- Forum channels vs text channels vs threads
- Setting up a forum channel, step by step
- The settings that shape a forum
- Tags: label posts and make them required
- Moderating a forum
- Closing, pinning and thumbnails
- Searching a forum
- How Discord suggests rolling forums out
- My verdict on Discord forum channels
- Frequently asked questions
A Discord forum channel is a channel where every discussion is its own post, so topics don't get buried under each other. To make one, hover over a category, press the plus sign, choose Forum, name it and press Create Channel, but only after you've turned on Community for your server.
That Community requirement is the wall most people hit. Forum channels are only available on Community-enabled servers, so if Forum doesn't show up as a channel type, that's why. Enable Community first, then come back to the channel list. If you're starting from nothing, here are the server basics to get right first.
Forum channels vs text channels vs threads
| Channel or message type | What it's best for, per Discord |
|---|---|
| Text channel | In-the-moment chat |
| Forum channel | Longer discussion around specific topics, with each discussion in its own post |
| Thread | A more temporary side discussion; threads are a type of message, forums are a type of channel |
Because each discussion is tied to its own post, a forum is easier for a newcomer to get up to speed on: they open the post they care about rather than scrolling back through a busy text channel. Forum posts are also more persistent than threads, but mentions work the same way. You can ping people in a forum post, and anyone following that post keeps getting its notifications, but nobody is pinged for every new post in the channel. If a thread suits your server better, here's how threads compare to forum posts.
Setting up a forum channel, step by step
- Enable Community on your server.
- In the channel list, hover over the category you want and press the plus sign.
- Choose Forum as the channel type, enter a name and press Create Channel.
- Press Set recommended permissions, then limit the forum to specific roles or allow @everyone.
- Press Create post guidelines to add guidelines and tags.
- Choose the inactivity timer and the default layout, then make your first post.
The guidelines page is also where you can rename the channel and set up the tags members will pick from, so it's worth five minutes before the first post goes up. Discord's tip is to let everyone post, because it lifts engagement and use of the channel. If you only want some members posting, set that through the forum's permissions; my guide to roles shows how to control who can post.
The settings that shape a forum
| Setting | Options, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hide After Inactivity | 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days (the default) or 1 week |
| Default layout | List View or Gallery View |
| Tags | Optional labels, or required before anyone can post |
| Pinned posts | One at a time, with no timer |
| Moderation | AutoMod, Slow Mode and API support for developers |
Inactivity doesn't delete anything. Once a post has been quiet for the time you choose, it moves to the Older Posts section, and unless it's locked it can be reopened at any time, even after it's been closed.
List View suits text discussions and makes it easy for people to jump in. Gallery View suits media-focused forums, because members can see exactly what's in each post. Pick the one that matches what people will share.
Tags: label posts and make them required
Tags label what each post is about, and you can make them a requirement before anyone posts. A post can carry several tags. Readers filter the forum by selecting tags, or by tapping All and choosing from there, and selecting more than one narrows it further. If someone forgets, they can right-click the post, choose Edit Tags and add them afterwards.
Moderating a forum
Discord gives you three kinds of help here. AutoMod, its built-in moderation tool, works in forum channels and detects and removes problematic content automatically. Slow Mode lets moderators put limits in place if the volume of posts and messages gets out of hand. And Discord has updated its API documentation so developers can build forum support into their products.
Closing, pinning and thumbnails
To end a conversation, right-click the post and choose Close Post. It drops out of the new posts list and locks, so only moderators can reopen it. You can pin one post at a time, and it stays until you unpin it or pin another, which replaces it. Forgot a thumbnail? Be the first to reply to your own post with a photo, choose Add to Post, and it becomes the thumbnail.
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Searching a forum
Each forum channel has its own search bar at the top of the page. Type a keyword or phrase from the post title and it shows the matching posts. Combined with tag filters, it means members can find an old answer instead of asking the same question again.
How Discord suggests rolling forums out
- Create a private forum for you and your moderators to test and plan.
- Find existing text channels where a forum would fit, and replace them.
- Create new forum channels with guidelines and tags.
- Announce the change and ask your community for feedback.
- If the feedback's mostly positive, move your bigger core text channels over too.
My verdict on Discord forum channels
If your server answers the same questions over and over, or runs showcases where people post their work, a forum's worth switching Community on for. I'd set required tags from day one, because tagging a busy forum after the fact is a slog, and I'd leave the inactivity timer on the 3-day default until you see how fast posts move. If your server's mostly live chat, stick with text channels and threads.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I create a forum channel on Discord?
Forum channels are only available on Community-enabled servers. Enable Community first and Forum appears as a channel type.
How long before a Discord forum post is hidden?
It depends on the Hide After Inactivity setting: 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days or 1 week. Three days is the default.
What's the difference between forums and threads on Discord?
Forums are a type of channel and threads are a type of message. Forum channels are more persistent, threads more temporary.
How many posts can be pinned in a Discord forum?
One. It stays pinned until you unpin it or pin another post.
Can I add tags to a forum post after posting?
Yes. Right-click the post, choose Edit Tags and select the tags that apply.
