You want to greet new members when they join your Discord server, but you prefer not to use a bot. Discord provides a built-in feature called Welcome Screen that displays messages, rules, and channel suggestions to newcomers. This feature works without any third-party bots and requires only the correct server settings. This article explains how to set up the Welcome Screen, including the required permissions and recommended channel setup.
Key Takeaways: Setting Up Discord Welcome Screen Without Bots
- Server Settings > Welcome Screen > Enable Welcome Screen: Turns on the built-in welcome feature that greets new members automatically.
- Server Settings > Welcome Screen > Welcome Message: Write a custom message that appears when a new member joins the server.
- Server Settings > Welcome Screen > Suggested Channels: Select channels to display so newcomers can quickly find where to start.
What the Discord Welcome Screen Does and What You Need Before Setting It Up
The Welcome Screen is a Discord feature that appears to new members when they first join a server. It shows a custom message, a list of rules or guidelines, and suggested channels. The screen appears only once per new member, and it does not require any bot. This feature is ideal for community servers where you want to set expectations and guide new users to the right channels.
Before you can configure the Welcome Screen, your server must meet these prerequisites:
- The server must have Community enabled. Community is a server setting that unlocks features like the Welcome Screen, Rules Screening, and Server Insights.
- You must have the Manage Server permission. Only server owners and administrators with this permission can edit the Welcome Screen.
- You need at least one text channel that is public and visible to all members. The Welcome Screen can suggest up to five channels.
Steps to Configure Discord Server Welcome Messages Without a Bot
Follow these steps to enable and customize the Welcome Screen on your Discord server. The process is the same on the desktop app and web browser.
- Enable Community on Your Server
Open your server settings by clicking the server name at the top left of the Discord window, then select Server Settings. In the left sidebar, click Enable Community. Follow the prompts to set up a rules channel, a community updates channel, and verify your server email. Once Community is enabled, the Welcome Screen option becomes available. - Open the Welcome Screen Settings
In Server Settings, scroll down the left sidebar and click Welcome Screen. This will open the Welcome Screen configuration page. - Turn On the Welcome Screen
Click the toggle switch next to Enable Welcome Screen so it turns green. This activates the feature for all new members joining your server. - Write a Welcome Message
In the Welcome Message text box, type the message you want new members to see. This message can include up to 300 characters. Write a short greeting and briefly explain what the server is about. For example: “Welcome to the Tech Community! Please read the rules and introduce yourself in #introductions.” - Add Suggested Channels
Below the welcome message, you will see a section called Suggested Channels. Click the Add Channel button to select up to five channels that newcomers should see. Choose channels that are relevant to new members, such as a rules channel, an introductions channel, or a general chat channel. For each channel, you can optionally write a short description that appears next to it on the Welcome Screen. - Save Your Changes
After you have set your welcome message and suggested channels, click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. Your Welcome Screen is now active. New members will see it the first time they join the server.
Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Discord Welcome Screen
Welcome Screen Does Not Send a Direct Message
The Welcome Screen appears only within the server itself, not as a private message. If you want to send a direct message to new members, you need a bot. The built-in Welcome Screen cannot send DMs.
Welcome Screen Only Appears Once
Each new member sees the Welcome Screen only on their first join. If a member leaves and rejoins, they will not see the Welcome Screen again unless they clear their Discord cache. There is no setting to force the Welcome Screen to reappear.
Welcome Screen Is Not Available on Mobile View
The Welcome Screen is designed for desktop and web versions of Discord. On mobile devices, new members may not see the Welcome Screen automatically. They can access it by tapping the server name and selecting Welcome Screen from the menu, but this is not automatic.
Rules Screening Is Separate from Welcome Screen
Discord offers a separate feature called Rules Screening that forces new members to accept rules before they can send messages. This is not the same as the Welcome Screen. You can enable both features together: Rules Screening appears before the Welcome Screen. To enable Rules Screening, go to Server Settings > Safety Setup > Enable Membership Screening and set up your rules.
| Feature | Welcome Screen | Rules Screening |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Shows a greeting and suggested channels | Requires members to accept rules before chatting |
| Requires Community | Yes | Yes |
| Appears | After joining the server | Before the member can send messages |
| Can include custom message | Yes, up to 300 characters | No, only a list of rules |
| Can suggest channels | Yes, up to 5 channels | No |
| Can send DM | No | No |
The Welcome Screen is a lightweight, bot-free way to greet new members. It works best when combined with Rules Screening to enforce server rules. For automatic role assignment or DM greetings, you still need a bot. Set up your Welcome Screen today by enabling Community and following the steps above. After saving, test by joining the server with an alternate account to verify the message and channels appear correctly.