To create a Discord invite link, hover over a channel and press Create Invite (or click the Instant Invite icon next to the channel name), then copy the link. Discord says the panel shows a link valid for 7 days by default, and Edit invite link lets you change how long it lasts and how many times it can be used.
That's the whole job for a one-off invite. The settings behind it are where it gets interesting, especially if you're using a server for a community, a course or a client group and want the link to keep working for months.
Create and copy an invite link
Here are Discord's steps, as of Nov 2026. You need permission to create invites in that server.
- Open your server and hover over the right-hand side of the channel you want people to land in.
- Press Create Invite. You can also click the Instant Invite icon next to the channel name.
- To send it straight to someone you've chatted with recently, press the Invite button next to their name. To share it anywhere else, copy the link.
- To change the defaults, press Edit invite link.
- Set how long the link stays valid and the maximum number of uses.
- Press Generate a New Link, then copy the new link.
There's a second route for friends. Right-click a friend's icon anywhere in Discord and choose Invite to Server. As long as your role has the Create Instant Invite permission, the server shows in the drop-down, and Discord sends your friend a DM with the invite. That route only works once they're on your list, so add friends on Discord first.
If the person has never used Discord, you can paste the link anywhere you can paste text. Discord says new users who open it get a quick rundown of the app and a chance to set up an account.
The channel you copy from matters
Discord says each channel in a server has its own Instant Invite link, and the channel you copy it from is where people land every time they use it. Copy the link from a rules channel and the rules channel is the first thing a newcomer sees.
For a business server that's a small but useful lever. Create your invite from a welcome or start-here channel, not from whatever channel you happen to be chatting in.
Invite settings explained
| Invite setting | What it does | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | How long the link stays valid; 7 days by default, as short as 30 minutes, or never expiring in a Community server | Create Invite, then Edit invite link |
| Max number of uses | How many times the link works; can be set to No limit | Edit invite link |
| Grant temporary membership | People who join through the link are kicked when they disconnect, unless someone gives them a role | Edit invite link |
| Pause Invites | Stops anyone joining through your links without deleting them | Server Settings, then Invites |
| Remove an invite | Deletes one link permanently | Server Settings, then Invites, the x next to it |
| Custom invite link | A memorable address instead of a random code | Server Settings, then Boost Perks |
Discord's Invites 101 article says you can set a temporary link that lasts only 30 minutes, or one that doesn't expire at all if you're in a Community server. Once you've changed a channel's settings, the invite panel shows your previous settings for that channel rather than the 7-day default.
Discord adds a warning worth taking seriously: the only way anyone can access your server is through an invite link, so be careful who you give it to.
Deleting is permanent, pausing isn't
Admins with the right permissions can remove invite links at any time under Server Settings, then Invites, by pressing the x next to each one. Discord says that once an invite's deleted, it can't be remade with the same code, and Discord Support can't create it again either. If that code is printed on a flyer or saved in a course, it's gone for good.
Pause Invites is the gentler option. With Manage Server, go to Server Settings, then Invites, and press Pause Invites. Discord says your existing links, embeds and vanity URLs stay visible but nobody can join through them, and people who click are told invites are paused. Press Enable Invites to switch them back on.
A few details from Discord's Pause Invites FAQ:
- It also stops people joining through Server Discovery.
- Your links and vanity URL don't change while they're paused.
- People who tried to join while you were paused aren't notified when you re-enable invites.
- You can pause on desktop; Discord says it's working on mobile support.
- AutoMod can't be set to pause invites automatically.
Discord suggests pausing during a raid, for maintenance, or when you want to stop joins indefinitely without revoking links you'd only have to recreate later.
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Custom invite links need Boost Level 3
A custom invite link swaps Discord's random code for a memorable, branded one. Discord says it's available to servers at Server Boost Level 3 and stays yours as long as the server keeps that boost status. If the boosts run out, Discord says you lose the custom link after 30 days. My guide to how server boosting works explains the levels.
To set one, go to Server Settings, then Boost Perks, scroll to Custom Invite Link, enter up to 25 characters using lowercase letters, numbers and dashes, and press Save Changes. Before you do, make sure at least one text channel is visible to @everyone, or the link won't work, and it'll stop working if you later hide that channel.
Two catches. Setting a custom invite link makes your server public, so anyone with the link can join; if you want a closed server, see my page on making a Discord server private. And Discord can remove a custom link if it finds abuse or an intellectual property conflict. Discord Support can't tell you in advance whether a name is free, so if you get an error, try another.
When someone says your invite is invalid
Discord's Invalid Invite Links article lists four messages the other person might see:
- Unknown or Expired Invite: the link has probably expired. Send a new one.
- Invalid: the code may be wrong. Codes are case sensitive, so check it was copied exactly, or send a new link.
- 100 Server Limit: they're already in 100 servers, the most a user can join. Discord says Nitro raises that to 200. More on that in my page on Discord's server limit.
- Banned: they may be banned from your server. Discord says server bans are based on IP addresses, so an admin has to revoke the ban in Server Settings.
My verdict
I'd start by creating your main invite from a welcome channel, with no expiry if you're a Community server and no limit on uses, so the link you put in emails and on your website keeps working. Skip deleting old links when you just want a break; pause invites instead, because a deleted code can never come back. And skip the custom link unless your server will stay at Boost Level 3, since it lapses 30 days after the boosts run out.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Discord invite link last?
Discord says the default invite link is valid for 7 days. You can change it in Edit invite link, from as short as 30 minutes to never expiring in a Community server.
How do I make a Discord invite link that never expires?
Open Create Invite, press Edit invite link and set the duration so it doesn't expire. Discord says permanent links are available if you're in a Community server, and you can set Max number of uses to No limit.
Can I get a deleted Discord invite link back?
No. Discord says a deleted invite can't be remade with the same code, and Discord Support can't recreate it.
How do I get a custom Discord invite link?
Your server needs Server Boost Level 3. Go to Server Settings, then Boost Perks, and enter up to 25 characters using lowercase letters, numbers and dashes.
Why does my Discord invite say invalid?
Discord lists four causes: the link has expired, the code is wrong (codes are case sensitive), the person has hit the 100-server limit, or they're banned from the server.
