Your server must be a Community Server. If it’s not, you’ll need to enable Community Features first (refer to our previous conversation on “how to set my discord server as a community”).

Steps to Edit Your Welcome Screen:

1. Open Discord and Go to Your Server:
   • Launch the Discord application (desktop or web).
   • Click on the server whose Welcome Screen you want to edit from the left sidebar.
2. Access Server Settings:
   • Click on your server’s name in the upper-left corner of the app.
   • From the dropdown menu, select “Server Settings”
3. Navigate to “Welcome Screen”:
   • In the left-hand menu of Server Settings, scroll down until you see the “Community” section.
   • Under “Community,” click on “Welcome Screen.”
4. Enable/Disable and Customize:
   • “Show Welcome Screen” Toggle: At the top of the Welcome Screen settings, you’ll see a toggle. Make sure it’s enabled (green) if you want the Welcome Screen to be active. If it’s disabled, new members won’t see it.
   • “Edit Welcome Screen” Button: Click this button to start customizing the content.
   • Adding Channels:
     • You’ll see a list of channels that are currently on your Welcome Screen (if any).
     • Click “Add Channel” to select a new channel you want to highlight.
     • Choose a Channel: Select a channel from the dropdown list.
     • Write a Welcome Message/Description: After selecting a channel, you’ll be prompted to write a short, welcoming message or description for that channel. This explains to new members what they can find in that channel (e.g., “Start here for rules,” “Find game announcements here,” “Chat with others about your favorite topics”).
     • Click “Done” to add the channel.
   • Editing Existing Channels:
     • To edit the description of an already added channel, click on the channel in the “Edit Welcome Screen” view. You can then modify its description.
     • You can also click the “X” next to a channel to remove it from the Welcome Screen.
   • Rearranging Channels:
     • You can drag and drop channels in the list to reorder how they appear on the Welcome Screen. Put the most important channels at the top.
5. Preview and Save:
   • “Preview” Button: After making changes, click the “Preview” button at the bottom. This will show you exactly how the Welcome Screen will appear to new members. It’s crucial to use this to ensure everything looks good and makes sense.
   • “Save Changes” Button: Once you are satisfied with your edits and the preview, click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom right. Crucially, if you don’t save, your changes will be lost!

Tips for an Effective Welcome Screen:

• Keep it Concise: New members don’t want to read a wall of text. Use short, clear descriptions for each channel.
• Highlight Essential Channels: Focus on channels that new members absolutely need to see first, such as:
  • #rules or #guidelines
  • #announcements
  • #roles (if you have a self-assignable roles channel)
  • A general chat channel like #general or #lounge
  • An #introductions channel if you encourage members to introduce themselves.
• Order Matters: Put the most critical channels at the top.
• Clear Descriptions: Make it obvious what each channel is for. Instead of just “#general,” describe it as “Chat about anything here!” or “General discussions and community hangouts.”
• Don’t Overload: A few well-chosen channels are better than a long, overwhelming list. Start with 3-5 key channels.