diff --git a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettings.tsx b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettings.tsx
index 31caa401e1..44679151b8 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettings.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettings.tsx
@@ -82,12 +82,13 @@ export function WelcomeChannelSettings() {
       <SettingsOptionGroup>
         <SettingsOptionRow data-testid="welcome-channel-row">
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-            <p className="text-sm font-medium">Welcome channel</p>
+            <p className="text-sm font-medium">Custom welcome message</p>
             <p
               className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/70"
               data-settings-subcopy
             >
-              Set the message new members see when they join.
+              Create a message new members will see in their own Welcome
+              channel.
             </p>
           </div>
           <Button
@@ -109,15 +110,13 @@ export function WelcomeChannelSettings() {
           <DialogHeader>
             <DialogTitle>
               {creationMode === "assist"
-                ? "Help me write a welcome message"
-                : savedMessage
-                  ? "Edit welcome message"
-                  : "Create a welcome message"}
+                ? "Get writing help"
+                : "Custom welcome message"}
             </DialogTitle>
             <DialogDescription>
               {creationMode === "assist"
-                ? "Describe what you want new members to know. We’ll create a structured draft you can edit."
-                : "Write freely, then right-click to insert a member, link, image, or channel."}
+                ? "Describe what new members should know, and generate a draft you can edit."
+                : "Welcome new members and share helpful information, channels, and community practices. Right-click to add names, channels, images, or links."}
             </DialogDescription>
           </DialogHeader>
 
@@ -129,11 +128,12 @@ export function WelcomeChannelSettings() {
                   autoFocus
                   className="min-h-0 flex-1 resize-none rounded-2xl border-border/50 bg-background/80 px-4 py-3 text-base shadow-none placeholder:text-muted-foreground/65"
                   onChange={(event) => setAssistantPrompt(event.target.value)}
-                  placeholder="Welcome new members by name, ask them to introduce themselves in #introductions, and share our community guide and team photo."
+                  placeholder="Welcome new members by name. Ask them to introduce themselves in #introductions, then share our community guide and team photo."
                   value={assistantPrompt}
                 />
                 <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                  Include the tone, links, images, and channels you want to use.
+                  Describe the tone and include any links, images, or channels
+                  you want to share.
                 </p>
               </div>
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ export function WelcomeChannelSettings() {
                   type="button"
                   variant="ghost"
                 >
-                  Create manually
+                  Back to editor
                 </Button>
                 <Button
                   aria-busy={isGenerating}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettingsCard.tsx b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettingsCard.tsx
index 4951888f23..7cbd839430 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettingsCard.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/WelcomeChannelSettingsCard.tsx
@@ -78,13 +78,19 @@ const NEW_MEMBER_TOKEN = "{{member}}";
 const ALL_TOKEN_PATTERN = /\{\{member\}\}|\{\{insert:([^}]+)\}\}/g;
 
 export const DEFAULT_MESSAGE: WelcomeMessage = {
-  text: `Welcome, ${NEW_MEMBER_TOKEN}! We’re so glad you’re here. Take a look around and tell us what you’re excited to build.\n\nIntroduce yourself and visit {{insert:community-guide}} to get started.`,
+  text: `Welcome, ${NEW_MEMBER_TOKEN}! We’re glad you’re here. Take a look around.\n\nIntroduce yourself in {{insert:choose-channel}}, and visit {{insert:add-link}} to learn more about our community.`,
   inserts: [
     {
-      id: "community-guide",
+      id: "choose-channel",
+      type: "channel",
+      title: "Choose a channel",
+      url: "",
+    },
+    {
+      id: "add-link",
       type: "link",
-      title: "Community guide",
-      url: "https://example.com/community-guide",
+      title: "Add a link",
+      url: "",
     },
   ],
 };
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
index 826c36a72a..79d6bc5afa 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ test("builds a personalized welcome sequence", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(welcomeSettings).toBeVisible();
   await welcomeSettings.scrollIntoViewIfNeeded();
   const welcomeRow = welcomeSettings.getByTestId("welcome-channel-row");
-  await expect(welcomeRow).toContainText("Welcome channel");
+  await expect(welcomeRow).toContainText("Custom welcome message");
   await expect(
     welcomeRow.getByRole("button", { name: "Create" }),
   ).toBeVisible();
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ test("builds a personalized welcome sequence", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(welcomeRow.getByRole("button", { name: "Edit" })).toBeVisible();
   await welcomeRow.getByRole("button", { name: "Edit" }).click();
   await expect(
-    builder.getByRole("heading", { name: "Edit welcome message" }),
+    builder.getByRole("heading", { name: "Custom welcome message" }),
   ).toBeVisible();
   await expect(builder.getByRole("button", { name: "Save" })).toBeDisabled();
 });