Creating a Rules Channel & Setting Rules for Discord

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Tips for creating a rules list on Discord

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: March 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Rules Template
|
• Creating a Rules Channel
|
• Enabling Rules Screening
|
• Moderation
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Are you setting up a Discord server and need to add rules? They are a required channel when you're creating a community server, so we've listed a few ideas here. While you can opt for Discord to automatically create a "rules" and "mod-only" channel, you can also create your own and force your server members to agree to the rules before interacting with your server. This wikiHow article guides you through the process of creating a "rules" channel, making sure people read and agree to your rules before posting, and gives you a few ideas for Discord rules.

Creating Rules for Discord Servers

Discord requires all community servers to have a rules channel. Copy and paste from the template into your rules channel to easily make new rules. Make sure all current and new members read and agree to your rules by right-clicking your server and clicking "Server Settings > Safety Setup > Edit (next to DM & Spam section) > Set up.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Rules Template

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__Rules:__
1. Be respectful - You must respect all users, regardless of your liking towards them. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
2. No Inappropriate Language - The use of profanity should be kept to a minimum. However, any derogatory language towards any user is prohibited.
3. No spamming - Don't send a lot of small messages right after each other. Do not disrupt chat by spamming.
4. No pornographic/adult/other NSFW material - This is a community server and not meant to share this kind of material.
5. No advertisements - We do not tolerate any kind of advertisements, whether it be for other communities or streams. You can post your content in the media channel if it is relevant and provides actual value (Video/Art)
6. No offensive names and profile pictures - You will be asked to change your name or picture if the staff deems them inappropriate.
7. Server Raiding - Raiding or mentions of raiding are not allowed.
8. Direct & Indirect Threats - Threats to other users of DDoS, Death, DoX, abuse, and other malicious threats are absolutely prohibited and disallowed.
9. Follow the Discord Community Guidelines - You can find them here: https://discordapp.com/guidelines
10. Do not join voice chat channels without permission of the people already in there - If you see that they have a free spot it is alright to join and ask whether they have an open spot, but leave if your presence is not wanted by whoever was there first.

**The Admins and Mods will Mute/Kick/Ban per discretion. If you feel mistreated DM an Admin and we will resolve the issue.**

All Channels will have pinned messages explaining what they are there for and how everything works. If you don't understand something, feel free to ask!

**Your presence in this server implies accepting these rules, including all further changes. These changes might be done at any time without notice, it is your responsibility to check for them.**

Section 2 of 4:

Creating a Rules Channel

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1. 
   1
   Open Discord. Click the app icon that looks like a controller on a light blue background in your Start menu or Applications folder.

   • You can also create a channel using the mobile app. The steps are similar to this method, but the buttons are in different places.
2. 
   2
   Navigate to your server. You'll see icons of all the servers you've joined displayed vertically on the left-hand side of your screen.

   • Click your server to see it.
3. 
   3
   Click +. This plus sign is in the channel list next to "Text Channels" and will allow you to create a channel.
4. 
   4
   Name your channel. Make sure you have the "Text" circle filled and enter a name like "rules" or "server-rules" into the "Channel Name" field.
5. 
   5
   Click Create Channel. The channel will be created, but you're not done!

   • Drag and drop the channel in the channel list to move it up or down. Move it to the top if you want it to be more visible.
6. 
   6
   Right-click the channel name and select Edit Channel. Alternatively, click the gear icon to the right of the channel name in the channel list.
7. 
   7
   Click the Permissions tab. This tab is on the left side of the window and will change the options you see on the right.
8. 
   8
   Click Advanced permissions to expand the menu. The toggle you want is nested in the "Advanced" menu, so you'll need to expand it before continuing.
9. 
   9
   Disable four permissions. To do this, click the red x next to "Send Messages," "Send Messages in Threads," "Create Public Threads," and "Create Private Threads."
10. 
    10
    Click Save Changes. This prevents everyone in your server from leaving messages in that channel. Only you are allowed to post in that channel.
11. 
    11
    Enter your rules into this channel! You can copy from the template above and paste it into your channel.
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Section 3 of 4:

Enabling Rules Screening

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1. 
   1
   Open Discord. Click the app icon that looks like a controller on a light blue background in your Start menu or Applications folder.

   • The server must be a community server for you to see this option.
   • Rules screening applies to all new users and they have to agree to your rules before interacting on the server.
2. 
   2
   Right-click your server. You'll see icons of all the servers you've joined displayed vertically on the left-hand side of your screen.
3. 
   3
   Hover your mouse over "Server Settings" and click Safety Setup. If your server is just for you and a few friends or family, you probably don't have a community set up and don't need to continue. However, if the server is for a larger amount of people, you probably have a community set up.

   • Click Get Started and follow the on-screen instructions if you haven't converted to a community server yet.
   • Alternatively, click the drop-down arrow next to your server's name, then click Server Settings > Safety Setup.
4. 
   4
   Click Edit next to "DM and Spam Protection." This will open a new menu.
5. 
   5
   Click the "Members must accept rules before they can talk or DM" text. Doing so opens a hidden menu so you can set up server rules.

   • You can also click Set Up to see the hidden menu.
6. 
   6
   Click Get Started. It's under the "Set up server rules!" header and will prompt a pop-up menu to appear.
7. 
   7
   Add rules. Select example rules from the bottom, or enter rules yourself.

   • Click Add a rule to add more rules. You can have up to 16 rules per server.
8. 
   8
   Click Save and turn on the "Members must accept rules…" toggle. When you're done adding rules, click Save to close the pop-up, then click the switch to enable it. In that case, all existing and new members will need to agree to the rules before they can chat or DM.
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Section 4 of 4:

Moderation

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1. 
   1
   Setting up rules is one part of a job, not the whole picture. Once you have the rules posted, you need to moderate your chat to ensure that everyone is following the rules.

   • Use consequences like banning or timing someone out from your server if they aren't following the rules.
2. 
   2
   Use moderators. If there are certain people in your server that you trust, promote them to moderators so you don't have to police the chats yourself. You can assign mods on a computer, Android, iPhone, or iPad. Just go to that user in your server, right-click them and select the mod role.
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