When new members join your Discord server, they often arrive without knowing where to start or what channels matter most. The Welcome Screen solves this by showing a custom landing page that appears before the channel list. This feature lets you highlight important channels, display server rules, and guide newcomers to the right places. In this article, you will learn how to enable and customize the Welcome Screen for your Discord server.
Key Takeaways: Setting Up a Discord Welcome Screen
- Server Settings > Welcome Screen > Enable Welcome Screen: Turns on the custom landing page for new members.
- Welcome Channel: The text channel where the system welcome message appears after a user joins.
- Add a Recommendation: Lets you choose up to five channels to show as suggested starting points for new members.
What the Welcome Screen Does and What You Need
The Welcome Screen replaces the default channel list for new members who have not yet interacted in the server. It displays a server description, a list of up to five recommended channels, and a button to join those channels immediately. This feature works on both desktop and mobile versions of Discord. To use it, you must have the Manage Server permission or be the server owner. The server must also have at least one text channel and one voice channel. The Welcome Screen does not replace the rules screening feature, but they can work together.
The Welcome Screen is separate from the Server Guide feature. Server Guide is a permanent page accessible from the server name menu, while Welcome Screen appears only once per new member. Both features can be enabled at the same time. The Welcome Screen is ideal for community servers where you want to reduce confusion and increase early engagement.
Steps to Enable and Customize the Welcome Screen
Follow these steps to set up the Welcome Screen on your Discord server. You must complete them on the desktop app or web client because mobile settings lack some options.
- Open Server Settings
Click your server name at the top left of the Discord window. In the dropdown menu, select Server Settings. - Go to the Welcome Screen Page
In the left sidebar, click Welcome Screen. This page shows all available options. - Enable the Welcome Screen
Toggle the switch next to Enable Welcome Screen. The page will expand to show configuration fields. - Set the Welcome Channel
Under Welcome Channel, select a text channel where Discord will post a system message when someone joins. This message is separate from the Welcome Screen itself. Choose a channel that is visible to all members, such as #general or #welcome. - Write a Server Description
In the Description field, type a short summary of your server. This text appears at the top of the Welcome Screen. Keep it under 300 characters. For example: “Welcome to the Tech Talk server! Discuss gadgets, coding, and IT support.” - Add Channel Recommendations
Click Add a Recommendation. A dialog opens where you can choose up to five channels. Select a text or voice channel, then add a short description for each. The description tells new members what the channel is for. For example: “#introductions — Say hello and tell us about yourself.” Click Add to confirm each recommendation. - Reorder Recommendations if Needed
After adding recommendations, you can drag them up or down by the handle icon on the left. The order you set is the order new members see. - Save Changes
Scroll to the top of the page and click Save Changes. The Welcome Screen is now active for new members.
To test the Welcome Screen, ask a friend who has not joined your server to use the invite link. They will see the Welcome Screen before the full channel list. Existing members will not see it unless they clear their Discord cache or join from a new account.
Common Mistakes and Limitations
Welcome Screen Does Not Appear for New Members
If the Welcome Screen is not showing, check that you have saved the settings. Also verify that the server has at least one text channel and one voice channel. The Welcome Screen only appears on the first visit from a new account. If the user has previously joined the server, they will not see it again. To force a test, use a fresh Discord account or clear the app cache on desktop: press Ctrl + Shift + I to open Developer Tools, go to the Application tab, and clear local storage for discord.com.
Only Five Channels Can Be Recommended
Discord limits channel recommendations to five. If you have more than five important channels, choose the ones that are most relevant to new members. You can also use the Server Guide feature to list additional channels permanently.
Welcome Screen and Rules Screening Conflict
If you have both the Welcome Screen and Membership Screening enabled, the Welcome Screen appears after the user agrees to the rules. New members must pass the screening first. This is the intended behavior. To adjust, go to Server Settings > Safety Setup and configure the screening questions.
Description or Recommendations Do Not Save
If your changes are not saving, ensure you have the Manage Server permission. Browser extensions like ad blockers can also interfere. Try disabling them or using the Discord desktop app. If the issue persists, log out and log back in, then retry.
Discord Welcome Screen vs Server Guide
| Item | Welcome Screen | Server Guide |
|---|---|---|
| When it appears | Once, on first join | Anytime from server name menu |
| Channel recommendations | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
| Requires rules screening | No | No |
| Can include text and voice channels | Yes | Yes |
| Editable by server moderators | Yes, with Manage Server permission | Yes, with Manage Server permission |
You now know how to enable and customize the Welcome Screen for your Discord server. Start by writing a clear server description and selecting the most useful channels for newcomers. After saving, test the feature with a fresh account to confirm it works. For servers with many channels, consider also enabling the Server Guide to give members a permanent reference point.