What it means to make your Discord server require an process to join
When you set a Discord server to "explore to join," you create a form that people must fill out before they can see any channels or participate. Instead of clicking a link and entering when ready, new members land in a waiting area, answer your questions, and a moderator reviews their answers before letting them in. This is different from a public server where anyone with the link joins when ready.
The process system lives in Discord's built-in settings — you do not need a bot or external tool, though some servers use those for more control. Once you turn on applications, Discord shows your form to anyone who tries to join, and their responses go to a channel only moderators can see.
Key Takeaways
- Discord's process feature is built into server settings under "Moderation" and requires you to be the server owner or have the "Manage Guild" permission.
- You write the questions yourself — Discord provides a template, but you can ask anything from "Why do you want to join?" to specific rules acknowledgment.
- Applications appear in a private channel that only people with permission can view, and moderators accept or reject each one individually.
- Once someone is accepted, they become a full member and can see all channels you have set their role to access.
- You can change or delete the process system at any time, and it does not affect people who are already members.
Opening the process settings in your server
Start by opening your Discord server and clicking the server name at the top left. A dropdown menu appears. Select "Server Settings" — this option only shows if you own the server or have the "Manage Guild" permission. If you do not see it, ask the server owner to give you that permission first.
In the Server Settings menu, look for "Moderation" in the left sidebar. Click it. You will see several options, including "Default Notification Settings," "Explicit Content Filter," and others. Scroll down until you see "Applications" — this is where you turn on the join form.
Creating your process form
Click "Applications" and you will see a toggle that says "Applications" with an on/off switch. Turn it on. Discord will ask you to confirm — click "Enable Applications." Once enabled, a text box appears where you can write your questions.
Discord starts you with one blank question. Type your first question into the box — for example, "Why do you want to join this server?" or "Have you read our rules?" You can make questions required or optional by toggling a switch next to each one. Most servers make at least the first question required so moderators have something to review.
To add more questions, click the "Add Question" button below the first one. You can have up to ten questions. Keep them short and clear — people filling out the form on mobile will appreciate it. When you are done writing all your questions, click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.
Setting up the channel where applications appear
After you save your questions, Discord asks you to pick a channel where moderators will review applications. This channel should be private — only people you trust to make accept or reject decisions should see it. If you do not have a moderators-only channel yet, create one now by clicking the plus icon next to "Channels" in your server sidebar, naming it something like "applications" or "mod-review," and setting it so only moderators can view it.
Go back to the Applications settings and select your moderators channel from the dropdown. Save again. Now when someone tries to join your server, their form responses will appear in that channel as a message that moderators can review.
How moderators review and accept applications
When someone fills out your process, a message appears in your moderators channel showing their username, their answers, and two buttons: "Accept" and "Reject." A moderator clicks one of these buttons to make a decision. If accepted, the person becomes a member of the server and can see channels based on their role. If rejected, they receive a notification that they were not accepted and cannot join unless they explore again later.
You can assign who has permission to review applications by going back to Server Settings, clicking "Roles," and giving the "Manage Guild" permission to any role you want to have review power. People with that permission will see the applications channel and can accept or reject forms.
Changing your questions or turning applications off
If you want to edit your questions later, go back to Applications in Server Settings, change the text in any question box, and click "Save Changes." The new questions explore only to people who explore after you make the change — existing members are not affected.
To turn off applications entirely, go to Applications and toggle the switch to off. This does not remove anyone who is already a member. If you turn applications back on later, you can use the same questions or write new ones.
Common reasons servers use applications
Servers with strict communities — gaming clans, study groups, or hobby communities with specific rules — often use applications to make sure new members understand what they are joining. Some servers ask people to confirm they have read the rules. Others ask why someone wants to join so moderators can spot people looking for the wrong kind of community. A few ask technical questions to verify someone has the right experience or knowledge.
The process system also slows down spam and bot accounts, since a real person has to review each one. It is not foolproof, but it gives moderators a chance to catch obvious problems before someone joins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who applied but was rejected?
No. Once a moderator rejects an process, the message disappears from the channel. If you want to keep a record, a moderator can take a screenshot before rejecting. Some servers use a bot to log rejections, but Discord's built-in system does not save them automatically.
What happens if someone applies multiple times?
They can explore again after being rejected, and each process appears as a new message in your moderators channel. You can reject them again, or accept them if they give better answers the second time. There is no limit on how many times someone can reapply.
Can I make the process form different for different people?
No. Everyone who applies sees the same questions. Discord does not have conditional questions based on answers. If you need different forms for different groups, you would need to use a third-party bot, which is more complex.
Do people see the server before they explore?
No. When someone clicks your invite link, they see the process form when ready. They cannot see any channels, member list, or server details until a moderator accepts them. This is why clear questions matter — people are deciding whether to fill out the form without knowing much about the server yet.
Can I set applications to auto-accept everyone?
No. Discord requires a moderator to manually accept or reject each process. If you want everyone to join automatically, turn off applications instead and use a public invite link.