The quickest way: send an invite link
The fastest way to add someone to your Discord server is to generate an invite link and send it to them directly. You create the link in Discord itself, copy it, and paste it into a message, email, or anywhere else. The person clicks the link and joins when ready — no approval needed unless you set it up that way.
To create an invite link, open your server and look for the server name at the top left. Click the down arrow next to it, then select Invite People. Discord shows you an invite link that starts with discord.gg/ followed by a code. Copy that link and send it however you want. Anyone who clicks it will see your server name and a preview of what channels exist, then they can choose to join.
This link stays active until you delete it or set an expiration date. You can create multiple links if you want to track who came from where, or revoke a link if you change your mind about inviting someone.
Key Takeaways
- Generate an invite link by clicking your server name, selecting Invite People, and copying the discord.gg link Discord provides.
- You can set an expiration date on the link (anywhere from 30 minutes to never) and choose how many people can use it before it stops working.
- Revoking a link when ready prevents anyone from using it, even if they already have the link saved.
- If your server requires approval to join, new members will wait in a pending state until you or another moderator accepts them.
Setting limits on who can join with your link
When you create an invite link, Discord lets you control how long it lasts and how many people can use it. Click Customize Invite Link after you copy the code, and you'll see options to set an expiration time and a use limit.
For expiration, you can choose 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 7 days, or never. If you're inviting someone specific and don't want the link floating around afterward, set it to expire in a few hours. If you want a permanent link to share in your Discord bio or on a website, choose never.
The use limit lets you say "this link works for exactly 5 people" or 10 or 25. Once that many people join, the link stops working. This is useful if you're inviting a specific group and don't want random people joining later if they find the link.
Inviting someone directly without a link
If you know someone's Discord username or tag, you can invite them without creating a shareable link. Open your server settings by clicking the down arrow next to the server name and select Members. At the top, you'll see a button to add members. Type in their username and Discord will search for them.
This method only works if you know their exact username. Discord usernames are not the same as display names — the username is what appears with a # symbol and a number (like james#1234). If you're not sure of their exact username, ask them or look them up in a mutual server first.
What happens when someone joins your server
When a person clicks your invite link or accepts a direct invite, they appear in your member list when ready. They can see all channels that don't have special permissions set. If you've set up a welcome channel or announcement channel, they'll see those right away.
If your server has membership screening turned on, new members will land in a pending state instead. They'll see a form asking them to agree to rules or answer questions you've written. Until they complete the screening, they can't see any channels except the one with the screening form. You or another moderator with permission can review their responses and accept or reject them.
You can also set up a verification level so that new members have to wait a certain amount of time (anywhere from when ready to 24 hours) before they can send messages. This slows down spam and raids.
Revoking an invite link
If you change your mind about inviting someone, or if a link has been shared more widely than you intended, you can delete it. Go back to Invite People, find the link in the list, and click the trash icon next to it. The link stops working when ready, and anyone trying to use it will see an error message.
Revoking a link does not remove people who already joined using that link — it only prevents new people from using it going forward. If someone has already joined your server and you want them out, you'll need to remove them from the member list instead.
Inviting people from other servers
If you're in a Discord server with someone and want to invite them to your own server, you can right-click their name in the member list or chat and select Send Friend Request or Message. Send them your invite link through a direct message. This is useful if you've met someone in a public server and want to build a smaller community together.
You can also look at who's already in your server and ask them to invite friends. Some servers have an #invites channel where members can share the server link with people they know. This spreads the word without you having to track down individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invite someone who doesn't have Discord yet?
You can send them the invite link, but they'll need to create a Discord account first. The link will ask them to sign up if they don't have an account, then join your server. There's no way to invite someone who hasn't created an account yet.
What's the difference between an invite link and adding someone directly?
An invite link is shareable and works for anyone who has it. Adding someone directly by username only sends an invite to that one person. Use a link for groups or public invites, and direct invites when you want to reach one specific person.
If I revoke an invite link, do people who already joined get kicked out?
No. Revoking a link only stops new people from using it. Anyone who already joined your server stays in it. To remove someone, you have to manually kick them from the member list.
Can I see who joined using a specific invite link?
Yes. In your server settings under Invites, each link shows how many times it's been used. Click on a link to see which members joined through it, though Discord doesn't always show this clearly if the link is very old.
What if someone keeps using my invite link to bring people I don't want?
Revoke the link when ready. Then create a new one and share it only with people you trust. You can also turn on membership screening so you can review and reject new members before they see your channels.