The fastest way to invite a guest
The quickest method is to generate an invite link in Discord and send it directly to the person. Open the server, click the down arrow next to the server name at the top left, select Invite People, and Discord generates a shareable link. Copy that link and send it through email, text, or any messaging app — the person clicks it and joins immediately.
This link works whether the person has a Discord account already or not. If they don't have one, clicking the link takes them to the sign-up page first, then adds them to your server once they finish creating an account.
Key Takeaways
- The Invite People button in your server settings generates a shareable link you can send to anyone, and they join by clicking it.
- You can set an expiration date and usage limit on invite links so they stop working after a certain time or number of uses.
- If you want to invite someone by their Discord username instead of a link, you need to be friends with them first or know their exact username and discriminator.
- Server moderators and members with permission to invite can create their own invite links without asking the owner.
- Expired or revoked links stop working, but people who already joined through them stay in the server.
Creating an invite link with an expiration date
If you want the link to stop working after a certain time, you can set that when you create it. In the Invite People window, look for the settings icon (usually a gear or three dots) and select Edit Invite Link or similar wording depending on your Discord version.
You'll see options to set an expiration time — common choices are 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 7 days, or never. You can also limit how many people can use the link before it expires. Once you set these, the link works only until that time or usage limit is reached.
Inviting someone by username if you're already friends
If you and the person are already Discord friends, you can invite them directly without a link. Go to Invite People, type their username in the search box, and click their name when it appears. They'll receive a notification that you've invited them to the server.
This method only works if you're already connected as friends in Discord. If you're not friends yet, you'll need to add them first by going to their profile and clicking Add Friend, or you can just send them an invite link instead — that's usually faster.
Managing who can create invites in your server
By default, members with certain roles can create their own invite links without asking you. If you want to restrict this, go to Server Settings, click Roles, select the role you want to change, and scroll down to Permissions. Look for Create Invite and toggle it off for that role.
You can set different permissions for different roles — for example, allow moderators to create invites but not regular members. Only the server owner can change these settings, though you can delegate other management tasks to people you trust by giving them moderator or admin roles.
What happens when you revoke an invite link
If you want to stop using an invite link, you can revoke it so it no longer works. Go to Server Settings, click Invites, find the link you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it. The link stops working immediately, and no one can use it to join.
Revoking a link does not remove people who already joined through it — they stay in the server. It only prevents new people from using that specific link. If you want to remove someone who's already in the server, you'll need to use the kick or ban feature in Server Settings under Members.
Inviting people from other Discord servers
There's no special process for inviting someone who's already in a different Discord server. You just send them an invite link the same way you would anyone else. They can be in as many servers as they want, so joining yours doesn't affect their membership anywhere else.
If you want to find people to invite, Discord has a server discovery feature where you can browse public servers by category. You can also ask friends to spread the word, or post your invite link in communities related to your server's topic — though always check those communities' rules first to make sure invitations are allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone join my server without an invite link?
Only if your server is set to public in the server discovery directory. Most servers are private and require an invite link. To check your server's settings, go to Server Settings and look under Overview — if it says "Public Server," people can find and join it without a link.
What's the difference between an invite link and a friend request?
An invite link adds someone directly to your server. A friend request connects you as friends in Discord itself, which lets you message each other privately and see when the other person is online. You can do both, but they're separate — being friends doesn't automatically add someone to your server.
Can I see who joined through which invite link?
Yes. Go to Server Settings, click Invites, and you'll see each link along with how many people have used it. Click on a specific link to see the names of people who joined through it. This helps you track which invitations are most popular.
What if someone's invite link expires before they click it?
They'll get an error message saying the link is invalid or expired. You'll need to send them a new invite link. If you create links without expiration dates, they'll work indefinitely — just remember that you can revoke them anytime if you change your mind about letting someone join.
Do I need permission to invite people to a server I don't own?
It depends on the server's settings. Most servers let regular members create invite links, but some restrict it to moderators or the owner only. Try going to Invite People — if you don't see the option, you don't have permission. Ask a moderator or the server owner to create a link for you.