Auto-assign roles when members join your server

Discord's auto-assign feature gives new members a role automatically the moment they join your server, without anyone having to do it manually. You set this up through Discord's server settings, and it works for any role you choose — whether that's a basic "Member" role, a role that grants access to certain channels, or a role that marks someone as verified.

The most common reason to use auto-assign is to give all new members the same starting permissions at once. Instead of a moderator manually assigning a role to each person who joins, Discord does it when ready. This also lets you control what channels new members can see before they've proven they're not a bot or a bad actor.

Auto-assign happens through the server's onboarding settings, which is Discord's official tool for welcoming new members. You can set up multiple roles to assign at different stages, or just one role that everyone gets when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto-assign roles are set up in your server settings under Onboarding, not in a separate bot or plugin.
  • You need the Manage Server permission to change these settings, which usually means you are the server owner or a high-ranking admin.
  • You can assign one role to everyone on join, or create a welcome screen that lets new members choose from multiple roles before they enter.
  • Auto-assign works when ready and does not require a bot, so it is more reliable than waiting for a bot to process the command.

Where to find the auto-assign settings

Open your Discord server and click the server name at the top left. Select Server Settings from the dropdown menu. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click Onboarding.

If you do not see Onboarding in the menu, your server may not have reached the member count or verification level that Discord requires for this feature. Discord enables Onboarding for servers with at least 10 members and a verification level of Medium or higher. You can check your verification level in Server Settings under Safety Setup.

Once you are in Onboarding, you will see options to create a welcome screen and assign roles. This is where you control what happens when someone new joins.

Setting up a role that assigns to everyone

In the Onboarding section, toggle on Enable Onboarding if it is not already on. Then scroll to the section labeled Default Channels and Roles. Click the Add Role button and select the role you want every new member to receive.

This role will assign to every person who joins, no questions asked. They get it the moment they finish the welcome screen (if you have one) or the moment they join (if you do not). Choose a role that makes sense for all new members — usually something like "Member" or "Unverified" that grants basic channel access.

Save your changes by scrolling to the bottom and clicking Save Changes. Test it by having a friend join the server on a new account to confirm the role appears.

Creating a welcome screen with role choices

If you want new members to choose their own roles instead of getting one automatically, use the welcome screen. In Onboarding, toggle on Welcome Screen. Click Add Question to create a prompt that new members will see when they join.

For each question, you can offer multiple choice answers, and each answer can assign a different role. For example, you might ask "What is your main interest?" with options like "Gaming," "Art," and "Music" — each option assigns a different role so members can self-sort into channels relevant to them.

You can create up to five questions, and each question can have up to ten answer options. Members must answer all questions before they can enter the server, so keep the welcome screen short and relevant. Save your changes when you are done.

Using bots for more complex auto-assign

Discord's built-in Onboarding works well for straightforward cases, but some servers need more control. Bots like MEE6, Dyno, and UnbelievaBoat can assign roles based on reactions to a message, commands, or other triggers beyond just joining.

For example, a bot can assign a role when someone reacts with an emoji to a specific message, or when they type a command like !getrole gaming. This gives you more flexibility than the automatic-on-join approach, but it requires setting up the bot first.

To add a bot, visit its website, click "Invite," select your server, and grant the permissions it asks for. Then follow the bot's documentation to set up role assignment. Most bots have a dashboard where you configure which roles assign under which conditions.

Permissions you need to change auto-assign settings

Only people with the Manage Server permission can change Onboarding settings. This permission is usually held by the server owner and admins you have specifically granted it to. If you try to access Onboarding and see a lock icon or a message saying you do not have permission, ask the server owner to give you the Manage Server role.

If you are the server owner and still cannot see Onboarding, check that your server meets Discord's requirements: at least 10 members and a verification level of Medium or higher. Raise the verification level in Server Settings under Safety Setup if needed.

Testing and troubleshooting auto-assign

After you set up auto-assign, test it with a fresh account or ask a friend to join on a new account. Watch to see if the role appears in their member list within a few seconds. If it does not appear, check that the role is actually assigned in Onboarding and that you saved your changes.

If the role appears but the member cannot see channels they should have access to, the problem is usually channel permissions, not the role assignment. Go to each channel, click the settings icon, select Permissions, and make sure the role has permission to view and send messages in that channel.

If auto-assign stops working after it was working before, check that the role still exists — if someone deleted it, Discord will not assign it to new members. You will need to pick a different role or create a new one and update Onboarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I assign multiple roles to someone when they join?

Yes. In the Default Channels and Roles section, you can click Add Role multiple times to assign as many roles as you want to every new member. In the welcome screen, you can also set up multiple questions where each answer assigns a different role, so one person might get three or four roles depending on their answers.

What happens if I delete a role that is set to auto-assign?

Discord will stop assigning that role to new members, but existing members who already have it will keep it. You will see a warning in Onboarding that the role no longer exists. Remove it from the auto-assign list and pick a different role, or create a new role and add that instead.

Do I need a bot to auto-assign roles?

No. Discord's built-in Onboarding feature handles basic auto-assign without any bot. You only need a bot if you want more advanced features, like assigning roles based on reactions or commands instead of just on join.

Can members remove a role that was auto-assigned to them?

Only if you give them permission to do so. By default, members cannot remove roles you assign to them. If you want members to be able to remove a role, you can use a bot with a command like !removerole, or you can create a reaction-based system where clicking an emoji removes the role.

Why does my server not have an Onboarding option?

Your server needs at least 10 members and a verification level of Medium or higher. If you have fewer than 10 members, invite more people first. If your verification level is lower, go to Server Settings, click Safety Setup, and raise the verification level to Medium.