How to Change Discord Server Banner (Size, Levels and Steps)

A server banner is the image across the top of your channel list. For a creator community, a client group or a small business server, it's the first thing members see, so it's worth setting up well.

Everything below comes from Discord's Server Banners help article. Discord changes its apps now and then, so if a button looks slightly different on your screen, follow the same idea: Server Settings, then Overview.

What a Discord server banner is and where it shows

Discord describes the Server Banner as an image displayed at the top of the channel list. The goal is to make your community feel more unique, and Discord says it helps people identify which server they're visiting at a glance.

It's not the same as your server icon, which is the small round picture in the server list, or an invite background, which is a different feature. The banner sits above your channels once the server qualifies.

Which Discord servers can have a banner

• Static banner: servers that have reached Boosting Level 2.
• Animated banner: servers that have reached Boosting Level 3.
• Partner servers: Discord says a Partner server has the banner perk without needing a Boosting Level.

If you don't see the banner option, the likely reason is the server hasn't reached the level. Discord's Server Boosting FAQ explains how Boosts work.

Who can change the Discord server banner

Discord says server owners and members whose role has the Manage Server or Administrator permission can upload or change the banner. If you're a moderator without that permission, ask an admin to make the change or to give your role the right permission.

Uploading a Discord server banner step by step

1. Open your server and go to Server Settings.
2. Choose Overview.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
4. Find the section called Server Banner Background.
5. Upload your image or GIF.

That's the whole path in Discord's article. Because I can't see your exact screen, follow the on-screen prompts after the upload and check the banner preview before you leave the page.

The best Discord server banner size and image rules

Discord gives clear guidelines, and following them stops a banner looking stretched or messy:

Guideline	What Discord says
Size	At least 960x540 pixels, in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Larger images	A 1920x1080 image works, and Discord resizes it for you.
Top of the image	Keep the top 48px fairly simple, so your server title stays easy to read.
Logos and text	Avoid images or GIFs with a logo or text in them.
Style	Use something that represents your game or brand, such as key art, a character still or subtle background art.

The title of your server sits over the top strip, which is why Discord asks for a calm area there. A busy image makes the name hard to read, particularly on a phone.

Choosing a Discord banner for a brand or creator server

Treat the banner like a tiny billboard. It's seen every time someone opens your server, so it should say whose space you've entered without needing text. A few ideas that follow Discord's own guidance:

• Use a photograph, illustration or pattern that suits your brand colours.
• Put the focus lower down, away from the title strip.
• Skip tiny logos and words, which are hard to read at banner size.
• Check it looks right in dark and light themes before you settle on it.

If you're building a community around emojis and in-jokes, adding custom emojis to your Discord server goes nicely with a banner. And if you'd like a matching personal look, my walk-through of changing your Discord profile picture covers that.

Preparing your Discord banner image before you upload

A few minutes of preparation saves a lot of re-uploading. Make the image in a 16:9 shape at the larger 1920x1080 size, because Discord says it will resize that for you. Leave the top strip calm and uncluttered, then look at it small. If you can still tell what it shows at phone-screen size, it'll work.

• Save the file somewhere you can find it on your computer or phone.
• Check the image is one you have the right to use, such as your own artwork or photos.
• Keep a copy of the original in case you want to crop it differently later.

How the Discord animated server banner behaves

Animated banners need Boosting Level 3. Discord explains how they behave:

• The banner animates for 5 seconds when the server first loads, then pauses.
• If the banner scrolls out of view and returns, it animates again for 5 seconds.
• It animates when you hover over it, like an animated server icon.
• If reduced motion is switched on, it doesn't animate.

You can only upload one image at a time. If your server drops from Level 3 to Level 2, Discord says the animated banner becomes static, using the same image. You can upload a new banner whenever the level changes.

Removing or replacing a Discord server banner

1. Go to Server Settings, then Overview.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Press Remove under the preview of the banner.

To replace a banner, upload a new image in the same Server Banner Background section.

If you can't find the Discord server banner option

• Check the server's Boosting Level. Discord says Level 2 is needed for a banner.
• Check your role has Manage Server or Administrator, or ask the owner.
• Look at the very bottom of Overview. The banner section is below the other settings.
• Update the app or try the desktop or browser version if you're on a phone.

If a Partner server can't see it, that's one for Discord's support team.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my Discord server banner?

Go to Server Settings, then Overview, scroll to the bottom to Server Banner Background and upload your image or GIF.

What level does a Discord server need for a banner?

Discord says Boosting Level 2 for a banner and Level 3 for an animated banner. Partner servers get the banner perk without a Boosting Level.

What size should a Discord server banner be?

Discord recommends at least 960x540 pixels at 16:9. A 1920x1080 image works and is resized automatically.

Who can upload a Discord server banner?

The server owner and members whose role has the Manage Server or Administrator permission.

How do I remove a Discord server banner?

Go to Server Settings, Overview, scroll to the bottom and press Remove under the banner preview.

What happens to my animated banner if the level drops?

Discord says it becomes a static banner using the same image.