Midjourney Setup Guide for Beginners: Discord Bot, Prompt Syntax & Team Server Configuration

Getting Started with Midjourney: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Midjourney is one of the most powerful AI image generation tools available today, operating primarily through Discord. This guide walks you through everything from initial setup to configuring a private server for your team — so you can start creating AI-generated artwork in minutes.

Step 1: Create a Discord Account

Midjourney runs entirely inside Discord. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need one before proceeding.

• Visit discord.com and click Register.- Enter your email, username, password, and date of birth.- Verify your email address through the confirmation link Discord sends you.- Download the Discord desktop app or use the web version at discord.com/app.

Step 2: Subscribe to a Midjourney Plan

Midjourney requires a paid subscription. Visit midjourney.com/accounts to choose a plan. Here’s a breakdown:

Step 3: Join the Midjourney Discord Server

• Go to midjourney.com and click Join the Beta or visit the Midjourney Discord directly.- Accept the server invitation in Discord.- Navigate to any #newbies channel (e.g., #newbies-1, #newbies-44).- You’re now ready to generate your first creation.

Step 4: Understanding the /imagine Command Syntax

The core command in Midjourney is /imagine. Here’s the complete syntax structure: /imagine prompt: [text description] [parameters]

Parameter Reference

/imagine prompt: a minimalist logo design on white background --ar 1:1 --s 50 --v 6.1
/imagine prompt: futuristic city skyline at sunset, cyberpunk aesthetic —ar 16:9 —s 750 —c 25 —v 6.1
/imagine prompt: seamless geometric pattern, blue and gold —tile —ar 1:1 —v 6.1

Multi-Prompt Syntax

Use the double-colon :: operator to weight different parts of your prompt separately: /imagine prompt: sunset over ocean::2 dramatic clouds::1 --ar 16:9

This gives the ocean sunset concept twice the weight of the clouds element.

Step 5: Essential Bot Commands

This appends --v 6.1 --ar 16:9 --s 500 to every prompt automatically. Use /prefer suffix with no value to clear it.

Creating Custom Shortcuts

/prefer option set —option mylogo —value —ar 1:1 —s 50 —no text watermark

Now you can use —mylogo in any prompt to apply those parameters instantly.

Step 6: Private Server Configuration for Teams

For team workflows, setting up a private Discord server with the Midjourney Bot provides a cleaner, more organized workspace.

• Create a new Discord server: Click the + icon in the Discord sidebar and select Create My Own.- Invite the Midjourney Bot: Go to any Midjourney server channel, click on the Midjourney Bot’s profile, and select Add to Server. Choose your private server from the dropdown and authorize it.- Set up channels: Create dedicated channels for different project types:
• #brand-assets — logos, icons, brand materials- #concept-art — exploration and ideation- #production — final renders and approved outputs- #prompt-library — store and share effective prompts
- Configure permissions: Go to Server Settings → Roles. Create roles like Art Director, Designer, and Viewer to control who can generate and who can only browse.- Invite team members: Use Server Settings → Invites to generate invite links. Set expiration and usage limits for security.Important: Every team member using /imagine must have their own active Midjourney subscription. The bot runs on individual accounts, not server-level licenses.

Pro Tips for Power Users

• Use Relax Mode strategically: Type /relax for exploratory work and /fast when you need results quickly. This preserves your Fast GPU hours for client-facing work.- Seed locking for consistency: After generating a result you like, use /imagine prompt: your prompt —seed [number] to reproduce similar compositions. React to your generated image with the ✉️ emoji to receive the seed number via DM.- Permutation prompts: Generate multiple variations in one command using curly braces:/imagine prompt: a {red, blue, green} sports car —ar 16:9This creates three separate jobs, one for each color.- Pan and Zoom: After generating an image, use the arrow buttons (⬅️ ➡️ ⬆️ ⬇️) to extend the canvas in any direction, or the 🔍 button to zoom out.- Remix Mode: Enable via /settings and toggle Remix. This lets you modify the prompt when upscaling or making variations, giving you fine control over iterations.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Can I use Midjourney-generated images for commercial projects?

Yes. All paid Midjourney subscribers own the rights to the images they generate and can use them commercially. This includes prints, merchandise, marketing materials, and client work. Free trial users (when available) do not receive commercial usage rights. If you're a company with more than $1 million in annual gross revenue, you must be on a Pro or Mega plan for commercial use.

Do I need to keep Discord open for Midjourney to work?

You need to submit your prompts through Discord (or the Midjourney web app at midjourney.com), but you don’t need to keep Discord open while the image generates. Jobs continue processing server-side. You can also access your gallery, prompt history, and generation tools through the Midjourney website after linking your Discord account.

How do I prevent my team’s generations from appearing publicly on the Midjourney website?

You need a Pro or Mega plan subscription and must enable Stealth Mode. Type /stealth in any channel where the Midjourney Bot is active. In Stealth Mode, your generated images will not appear on the public Midjourney gallery or community feed. Note that each team member who wants stealth must activate it individually on their own account. Generations made before enabling Stealth Mode remain public.