diff --git a/docs/configuring-playbook-bridge-appservice-discord.md b/docs/configuring-playbook-bridge-appservice-discord.md
index 13a5174bb..11be678e8 100644
--- a/docs/configuring-playbook-bridge-appservice-discord.md
+++ b/docs/configuring-playbook-bridge-appservice-discord.md
@@ -14,18 +14,20 @@ Instructions loosely based on [this](https://github.com/Half-Shot/matrix-appserv
 1. Create a Discord Application [here](https://discordapp.com/developers/applications).
 2. Retrieve Client ID.
 3. Create a bot from the Bot tab and retrieve the Bot token.
-4. Enable the bridge with the following configuration in your `vars.yml` file:
+4. From the Bot tab, enable all checkboxes related to Privileged Gateway Intents (you can skip this step if you're not using `matrix_appservice_discord_auth_usePrivilegedIntents: true` below)
+5. Enable the bridge with the following configuration in your `vars.yml` file:
 
 ```yaml
 matrix_appservice_discord_enabled: true
 matrix_appservice_discord_client_id: "YOUR DISCORD APP CLIENT ID"
 matrix_appservice_discord_bot_token: "YOUR DISCORD APP BOT TOKEN"
+matrix_appservice_discord_auth_usePrivilegedIntents: true
 ```
 
-4. If you've already installed Matrix services using the playbook before, you'll need to re-run it (`--tags=setup-all,start`). If not, proceed with [configuring other playbook services](configuring-playbook.md) and then with [Installing](installing.md). Get back to this guide once ready.
-5. Retrieve Discord invite link from the `{{ matrix_appservice_discord_config_path }}/invite_link` file on the server (this defaults to `/matrix/appservice-discord/config/invite_link`). You need to peek at the file on the server via SSH, etc., because it's not available via HTTP(S).
-6. Invite the Bot to Discord servers you wish to bridge. Administrator permission is recommended.
-7. Room addresses follow this syntax: `#_discord_guildid_channelid`. You can easily find the guild and channel ids by logging into Discord in a browser and opening the desired channel. The URL will have this format: `discordapp.com/channels/guild_id/channel_id`. Once you have figured out the appropriate room addrss, you can join by doing `/join #_discord_guildid_channelid` in your Matrix client.
+6. If you've already installed Matrix services using the playbook before, you'll need to re-run it (`--tags=setup-all,start`). If not, proceed with [configuring other playbook services](configuring-playbook.md) and then with [Installing](installing.md). Get back to this guide once ready.
+7. Retrieve Discord invite link from the `{{ matrix_appservice_discord_config_path }}/invite_link` file on the server (this defaults to `/matrix/appservice-discord/config/invite_link`). You need to peek at the file on the server via SSH, etc., because it's not available via HTTP(S).
+8. Invite the Bot to Discord servers you wish to bridge. Administrator permission is recommended.
+9. Room addresses follow this syntax: `#_discord_guildid_channelid`. You can easily find the guild and channel ids by logging into Discord in a browser and opening the desired channel. The URL will have this format: `discordapp.com/channels/guild_id/channel_id`. Once you have figured out the appropriate room addrss, you can join by doing `/join #_discord_guildid_channelid` in your Matrix client.
 
 Other configuration options are available via the `matrix_appservice_discord_configuration_extension_yaml` variable.
 
diff --git a/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/defaults/main.yml
index 392f3028c..cb262166e 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/defaults/main.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ matrix_appservice_discord_bridge_homeserverUrl: "{{ matrix_homeserver_url }}"
 matrix_appservice_discord_bridge_disablePresence: false
 matrix_appservice_discord_bridge_enableSelfServiceBridging: false
 
+# Tells whether the bot should make use of "Privileged Gateway Intents".
+#
+# Enabling this means that you need to enable it for the bot (Discord application) as well,
+# by triggering all Intent checkboxes on a page like this: `https://discord.com/developers/applications/694448564151123988/bot`
+#
+# Learn more: https://gist.github.com/advaith1/e69bcc1cdd6d0087322734451f15aa2f
+matrix_appservice_discord_auth_usePrivilegedIntents: false
+
 matrix_appservice_discord_configuration_yaml: "{{ lookup('template', 'templates/config.yaml.j2') }}"
 
 matrix_appservice_discord_configuration_extension_yaml: |
diff --git a/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/templates/config.yaml.j2 b/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/templates/config.yaml.j2
index 0c2aab41e..aca492283 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/templates/config.yaml.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-bridge-appservice-discord/templates/config.yaml.j2
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ bridge:
 auth:
   clientID: {{ matrix_appservice_discord_client_id|string|to_json }}
   botToken: {{ matrix_appservice_discord_bot_token }}
+  # You must enable "Privileged Gateway Intents" in your bot settings on discord.com (e.g. https://discord.com/developers/applications/12345/bot)
+  # for this to work
+  usePrivilegedIntents: false
 logging:
   # What level should the logger output to the console at.
   console: "warn" #silly, verbose, info, http, warn, error, silent