[Update as of 8/19/21]
- We’re updating Thread permissions! Later in September, all the permission changes listed in this article will go live! See what’s changing here.

Discord can feel like an ocean sometimes with walls of text rapidly flooding your screen. Interesting conversations can be confusing to follow in the middle of other conversations and may just disappear entirely.

With Threads, you can belong to any conversation important to you and follow at your own pace.

No, this is not the new drip we are selling in the merch store. 

What does this FAQ cover?

• What are Threads?
• What’s Changing: Threads Permissions
• Thread Permissions
• How do I create a Thread?
  • Private threads
  • How do I close a Thread?
  • Can I open a Thread?
  • I want to delete my Thread
• How do I view and discover active threads? 
  • How do I join a Thread?
  • I want to leave a Thread
• Threads in Community Servers
• FAQ

What are Threads?

Threads allow multiple topics in a channel to exist and grow with their own dedicated space temporarily without having to commit to a new channel for the server. They make it easier to follow along with an unexpected topic that gains popularity and eliminates confusion when multiple, big topics are happening within a single channel.

Note for Bot Developers: Are you looking to update your bots to receive gateway events for threads or things that happen in threads? Check out our Developer Documentation here.

What’s Changing: Threads Permissions

Note: Later in September, all servers will switch to this new permissions system.

To make Threads permissions clearer, we’re now adding a fourth, Send Messages in Threads permission. Additionally -

1. Use Public Threads → Create Public Threads
2. Use Private Threads → Create Private Threads
3. Manage Threads (will remain the same)

With this additional Send Messages in Threads permission, the new behavior is:

• To send a message in a Thread members only need the “Send Messages in Threads” permission 
  • The Send Messages permission will no longer have any direct affect on Threads behavior anymore.
• To create a thread that anyone in a channel can view, server members only need the “Create Public Threads” permission
• To create a thread that only certain people in a channel can view, server members only need the “Create Private Threads” permission
• To moderate threads, server members still need the “Manage Threads” permission

You will see these permissions beginning 8/19/21, and on 8/27/21 you can switch to the new behavior at your own convenience. 

Thread Permissions

In order to use threads, you will need use four new permission that help you fine-tune which members can create threads, and which channels Threads can be made in.

These permissions include the following:

• Send Messages in Threads
  • Allows server members to participate within threads only - not for all general channels in the server
• Create Public Threads
  • Allow server members to create threads that can be publicly viewed by others who have access to the text channel
• Create Private Threads
  • Allow server members to create private threads that can only be accessed by those who are mentioned in the thread
• Manage Threads
  • Allows members to rename, delete, close/open, lock, and turn on slow mode for threads. They can also view private threads.

How do I create a Thread?

If you have the "Create Public Threads" permission and want to create a Thread, hover over any existing you would like to create a thread from and press on the # icon to create a thread. 

You can also create a new thread by pressing the + button in your chat bar

You may choose the visibility of your thread with the Hide After Inactivity drop-down menu:

Private Threads

Level 2 server boosted servers will have access to Private Threads. You will also need the "Create Private Threads" permission to create private threads. 

To create a private thread, head to the create thread menu (#) at the top of the app or from the attachment menu (+) in the chat bar.

Then make sure to have Private Thread checked:

Note: You can invite new people into private threads by @mentioning them

How do I close a thread?

After a certain period of inactivity - 7 days by default - a Threads will automatically close, clearing away the clutter in your channel sidebar for everyone visiting the channel. 

Note: Closing a Thread doesn’t mean it will be deleted.

If you would like to manually close the thread, you may press on the 3 dots(...) at the top right side of the threads window and press "Close Thread".

Can I open a Thread?

After a thread has been close, you can type in the thread to open it. You can also press on the 3 dots in the top right corner of the thread and select “Open Thread.” This will make the Thread appear in the Threads tab for the channel.

Note: If a moderator closes and locks a thread, only users with moderator permissions will be able to open the thread. 

I want to delete my thread

If you have the Manage Threads permission, you can delete a thread by pressing on the 3 dots (...) at the top right side of the threads window and press Delete Thread. This will remove the thread entirely.

There will be no way to recover the thread once deleted. 

How do I view and discover active threads?

To view or discover threads in a channel, you can use the Threads Discovery button, or hover over the Channel Sidebar! 

• Threads Discovery Button

Navigate to the Threads Discovery button at the top of the channel. 

Once you press the Thread Discovery button, you can now browse all threads in the channel. 

• Channel Sidebar

Additionally, on the desktop and browser app, you can hover over the channel name in the sidebar with your mouse to view and discover active threads and then click the See All option to view all other threads. 

How do I join a Thread?

To join an active thread, first press on the thread in the thread discovery tab, or press See Thread > on a thread you see in chat. An active thread is signified with a # plus a speech bubble icon

Note: You can also send a message in the thread to automatically join in!

Once you opened the thread, press Join. 

I want to leave a thread

To leave a thread that you joined, Navigate to the three dots (...) at the top right of the thread and press Leave Thread.

Threads in Community Servers

For now, Threads will not be enabled by default for Community servers. However, once you get access, you will have a new server settings tab on the web or in your client called “Threads Early Access.” 

From there, you can turn it on by clicking “Enable Threads,” and customize your Thread permissions for your community (e.g. enable in specific channels or disable for certain roles).

Otherwise, on September 9th, 2021, Thread permissions will be default-on for all Community servers too. 

FAQ

How do thread notification settings work?

You can change your notification setting on a thread and set it to all messages/mentions only / no messages.

How do you search threads?

Searching in a channel will include results from all threads in that channel

Can I access and use Threads on mobile?

Yes, Threads are available to everyone on both iOS and Android.

How many server members/roles can be within a thread?

When mentioning a small role in a message in a thread, all of the members of that small role that are able to view the thread will be added to it and notified.

These roles must have less than 100 members each, and only 10 roles can be mentioned per message.

Threads also only allow 1,000 members to be added to them. So if the mentioned role would not fit in the thread, the role members will not be added.