The fastest way to invite someone to your Discord server
The quickest method is to generate an invite link in Discord and send it to the person directly. Discord creates a unique link for your server that anyone with that link can use to join — you don't need to add them manually or wait for them to request access. The link stays active until you delete it, so you can reuse it or create new ones whenever you want.
You can create an invite link in under 30 seconds. The person you send it to just clicks the link, and they're in your server. No back-and-forth, no waiting for approval.
Key Takeaways
- Generate an invite link by right-clicking your server name, selecting "Invite People," and copying the link Discord creates for you.
- You can set an expiration date on the link (anywhere from 30 minutes to never) and limit how many people can use it before it stops working.
- If you want to invite someone without a link, you can search for their username in your server settings and send them a direct invitation instead.
- Anyone with the invite link can join your server unless you've set the link to expire or hit its use limit.
Creating an invite link on desktop
Open Discord on your computer and locate the server you want to invite people to in the left sidebar. Right-click on the server name (or click the down arrow next to it if you're using a newer version). A menu will appear with several options.
Select "Invite People" from that menu. Discord will open a window showing an invite link — it's a long URL starting with "discord.gg/" followed by random characters. Click "Copy Link" to copy it to your clipboard, then paste it into a message, email, or anywhere else you want to send it. That's all you need to do. Anyone who clicks that link will be taken to Discord and added to your server automatically.
If you want more control over the link, click "Edit Invite Link" instead of copying it right away. This lets you set an expiration time (so the link stops working after a certain number of hours or days) or limit how many people can use it. Once you've set those options, copy and share the link.
Creating an invite link on mobile
On the Discord mobile app, tap and hold on the server name in your server list. A menu will pop up with several options. Tap "Invite People." Discord will show you an invite link and a "Copy" button. Tap "Copy" to save the link, then open your messaging app, email, or wherever you want to send it and paste the link there.
If you want to set an expiration date or use limit on mobile, tap the three dots or settings icon next to the invite link before you copy it. This opens the same options you'd see on desktop — you can choose how long the link lasts and how many times it can be used.
Sending a direct invitation to a specific person
If you'd rather not use a link, you can invite someone by their Discord username. In your server, click the server name at the top and select "Invite People" (on desktop) or tap and hold the server name and select "Invite People" (on mobile). Instead of copying the link, look for a search box or text field where you can type a username.
Type the person's Discord username or tag (the name they use in Discord, sometimes followed by a number like "username#1234"). Discord will search for that user. When you find them, click or tap their name to send them an invitation. They'll receive a notification that you've invited them to your server, and they can accept or decline from there.
This method is useful when you want to invite specific people without creating a public link. The person still has to accept your invitation — they won't be added automatically.
Controlling who can use your invite link
When you create an invite link, you can set rules for how it works. Click "Edit Invite Link" on desktop or tap the settings icon on mobile to see your options. You can set an expiration time: the link can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours, or you can choose "Never" to make it permanent. You can also set a maximum number of uses — for example, you could make a link that only works for 5 people, then stops working.
These settings are useful if you're inviting people to a temporary event or if you want to limit how many people join at once. You can create multiple links with different settings, so you might have one permanent link for close friends and another link that expires after a week for a specific group.
If you want to revoke a link you've already shared, go back to "Invite People," find the link in your list of active invites, and click the trash icon next to it. That link will stop working immediately, even if people still have it.
What happens when someone uses your invite link
When someone clicks your invite link, Discord opens and shows them your server name and a preview of what's in it. They'll see a "Join Server" button. Clicking that button adds them to your server right away — they don't need your permission or anyone else's approval (unless your server has special settings that require new members to verify first).
Once they're in, they can see all the channels you've set them up to see. If you've restricted certain channels to specific roles or members, they won't see those until you give them the right role. New members typically start with whatever default permissions you've configured for your server.
Troubleshooting invite problems
If someone says they can't use your invite link, the most common reason is that the link has expired or hit its use limit. Check your "Invite People" menu to see if the link is still active. If it shows "0 uses remaining" or "Expired," create a new link and send that instead.
Another issue is that the person might already be in your server under a different account or username. Ask them to check if they're already a member. If they are, they won't be able to join again with the same account. If they're trying to join on a different account, they'll need to switch accounts in Discord first, then use the link.
If the person is getting an error message when they try to join, make sure your server isn't full (servers have a member limit based on your Discord plan) and that you haven't accidentally banned them. You can check your server's ban list in the server settings under "Moderation."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who joined using my invite link?
Discord doesn't show you which specific people used which link, but you can see a list of all active invite links and how many times each one has been used. Go to "Invite People" and look at the "Uses" column next to each link. This tells you how many people have joined through that link, but not their names.
What if I want to invite someone but they're not in my Discord friends list?
You don't need to be friends with someone to invite them to your server. You can send them an invite link through any messaging platform, email, or social media. They just need to click the link. Alternatively, if you know their exact Discord username and tag, you can search for them in the "Invite People" menu and send a direct invitation.
Can I invite someone who has been banned from my server?
No. If someone is on your server's ban list, they won't be able to join using an invite link or a direct invitation. You'll need to remove them from the ban list first. Go to your server settings, find "Bans," locate the person's name, and click "Unban" before you can invite them back.
Do I need to be a server owner to invite people?
No. Anyone with the "Invite People" permission can create and share invite links. Server owners can adjust who has this permission in the role settings. If you can't find the "Invite People" option, ask your server owner to give you that permission.
What's the difference between an invite link and a direct invitation?
An invite link is a URL anyone with the link can use to join your server. A direct invitation is sent to a specific person's Discord account, and only they can accept it. Links are faster for inviting multiple people; direct invitations are better when you want to invite one specific person and have them see a personal message from you.