You set your Discord forum channel to public, but new posts still show an “Approval Required” tag and never appear. This happens because Discord forum channels have two separate permission systems that control who can post without review. One is the channel-level setting for posting permissions. The other is a per-forum-post approval system that moderators can enable. This article explains why a public forum channel still requires approval, and provides step-by-step fixes to resolve the issue.
Key Takeaways: Fix Stuck Approval on Public Discord Forums
- Channel Settings > Permissions > Advanced > Create Posts: Set this permission to ON for the @everyone role to allow all members to post without review.
- Channel Settings > Permissions > Advanced > View Channel: Ensure this permission is enabled for the same roles that can create posts.
- Channel Settings > Post Permissions > Post Approval Required: Toggle this OFF to disable the per-post approval queue for the forum.
Why a Public Discord Forum Still Requires Post Approval
Discord forum channels have two independent approval layers. The first layer is the channel-level permission called “Create Posts.” If this permission is set to OFF for a role, members with that role cannot create posts at all. The second layer is the “Post Approval Required” toggle inside the forum channel’s settings. When this toggle is ON, every new post enters an approval queue regardless of the channel’s public visibility setting. Moderators must manually approve each post before it appears.
A common mistake is setting the forum channel to “Public” under Post Permissions but leaving “Post Approval Required” enabled. The public setting only controls who can view the channel, not who can post freely. Additionally, if the @everyone role or a specific member role has “Create Posts” set to OFF, the approval system may override the public setting and block posts entirely.
Another factor is the server’s moderation level or slow mode settings. These do not directly cause the approval stuck state, but they can delay post visibility. The approval queue itself is managed per-forum and is independent of server-wide settings.
Steps to Fix a Forum Post Stuck in Approval Required
Follow these steps in order. You must have the Manage Server permission or be a server administrator to change these settings.
- Open Server Settings
Right-click your server name in the channel list. Select Server Settings from the context menu. This opens the server configuration panel. - Navigate to the Forum Channel Settings
In the left sidebar, click Channels. Find the forum channel where posts are stuck. Click the gear icon next to the channel name to open its settings. - Check Post Permissions
In the forum channel settings, scroll to the Post Permissions section. Look for the toggle labeled Post Approval Required. If it is enabled, click the toggle to turn it OFF. This removes the approval queue for all future posts. Existing stuck posts must be approved manually by a moderator. - Review Channel Permissions for @everyone
Go to the Permissions tab in the same channel settings. Under Advanced Permissions, find the Create Posts permission. For the @everyone role, ensure this is set to ON (green checkmark). If it is set to OFF or neutral (gray dash), click the green checkmark to enable it. Do the same for any other roles that should be able to post. - Verify View Channel Permission
In the same Permissions tab, check that View Channel is enabled for @everyone and the relevant roles. Without this permission, members cannot see the forum channel at all, and their posts will appear stuck. - Approve Existing Stuck Posts
Return to the forum channel. Look for posts marked with an orange “Approval Required” tag. Hover over the post and click the checkmark icon to approve it, or click the X icon to reject it. After approval, the post will appear normally. If you do not see the approval icons, you may need to have the Manage Messages permission. - Test with a New Post
Ask a member who previously had a stuck post to create a new test post. The new post should appear immediately without the approval tag. If it still shows approval required, repeat steps 3 and 4.
If Discord Forum Posts Still Show Approval Required
Bot or Integration Interference
Some moderation bots, such as Carl-bot or Dyno, have their own post approval features. Check your bot’s dashboard or commands for any forum approval settings. Disable those features if they are conflicting with Discord’s native settings.
Role Hierarchy Blocks Posts
If a member has multiple roles, the most restrictive permission applies. For example, if a member has a role with Create Posts set to OFF, that setting overrides a role with Create Posts set to ON. Review all roles assigned to affected members and ensure none have Create Posts set to OFF.
Server Moderation Level Is Too High
Go to Server Settings > Moderation. If the Verification Level is set to High or Highest, new members may have posting restrictions. Lower the verification level to Low or Medium to allow faster posting. This does not directly cause the approval stuck state, but it can delay post visibility.
Post Was Flagged by AutoMod
Discord’s AutoMod system can flag posts containing blocked words or links. Check Server Settings > AutoMod for any rules that might be flagging forum posts. If a post is flagged, it will show as pending approval. You can approve it manually or adjust the AutoMod rule to allow the content.
Discord Forum Post Permissions: Public vs Approval Required
| Item | Public (Post Approval Required OFF) | Approval Required (Post Approval Required ON) |
|---|---|---|
| Post visibility | Posts appear immediately to all members with View Channel permission | Posts are hidden until a moderator approves them |
| Moderator workload | No manual approval needed | Moderators must review every new post |
| Best use case | Open discussions, Q&A, community feedback | Announcements, support tickets, moderated content |
| Create Posts permission | Must be ON for posting roles | Must be ON for posting roles; posts still enter queue |
| Member experience | Instant posting, no delay | Posts may be delayed for hours or days |
After you disable Post Approval Required, you can still manually moderate posts by using the Delete Message or Timeout features. The approval queue is not required for moderation control.
Now you can configure Discord forum channels so that public posts appear without unnecessary approval delays. Start by checking the Post Approval Required toggle and the Create Posts permission for your server roles. For ongoing moderation, consider using Discord’s built-in AutoMod rules instead of the approval queue. This approach gives you control over content without blocking legitimate posts.