Alexis Kestler
Hey there! Is your Discord app glitching out? Can‘t send messages or join voice chats? Having connection issues? We totally get it – even the best apps like Discord run into problems sometimes.
Not to worry, we‘ve got you covered. We‘ll walk through the most common Discord problems and show you step-by-step how to get Discord working again. Whether you use it on desktop or mobile, we know the ins and outs to get you chatting with your friends in no time.
Why Might Discord Not Be Working?
Before we dig into fixes, let‘s look at some reasons why Discord might not be cooperating:
Server Outages
The #1 cause of widespread Discord disruptions is an outage on their servers. Discord relies on a globally distributed network of servers to handle all that voice, video and messaging data.
Unfortunately, server issues happen around once per month on average:
| Year | Reported Outages |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 19 |
Major outages typically last 1-3 hours before being resolved. Check Discord‘s status site to see if problems are ongoing.
Internet Connection Problems
Since Discord relies on sending data back and forth from their servers, your own internet connection issues can easily disrupt things.
Common problems like wifi deadzones, ISP outages, slow speeds, and using VPNs/proxies tend to cause the most connection-related Discord frustrations.
Software Bugs
Discord pushes new versions and updates extremely frequently – sometimes multiple per week! This allows them to rapidly roll out new features and improvements.
But it also inevitably leads to unforeseen bugs cropping up with some releases that cause crashes, audio problems, lag, etc that only affect certain users.
Platform Compatibility Issues
With desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and a web app, Discord has to maintain tight compatibility across all platforms.
Small inconsistencies and limitations across these platforms can sometimes cause frustrating issues for users on certain devices.
User-End Problems
Lastly, problems on the user‘s end like outdated operating systems, low disk space, computer malware, or restrictive networks can prevent the Discord apps from running smoothly.
Step-By-Step Guide to Fixing Discord
Alright, now that we understand the "why", let‘s get into the "how" of fixing Discord‘s most annoying problems.
We‘ll go through separate troubleshooting flows based on whether you primarily use the desktop apps, mobile apps, or web version:
Fixing Discord Desktop App Issues
About 56% of Discord‘s 150 million+ users access it via the Windows and Mac desktop apps, making it the most popular platform.
Here are the steps to get the desktop app running smoothly again:
1. Check for Outages
First, visit Discord‘s status site or check their Twitter to see if they‘re experiencing any acknowledged outages. If so, just hang tight until it‘s fixed.
2. Restart the App
Often a quick restart can clear up minor glitches and connection hiccups. Completely force quit Discord and relaunch it.
3. Update Discord
Make sure you‘re running the latest version of Discord. Open the app, click the gear icon, go to "Check for Updates" and install if any are available.
4. Update Operating System
Using an outdated OS like Windows 7 or MacOS Catalina can cause compatibility issues. Check for OS updates and install the latest supported version.
5. Scan for Malware
Viruses and malware like keyloggers and cryptojackers can interfere with apps like Discord. Run a full system scan with your antivirus software to remove anything suspicious.
6. Free Up Disk Space
A full hard drive prevents apps from running well. Delete unused files and clear caches to free up ample disk space for Discord. 25GB free is a good minimum.
7. Reinstall Discord
If all else fails, completely uninstall Discord, delete any remaining files/folders, restart your computer, then download and reinstall the app from scratch.
Fixing Discord Mobile App Issues
Roughly 36% of users primarily use Discord on iOS or Android mobile devices.
Here are the best troubleshooting steps for mobile app issues:
1. Check for Outages
Just like on desktop, make sure there are no ongoing server outages before investigating further. Check Discord‘s status page or Twitter.
2. Force Close the App
Double tap the home button and swipe up on the Discord preview to fully force close it. Then reopen the app. This clears any glitches.
3. Update the App
On iOS, check the App Store Updates tab. On Android, check Play Store My Apps for any Discord updates and install them.
4. Restart Your Phone
Power cycling your phone by turning it off completely, waiting 30 seconds, and powering back on can fix pesky app issues.
5. Reinstall the App
On iOS, long press the Discord icon and delete the app, then redownload it. On Android, uninstall from app settings. This wipes corrupt data.
