database copies.
  • Automated spelling correction requires explicit community approval, particularly in main content namespaces.
  • Policy violations can result in an immediate block until the operator resolves the problem.

Global bot status can be removed at the operator’s request, for persistent use outside its remit, or for inactivity. The policy defines inactivity as no edits for a whole year on any project that allows global bot access; before removal on that basis, it requires notice to the operator on their home wiki or wikis and on Meta-Wiki.

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