How to Create a Discord Server: Step-by-Step Guide
Published · Updated · 4 min read
Short answer
To create a Discord server, open Discord on desktop or in a browser, select the Add a Server icon in the left sidebar, choose Create My Own or a template, pick For a club or community or For me and my friends, then name the server, add an icon and select Create. It is free and takes about a minute.
| Cost | Free |
|---|---|
| Where to start | The Add a Server icon in the left sidebar |
| Starting points | Create My Own, or a template |
| Server types | Friend servers, Community servers, Discoverable servers |
| Default role | @everyone, which sets what every member can do |
Checked against the sources at the end of this article.
A Discord server is a free, invite-only space for a group: friends, a study group, a customer community or a paid membership. Creating one takes a minute; setting it up so people stay takes an afternoon. This guide covers both, step by step. It belongs to our running a Discord server topic.
Before you start
You need a Discord account. You can register in the desktop app, on mobile or in a browser. Then decide what kind of server you want: a private space for people you know, or a community for a larger group. That choice affects the settings below.
Step 1: Create the server
- In the Discord desktop app or browser, select the Add a Server icon in the left sidebar.
- Choose Create My Own, or pick a template if one matches your use.
- Choose For a club or community or For me and my friends.
- Enter a server name and, optionally, upload an icon.
- Select Create.
Discord creates the server with a few default channels and opens it.
Step 2: Set up channels
Text channels hold written conversations; voice channels are for talking, video and screen sharing. Create a short list to start:
- welcome and rules, so newcomers know where they are.
- announcements, for news from you.
- general, for open conversation.
- help or questions.
- One channel per main topic.
- One voice channel for hangouts.
Group them into categories such as Start Here, Community and Topics. You can add more later; too many channels at the start make a server look empty.
Step 3: Create roles
When you create a server, there is one role: @everyone. It defines what every member can do. Open Server Settings > Roles > Create Role to add more:
- Moderator, with permission to manage messages and time out members.
- Member, for verified or paying members.
- Interest roles that open topic channels.
Then make staff or member channels private and choose which roles may see them. Our pillar guide on how to add roles in Discord covers permissions and the role hierarchy.
Step 4: Turn on Community features
For anything bigger than a friend group, enable Community in Server Settings. Discord asks you to set a verification level, turn on the explicit media filter and choose a rules channel. In return you get Server Insights, raid protection, rules screening and onboarding, where new members answer questions that give them the right roles and channels.
Step 5: Invite members
Right-click the server name or open its menu and choose Invite People to get an invite link. Share it with your first members personally: twenty people who talk beat two hundred who do not. Ask each of them to post once in the first day, so the next arrivals find conversation instead of empty channels. Post the link on your website and social profiles once the server has some activity.
Step 6: Get the community running
- Post a welcome message that says what to do first.
- Reply to every introduction in the early weeks.
- Schedule a weekly event, even a small one.
- Recruit a moderator from your most active members.
Step 7: Decide whether to charge
If the server is the home of a product or a paid membership, add a paid role and private channels for paying members. Ternary connects a branded checkout, Stripe payments and Discord, so buyers sign in with Discord, pay and get the role automatically, and lose it if they cancel. Basic is free with no transaction fee.
Next steps
Shape the server’s look and structure with how to customize a Discord server, then keep it healthy with our pillar guide, Discord server management tips for paid communities.
FAQ
Does it cost anything to create a Discord server?
No. Creating and running a server is free, with text, voice and video channels, roles and moderation tools included. Optional paid extras exist, such as Server Boosts for perks like more emoji slots and higher audio quality, and Nitro for individual users, but a server works fully without them.
Should I use a server template?
A template is a quick start if your server matches a common use, such as a study group, a club or a gaming group, because it creates typical channels and roles for you. For a business or a paid community, starting from Create My Own is often cleaner, since you would delete most of a template's channels anyway.
What is the difference between a friend server and a Community server?
A friend server is a private, invite-only space for people you know. A Community server is for larger groups and adds tools such as Server Insights, raid protection, rules screening and onboarding. Turning Community on requires a verification level, an explicit media filter and a rules channel. Eligible Community servers can also apply to be discoverable.