6. Free Up Storage
Low storage on your phone can cause app crashes and slowness. Delete unused apps, photos, and videos to free up ample space.
Fixing Discord Web/Browser Issues
Around 8% of users opt for the flexibility of Discord‘s web-based chat through their browsers.
Here are tips to get Discord working properly in your browser:
1. Check for Outages
Yep, even browser issues are often just unchecked outages! So first peek at that status page.
2. Refresh Page
A simple page refresh clears browser caches and reconnects the websockets powering Discord chat.
3. Try Incognito Mode
Open an incognito/private window and access Discord. This prevents browser extensions from interfering.
4. Clear Cache & Cookies
Go into your browser settings and wipe out browser data, caches, and cookies, then refresh Discord.
5. Try Different Browser
Not all browsers play equally nice with Discord‘s web version. Switch from Chrome to Firefox or vice versa to see if it helps.
6. Disable VPNs/Proxies
VPN connections and proxies can throttle speeds and disrupt Discord‘s traffic. Disable them and reconnect directly.
Top Discord Connection Errors & How to Fix Them
Beyond general troubleshooting, you may encounter some specific error messages while using Discord across platforms. Here are fixes for the most common ones:
"Disconnected: Error 1000" or trouble connecting
This usually indicates connection issues between you and Discord‘s servers. Try switching wifi networks or use mobile data to see if connectivity improves.
"Something went wrong. Reload."
Generic glitch indication on mobile or web. Try force closing and reopening the app or do a hard browser refresh.
"Cannot reach Discord API"
Suggests an outage or network issue on Discord‘s end. Check status page and wait a short while to resolve itself.
"Cloudflare – Error 523"
Cloudflare handles Discord traffic and throws this when servers are overwhelmed. Outage related, so hang tight.
"Error code: 10013"
Typically means your system firewall or antivirus blocked access to Discord. Add exceptions for Discord.exe and discordapp.com.
"Error updating discord HYPER: Windows error"
Discord file corruption. Uninstall completely with Revo Uninstaller then reinstall fresh copy.
"Discord failed to install"
Likely lack of admin access or OS compatibility issue. Try installing as admin and update Windows/MacOS.
"We had some trouble getting to Discord"
Can‘t reach servers. Internet connectivity issue on your end. Check settings and modem/router.
FAQs and Troubleshooting Tips
We get lots of questions about resolving quirky Discord behavior, so here are some of the most helpful answers and tips:
Why does Discord lag when my internet is fine?
Discord requires low latency and ping for optimal voice performance. Run a speedtest and contact your ISP if latency is above 150-200ms.
How do I improve Discord video quality?
In User Settings > Voice & Video, adjust your camera, resolution, frame rate, encoder, and bitrate settings until you get desired quality.
Why does my avatar keep changing?
Someone may have hacked your account and changed your avatar and settings. Reset password, enable 2FA for added security.
How do I completely uninstall Discord?
Use Revo Uninstaller to fully wipe Discord folders and registry entries, then reboot before reinstalling. Avoid native Windows uninstall.
Where are Discord‘s servers located?
Discord has localized servers around the world in regions like US West, Europe, Singapore, and Australia. Use a ping test to determine best server.
Does Discord work on a VPN?
VPNs can successfully tunnel Discord traffic, but may cause lag, degrading calls. Use a premium VPN optimized for gaming/VoIP for best results.
Can you use Discord on mobile data?
Yes, Discord works fine on 3G/4G/5G cellular data, however voice and video call quality may suffer compared to a solid wifi connection.
Why does Discord use so much RAM?
All those sprites, animations, video streaming, and chat eat up RAM. Close background processes and upgrade to 16GB+ RAM if you experience slowness.
Get Back to Chatting!
Well, that about covers it – from server outages to software bugs to router issues, we‘ve discussed a ton of potential reasons why Discord might not be working for you and how to fix them.
Don‘t let connection issues come between you and your gaming pals or communities. Bookmark this page, and refer back to the troubleshooting steps if you ever have problems with Discord in the future so you can quickly get back to sharing memes and jumping into voice chats.
We hope you found this guide useful. Let us know if you have any other Discord questions – we‘re happy to help get you chatting smoothly again!
