How to Add an Announcement Channel to Discord

Discord announcement channels allow server admins and mods to notify members of new events and other happenings, but they haven't always been a feature. Discord introduced official announcement channels in late 2022, as most servers initially used locked text channels for this purpose. Now, any Discord user can follow these channels for updates.

If you own a server or two and want to set up an announcement channel, look no further. You will learn everything you need to know about its features and benefits. Read on to find out more.

How to Add Announcement Channels in Discord on PC

Announcement channels are unique in that people can follow them and receive updates on their servers. When they select the follow button inside the channel, all updates are also displayed in a designated location owned by the user. Location is another channel where these updates appear in real time.

However, announcement channels are only available for servers that have the “Community Server” option enabled. The community servers are friendly and even receive updates from Discord with new moderation features and more. But before a standard server can become a community server, it must meet several conditions:

• Verification level settings

All server members must have a verified email address before they can send messages within the server or private mail server members. However, users who have been assigned roles are exempt from this requirement.

• Explicit Media Filter

This setting will analyze each member's media content as it is uploaded. It will remove any explicit content unless you mark specific channels as NSFW (Not Safe For Work).

• A channel with clearly displayed rules and guidelines

This rule is self-explanatory and all members should be able to read the rules at all times. Be sure to clearly state what is allowed and what is not.

• A community update or moderator channel

A channel where Discord sends announcements that server admins and mods will find useful is needed. These may include new moderation features, as explained above.

You can read the Discord Community Guidelines by opening the link above. Discord will verify your server's content before giving it the green light to become a community server.

Once you have completed all of the above, you will be able to set up an announcement channel on your server.

Here's how to do it:

1. Launch Discord on your PC (either the client or the web version).
   
2. Click on the Community Server you want to edit.
   
3. On the left, look at the channel bar and click the “+” button.
   
4. Check the "Ad channel" option in the list.
   
5. Give it a name that reflects the server's theme or something simple.
   
6. Click on “Create channel” and create it.
   
7. You can start posting ads there and other users can follow the channel.

If you already have a channel from the past that serves as a makeshift ad channel, you can convert that as well.

1. From your PC, open Discord.
   
2. Navigate to the server you want to modify.
   
3. In the channel bar, use your cursor to highlight the channel you want to edit.
   
4. Click on the gear icon that appears on the right.
   
5. Enable the “Ad channel” option to convert it.
   
6. Start making announcements.

Using announcement channels, server members can stay informed even if they are not very active on your server. They will have to go through it first, but that's not a complex process either; it only takes a few clicks.

Ad Channel Details

Here are some details about ad channels you should know:

• Pings are not reported.

Mentions such as @everyone, @here and more will not show if you are following an announcement channel. There is no need to worry about extra pings.

The updates you get from the following announcement channels are identical from source down to media, spoiler tags, etc.

• You will know when the original ad is changed.

When an administrator decides to revise the message, the message you receive on your server is also modified to reflect all changes.

• The message will not be deleted if the original disappears.

While you can still see the update, you will also receive a notice below that says "Original post deleted".

• You can post 10 updates per hour.

If you exceed this limit, your rate will be limited. Make sure you don't annoy your server members.

How to Add Announcement Channels in Discord on an iPhone

If you own, administer, or moderate a community server, you can also add announcement channels to the server from an iPhone. The process is similar to PC, as Discord's UI on all platforms doesn't change too much.

Just like on a PC, your server must first pass Discord's standards and checks before becoming a full-fledged community server. This is when the many features such as announcement channels become available.

Read on for iPhone instructions:

1. Open your iPhone's Discord app.
2. Go to one of your community servers.
   
3. Swipe left or tap the horizontal triple bars on the left.
   
4. Tap the “+” icon.
   
5. Name your channel.
   
6. Tap on the “Ad Channel” option.
   
7. When done, tap the check mark in the upper right corner.
   
8. Your announcement channel is now ready.

Anyone with moderating powers can also convert an existing channel to an announcement channel on an iPhone by following these steps:

1. On your iPhone, open the Discord app.
2. Access a community server that you moderate.
   
3. Tap the three horizontal bars to the left or swipe left.
   
4. Tap the channel you want to edit.
   
5. Select “Settings”.
   
6. Check the box in the menu that appears saying "Ad Channel".
   
7. Now you can start making announcements.

There's no need to go back to the PC to make these settings, as Discord is fully mobile-friendly, even for moderation.

How to Add Announcement Channels in Discord on Android Device

If you're used to using Discord for iPhone, it's not hard to switch to an Android device. You can also find the same commands on Discord for Android. This similarity also includes the addition of announcement channels, among other functions.

Follow these steps if you are an Android user:

1. Open the Discord app on your Android device.
2. Tap one of your community servers.
   
3. Swipe left or tap the hamburger icon (three bars) on the left side.
   
4. Tap the “+” icon that appears.
   
5. Name your new announcement channel.
   
6. Select "Ad Channel".
   
7. Tap the check mark in the upper right corner when you're done with the settings.
   
8. Start making your announcements.

If you want to reuse an existing string, here are the instructions:

1. Launch Discord for Android.
2. Scroll down until you find your server and select it.
   
3. Tap the hamburger icon (triple bars) on the left or swipe left.
   
4. Select the channel you want to make an announcement channel.
   
5. Choose "Settings" from the list.
   
6. Tap the “Ad channel” box to tick it.
   
7. Your channel is ready for announcements.

How to Add Announcement Channels in Discord on an iPad

iPads are basically big iPhones, which means Discord works the same on both devices. You get a bigger screen and even the ability to use a stylus or mouse and keyboard on iPads. However, we'll focus on the touchscreen controls instead.

The process for iPad is as follows:

1. Open the Discord client on your iPad.
2. Tap one of the community servers you manage.
   
3. Swipe from right to left or tap the triple horizontal bars (hamburger) on the left.
   
4. When the “+” icon appears, tap it.
   
5. Name the announcement channel appropriately.
   
6. At the bottom, select "Ad channel".
   
7. Tap the checkmark in the upper right corner when you're ready.
   
8. You can now make announcements and other users can follow the channel.

As for converting a normal channel to an ad channel, follow these guidelines:

1. Open your iPad's Discord app.
2. Scroll down until you find your server and select it.
   
3. Tap the hamburger (triple horizontal bars) on the left or swipe left.
   
4. Select the channel you want to use as the announcement channel.
   
5. Choose "Settings" from the list.
   
6. In the next menu, check the “Ad channel” box.
   
7. Start making announcements in the channel.

Listen, everyone

Allowing server members to see all announcements on a single channel is very convenient. Although the steps to become a community server are quite complex, these servers have unique advantages. The transition to a community server is worth it if you're trying to grow and stay organized.

Do you follow ad channels? How many do you follow? Let us know in the comments section below.