How to make a Discord server: step by step

Learning how to make a Discord server takes about a minute. Making one that people actually want to join takes a little longer. This guide covers both: the exact steps to create a server on desktop and mobile, then a short first-week checklist so your new server feels alive instead of empty. When you are ready to grow, the last section shows how to get it in front of people who are looking for a community like yours.

Before you start

Have two things in mind before you click anything:

• Who the server is for. A group of friends, a class, a game clan, a hobby community? The answer changes how many channels and rules you need.
• A working name. You can change the name and icon at any time, so do not overthink it.

If you are still choosing a topic, our list of Discord server ideas has plenty of starting points.

How to make a Discord server on desktop

These steps work in the Discord desktop app and in the browser version.

1. Look at the server list on the far left and click the + button (its tooltip says something like "Add a Server").
2. Choose Create My Own to start from scratch, or pick one of the templates Discord offers (for example gaming, friends or study group). A template simply pre-creates a few channels you can rename or delete later.
3. Discord asks who the server is for. Choose the option for you and your friends for a private hangout, or the option for a club or community if you plan to grow it. You can also skip this question; it only changes the starter setup.
4. Enter a server name and, if you like, upload an icon. A clear, square image looks best in the sidebar.
5. Click Create. Your server now exists, and you are its owner.

How to make a Discord server on mobile (iOS and Android)

The mobile app changes its layout between versions, but the flow is the same.

1. Open the server list (swipe right or tap the menu) and tap the + button at the bottom.
2. Choose to create your own server or start from a template.
3. Answer the "who is it for" question or skip it.
4. Add a name and an icon, then tap Create.
5. Discord usually offers to invite friends right away. You can do that now or later.

If you do not see the + button, update the app first. Very old versions put it in a different place.

Your first-week checklist

A brand-new server is a blank room. The goal of the first week is to make it easy for the first ten people to understand what the server is for and start talking. You do not need to configure everything at once. For a deeper walkthrough of every setting, BotGG has a full guide on how to set up a Discord server; here we keep it to the essentials.

1. Start with a few channels

Delete or rename the template channels you do not need. A good starting set:

• a welcome or start-here channel
• a rules channel
• one general chat
• one or two topic channels (for example "clips" or "homework help")
• one voice channel

Empty channels make a server feel dead. Add new ones when the existing ones get busy, not before.

2. Create a couple of roles

Roles control who can do what. In the first week you only need a few: an admin or moderator role for people you trust, and maybe a member role. Avoid giving the Administrator permission to anyone who does not truly need it. BotGG's Discord roles guide explains permissions in more detail when you are ready.

3. Write short rules

Five to eight clear rules beat a wall of text. Cover respect, spam and self-promotion, NSFW content, and how to contact moderators. Pin them or put them in the rules channel. If you want a template, see BotGG's guide to Discord server rules.

4. Make a permanent invite

Default invite links expire after a few days, which breaks every link you post. Create one that never expires and treat it as your official link. Our guide on making a permanent Discord invite walks through it on desktop and mobile.

5. Consider community features

If your server is meant for a public community, look at enabling Discord's community features in the server settings. Doing so unlocks tools such as a welcome screen, onboarding questions and announcement channels, and Discord will ask you to set up a rules channel and a few safety options first. A private server for friends does not need this.

6. Turn on basic safety settings

Even small servers get spam. In the server settings, check:

• Verification level, so brand-new accounts cannot post instantly.
• Explicit media filtering, so images are scanned for everyone.
• AutoMod, Discord's built-in filter for spam, links and blocked words.
• Two-factor authentication for anyone with moderation permissions.

Our Discord safety guide covers scams and raids from a member's point of view, which is useful context for moderators too.

7. Invite your first members and talk

Invite a handful of friends or people from your existing audience before you go public. Ask a question in general chat, host a small voice session, react to every first message. A server where ten people talk feels better than one where a hundred people lurk.

When you are ready to grow: list it on TopGuilds

Once your server has a clear purpose, a few active members and a permanent invite, it is time to let new people find it. TopGuilds is a free Discord server directory, and listing needs no bot:

1. Log in with Discord.
2. Paste your permanent invite.
3. Fill in the card: a one-line pitch, a description, the category, game and language tags.

Every listing is reviewed by a moderator, and servers need at least 10 members and a working invite, so read the listing guidelines first. Once you are listed, you can bump every 6 hours and collect votes from members. If you also add the free BotGG bot, your card can show the "Verified active" badge based on real activity.

To see how other owners present themselves, browse the newest servers or the community category. Then read how to grow a Discord server for the next steps.

Ready to share your server?

You made it, you set it up, and people are talking. Add your server to TopGuilds and let the right members find you.