When you run a growing Discord server, you want to welcome new members while keeping out bots and trolls. A membership screening form lets you ask custom questions that new users must answer before they can fully join your server. This feature replaces the old verification level system with a more flexible, question-based gate. This article explains what membership screening does, how to configure it step by step, and what common mistakes to avoid.
Key Takeaways: Setting Up a Membership Screening Form
- Server Settings > Safety Setup > Membership Screening: The exact menu path to enable and configure the screening form.
- Custom questions with checkboxes or text inputs: You can create up to five questions that new members must answer before they can chat.
- Require acceptance of server rules: Toggle this option to force new members to agree to your rules before gaining full access.
What Is a Membership Screening Form?
Membership screening is a Discord safety feature that lets server owners and admins set up a gate that new members must pass through when they first join. Instead of just clicking a button to enter, new users see a form with your questions and must provide answers. The form can include checkboxes for agreeing to rules, short text fields for required info, and multiple-choice questions. After the user submits the form, they are granted the default role and can access the rest of the server. This feature is available to all servers regardless of size or boost level. It helps reduce spam, ban bots that cannot complete forms, and ensures new members read your rules before participating.
Prerequisites Before You Start
Before you enable membership screening, make sure you have the following ready:
- Server owner or Administrator permission. Only users with the Administrator permission or the Manage Server permission can change screening settings.
- Written server rules. Create a clear set of rules in a dedicated channel. The screening form can require users to agree to these rules.
- Default role assigned. Decide which role new members will receive after completing the form. This is usually @everyone or a custom “Member” role.
Steps to Enable and Configure Membership Screening
Follow these steps to turn on membership screening and create your custom form. You need to be on a desktop or web browser. Mobile apps support viewing the form but not editing it.
- Open Server Settings
Click your server name at the top-left of the Discord window. From the dropdown menu, select Server Settings. - Go to the Safety Setup section
In the left sidebar of Server Settings, click Safety Setup. This page contains the Verification Level, Explicit Content Filter, and Membership Screening options. - Enable Membership Screening
Find the Membership Screening section near the top of the Safety Setup page. Click the toggle switch to turn it on. A green checkmark indicates the feature is active. - Set the Default Role
Under the toggle, you will see a dropdown labeled Default Role. Choose which role new members get after completing the screening form. If you do not have a custom role, select @everyone. You can change this later. - Edit the Screening Form
Click the Edit Screening Form button. A new window opens where you can add up to five questions. Each question can be one of three types: Text Input (user types an answer), Checkbox (user checks to agree), or Multiple Choice (user picks one option). - Add a Rules Agreement Question (Recommended)
To require acceptance of server rules, add a Checkbox question. In the Question field, type something like “I have read and agree to the server rules.” Make sure the Required toggle is turned on. Optionally, add a link to your rules channel in the description. - Add Other Custom Questions
Click Add Question to create more fields. For example, you can ask “How did you find this server?” with a Multiple Choice list or “What is your time zone?” with a Text Input. Keep questions relevant to your server purpose. - Preview the Form
After adding questions, click Preview at the bottom of the edit window. You will see exactly what new members see when they join. Check that the questions are clear and the form looks professional. - Save Changes
Click Save in the edit window, then click Save Changes on the Safety Setup page. The membership screening form is now active.
Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid
New Members Cannot See Any Channels After Joining
This happens if the default role has no channel permissions. The screening form grants the default role after completion. If that role cannot view any channels, the user will see a blank server. Check your channel permissions and give the default role at least read access to a welcome or rules channel.
Questions Are Too Long or Confusing
Discord limits each question to 200 characters. Keep questions short and direct. Avoid jargon or inside references. If a user cannot understand the question, they may leave or fail the screening. Test the form yourself before enabling it.
The Form Does Not Appear for Existing Members
Membership screening only applies to new members who join after you enable it. Existing members are not required to complete the form. If you want to force existing members to re-verify, you must use a bot or manually kick and reinvite them. There is no built-in way to retroactively apply the screening.
Bots Bypass the Screening Form
Discord bots that use the Bot API do not see the screening form. They join the server directly without answering questions. This is by design. If you want to screen bots, use the Authorization Flow settings under Server Settings > Integrations to require manual approval for bot invites.
Users Report the Form Is Broken or Not Loading
This is usually a client-side issue. Ask the user to restart Discord or clear their cache. If the problem persists, check that the screening form is still enabled in Safety Setup. Rarely, a Discord outage can cause the form to fail. Check Discord status at discordstatus.com.
Membership Screening vs Verification Level: Key Differences
| Item | Membership Screening | Verification Level |
|---|---|---|
| How it gates access | Custom form with questions | Email, phone, or account age check |
| Number of questions | Up to 5 custom questions | None (fixed checks) |
| Requires reading rules | Yes, with a checkbox question | No |
| Works on mobile | Fills form on mobile | Works on all platforms |
| Configuration location | Server Settings > Safety Setup | Server Settings > Safety Setup |
| Best for | Community servers that want custom onboarding | Servers needing basic bot protection |
You can use both features together. Enable Membership Screening for custom questions and set Verification Level to Low or Medium for basic account age checks. This gives you a layered defense against spam and unwanted users.
Conclusion
You can now set up a membership screening form that asks custom questions and requires rule agreement before new users enter your Discord server. The form is configured under Server Settings > Safety Setup and supports up to five questions of three types. Enable the feature, edit the form, and save your changes to start screening new members. For extra security, combine membership screening with a verification level of Low or Medium. As an advanced tip, use a Multiple Choice question asking how the user found the server to track your best recruitment sources.