How to Configure Discord Server Welcome Screen With Channel Links

When new members join your Discord server, they often feel lost and do not know where to start. The Welcome Screen solves this by showing a curated set of channel links and rules before the user sees the full channel list. This feature is available on Community servers and lets you guide new arrivals to the most important channels. This article explains how to enable the Welcome Screen, add channel links, and configure the default view for all new members.

What the Discord Welcome Screen Does and What You Need First

The Welcome Screen is a dedicated landing page that appears when a new member joins a Community server. It displays a list of channel links, each with an emoji and a short description. The member can click any link to jump directly to that channel. The Welcome Screen replaces the default behavior of showing the entire channel sidebar on first join.

Before you can configure the Welcome Screen, your server must meet the requirements for Community status. Community servers have access to moderation tools, server insights, and the Welcome Screen feature. To enable Community mode, go to Server Settings > Enable Community and follow the prompts. You need to agree to Discord’s Community Guidelines, set an explicit content filter, and assign a staff member to review reports. Once Community mode is active, the Welcome Screen option becomes available in Server Settings.

Prerequisites for the Welcome Screen

You must be the server owner or have the Manage Server permission to configure the Welcome Screen. The server must be a Community server. You should already have the channels you want to link to, such as a rules channel, announcements channel, and general chat. You can add up to 20 channel links on the Welcome Screen.

Steps to Add Channel Links to the Welcome Screen

Follow these steps to configure the Welcome Screen with channel links. The process is the same on the Discord desktop app and the web browser version.

1. Open Server Settings
   Right-click your server name in the left sidebar and select Server Settings. Alternatively, click the down arrow next to the server name and choose Server Settings from the dropdown menu.
2. Navigate to the Welcome Screen tab
   In the left menu of Server Settings, scroll down to the Community section and click Welcome Screen. If you do not see this option, verify that Community mode is enabled.
3. Enable the Welcome Screen
   Toggle the switch at the top of the Welcome Screen page to turn it on. The page will expand to show configuration options.
4. Add a channel link
   Click the Add a Channel button below the list of existing links. A new row appears with three fields: Channel, Description, and Emoji.
5. Select the channel
   Click the dropdown menu in the Channel field. A list of all text channels in your server appears. Select the channel you want to link to. You can only link text channels, not voice channels or categories.
6. Write a description
   In the Description field, type a short explanation of what the channel is for. For example, for a rules channel you could write “Read the server rules before posting.” The description appears below the channel name on the Welcome Screen. Keep it under 120 characters.
7. Choose an emoji
   Click the Emoji field to open the emoji picker. You can select any default Discord emoji or a custom emoji that your server has uploaded. The emoji appears next to the channel name on the Welcome Screen.
8. Add more channel links
   Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each channel you want to include. You can add up to 20 links. Drag the six-dot handle on the left side of each row to reorder the links. The order on the Welcome Screen matches the order in this list.
9. Set the default view
   Below the channel list, find the dropdown labeled Default View. Choose one of two options: Welcome Screen shows the Welcome Screen to every new member. Channel List shows the full channel sidebar instead. The Welcome Screen option is recommended for guiding new members.
10. Save your changes
    Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. The Welcome Screen is now active. New members who join after this point will see it when they first open the server.

Common Mistakes and Limitations of the Welcome Screen

Welcome Screen Does Not Appear for Existing Members

The Welcome Screen only shows to members who join after you enable it. Existing members will not see the Welcome Screen. They will continue to see the normal channel list. If you want existing members to see the Welcome Screen, they can leave the server and rejoin. There is no way to force the Welcome Screen for current members.

Channel Links Do Not Work for Private Channels

If you link a channel that requires a specific role to view, new members will see the link on the Welcome Screen but will get an error when they click it. The error message says they do not have permission to access that channel. To avoid confusion, only link channels that are accessible to the @everyone role. Check the channel permissions before adding it to the Welcome Screen.

Voice Channels Cannot Be Linked

The Welcome Screen only supports text channels. You cannot add voice channels, stage channels, forum channels, or announcement channels. If you want to direct new members to a voice channel, create a text channel that describes the voice channel and link that text channel instead.

Reordering Links Resets After Saving

Some users report that after saving, the order of links reverts to alphabetical order. This is a known interface bug. To work around it, reorder the links one at a time and save after each change. Alternatively, use the Discord desktop app instead of the web browser for more consistent behavior.

Welcome Screen Does Not Replace the Rules Screening

The Welcome Screen and the Membership Screening feature are separate. Membership Screening requires new members to agree to rules before they can send messages. The Welcome Screen is informational and does not enforce any agreement. You can use both features together. Enable Membership Screening in Server Settings > Safety Setup > Enable Membership Screening.

Welcome Screen vs Membership Screening vs Default Channel List

Item	Welcome Screen	Membership Screening	Default Channel List
Purpose	Display curated channel links and descriptions	Require new members to agree to rules before chatting	Show the full channel sidebar as normal
Shown to	New members only	New members only	All members on every visit
Can include voice channels	No	N/A	Yes
Requires Community mode	Yes	Yes	No
Enforceable rules	No	Yes	No

The Welcome Screen is a visual guide. It does not block access or enforce rules. Membership Screening adds a mandatory agreement step. The default channel list is the standard experience without any onboarding. For the best new member experience, enable both the Welcome Screen and Membership Screening.

After you configure the Welcome Screen, test it by joining the server with an alternate account or by using a private browser window. Verify that the channel links work and the descriptions display correctly. You can edit the Welcome Screen anytime by returning to Server Settings > Welcome Screen. Adjust the channel links as your server grows and add new channels to keep the Welcome Screen relevant.