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Community Discovery FAQs

Answers to common questions about listing your community in Discovery.

Listing your community​

What is a Community Discovery listing?​

A listing puts your community in Root's public directory, so anyone on Root can find it by category or search and join without an invite. It's off until the owner turns it on, and you can unlist at any time. See List your community in Discovery.

Who can turn listing on?​

Only the community owner. Admins don't see the Discovery section in Community settings, even with the Manage Community permission.

Why can't I turn listing on?​

Your community has to meet every requirement first: a picture, banner, description, and category, join throttling turned on, a verified owner email, at least 4 cores (level 4), at least 10 members, and at least 7 days old. The Discovery page in Community settings lists each one under NEEDS ACTION or MET, and links to where you fix it. The toggle stays off until everything is met. See Listing requirements.

Why does listing need level 4?​

Because it keeps the directory worth browsing. Discovery is the first place many new Root users look for a community. If it filled up with abandoned or low effort communities, real ones would get buried and people would stop using it. Asking for four cores is the simplest filter: a community with cores behind it is one that people are invested in.

The cores aren't only for the listing. They also unlock app and bot slots and the other level benefits, and they keep doing that for as long as they're assigned. See Community levels.

Do I need a Sudo subscription to list my community?​

No. The level 4 requirement means four cores assigned to your community, and they can come from any members. Members get cores with a Sudo subscription or by buying them directly. See Community levels.

How do I unlist my community?​

Turn List in Discovery off on the Discovery page in Community settings. Your community leaves the directory straight away, and the members you already have stay.

After you're listed​

Why can't I find my community in Discovery?​

A few things to check:

  • Sorting: the directory sorts by Highest level by default, and Most members is the other option. A community that has just met the minimums sits near the bottom of both. Select Load more to see further down the list.
  • Search: type your community's name in Search communities. Search matches names and descriptions.
  • Category: if a category pill is selected, only that category shows. Select All.
  • You're already a member: your own community still appears, with a Joined tag on its card.

If the Discovery settings page says your community is listed, it is in the directory. On desktop, select View in Discovery on that page to jump straight to your listing.

Does my community get unlisted if it drops below a requirement?​

No. The requirements are checked when you turn listing on. If a member leaves or a core is unassigned afterwards, your community stays listed. You only need to meet the requirements again if you unlist and want to turn listing back on.

Why can't I remove my community's banner, description, or join throttle?​

Because your community is listed. A listed community has to keep its picture, banner, description, category, and join throttle, so a save that would clear one of them is blocked and a notice names the field. You can still change them, just not remove them. To remove one, unlist your community first: open the Discovery page in Community settings, turn List in Discovery off, then make the change.

Can people join from Discovery if my community is age restricted or requires a verified email?​

Yes. Those settings still apply. Someone joining from Discovery is asked to confirm they're 18 or older, or to verify their email address, before they get in. See Age restrictions and Require email verification.

Why does the Discovery page say listing has been disabled?​

Root moderation has removed your community from Discovery, usually for breaking the Community Discovery guidelines. The toggle is locked while this applies. If you think it's a mistake, report an issue to Root support.

Can I see who joined from Discovery?​

Yes. The community's action log records each member who joined from Discovery, and when listing was turned on or off. See Monitor actions.