# Setting up the Discord server for your FiveM community

> Build the Discord server a FiveM community needs: Community mode and onboarding, a channel layout that scales, roles and permissions for staff and whitelisted players, verification and AutoMod, tickets, announcements, server status and linking Discord to the game.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-server-setup · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 11 min

**Short answer.** Enable Community mode for onboarding, rules screening and announcement channels. Organise channels into Start here, Community, Server info, Support and Staff categories; give permissions to roles, not people; set a verification level and AutoMod rules; run tickets for support and appeals; and connect Discord to the game with roles for whitelisting and permissions. Keep branding consistent with your loading screen.

## Key points

- Community mode unlocks onboarding and rules screening.
- Roles carry permissions; channels inherit from categories.
- Tickets for support, reports and appeals.
- Discord roles can gate whitelist and in-game perks.
- Same branding on Discord, loading screen and server list.

For most FiveM servers, Discord is the front door: applications, rules, announcements, support and the community between sessions all live there. A clear structure from day one saves you a messy reorganisation when you have two thousand members.

## A channel layout that scales

| Category | Channels |
| --- | --- |
| Start here | welcome, rules, how-to-join, roles |
| Announcements | announcements, updates, events, server-status |
| Community | general, media, clips, suggestions |
| Roleplay | applications, departments (police, EMS), businesses |
| Support | open-a-ticket, faq, bug-reports |
| Staff | staff-chat, logs, admin (hidden) |

## Roles and permissions

- Base roles: Unverified → Member → Whitelisted, plus department and staff roles.
- Set permissions on categories and let channels inherit them.
- Never give Administrator to more people than necessary.
- Mirror staff ranks with in-game permissions — see [txAdmin permissions](https://fam-tools.com/guides/txadmin-admins-permissions).

## Verification and moderation

- Community mode: rules screening before members can talk.
- A verification level that requires a verified email.
- AutoMod keyword and spam filters, plus a blocked-links list for scam domains.
- A logs channel for joins, leaves, deletions and bans.

## Connecting Discord and the game

- Whitelist by Discord role while players connect — see [Discord whitelist](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-whitelist-script).
- A server-status channel with player count (a bot polling the server).
- Rich presence so players advertise your server in their Discord profile — see [Discord rich presence](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-rich-presence).
- A join link pinned in how-to-join — see [connect links](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-server-connect-link-cfx-re).

## Branding

Server icon, banner and invite splash should match your loading screen and server list icon. Sizes are in [Discord branding sizes](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-server-branding-sizes).

## Questions

### What channels does a FiveM Discord need?

Start-here (welcome, rules, how to join), announcements, community chat, roleplay/applications, support tickets and hidden staff channels.

### How do I link Discord roles to my FiveM server?

Check roles with a Discord bot during connecting (for whitelists) or in scripts for perks and permissions.

### Should I enable Community mode?

Yes. It adds onboarding, rules screening and announcement channels.

### How do I handle support requests?

Use a ticket bot so each request gets a private channel with staff.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-server-branding-sizes
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-discord-rich-presence
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-staff-team-structure
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/grow-fivem-server-players