Discord Won’t Open in Windows? Try These 11 Fixes Now
One of these is sure to do the trick
Do you have trouble getting Discord to open on your PC? Various factors, like unexpected software glitches, conflicting settings, and file corruption, can result in the app crashing or hanging at startup. In this troubleshooting guide, you’ll learn multiple ways to fix Discord launch issues in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Fully Quit and Re-Open Discord
It’s best to kick things off by completely shutting down Discord before attempting to relaunch it. That should resolve any random technical issues preventing the app from opening. To do that, right-click theDiscordicon on the system tray and selectQuit.
If the system tray icon is unresponsive, you can shut down Discord and any stuck background processesusing the Task Manager in Windows. Here’s how:
After quitting Discord, re-open the app and check if it launches correctly. If not, restart your computer—open theStart menuand selectPower>Restart—before moving on with the rest of the fixes.
2. Check for Discord Updates
Outdated software can cause compatibility issues, so the next fix involves ensuring you’rerunning the latest version of Discord. After attempting to open the application, right-click its icon on the system tray and selectCheck for Updates.
If Discord’s system tray icon fails to respond, download the Discord installer from theofficial Discord website. Run it, and it should automatically update the app and launch it afterward.
3. Run Discord as an Administrator
Insufficient permissions are another reason that interferes with Discord’s ability to launch. To fix the issue, try running the app as an administrator.
To do that, right-click theDiscordicon on the desktop area—or search forDiscordon theStart menu—and selectRun as administrator.
If that helps, you can configure Discord to always run as an administrator. To do that:
Note: If Discord is unavailable as a shortcut, open theStart menu, selectAll apps, and dragDiscordto the desktop area to create one.
4. Clear the Discord Cache
Corrupt files within the Discord cache can lead to various anomalies, so clearing it might restore normal app functionality. To do that:
5. Enable/Disable Hardware Acceleration
By default, Discord relies onhardware acceleration to improve performance. However, that can cause the app to malfunction on various Windows configurations. To fix that, you’ll need to turn off this feature.
Since you can’t access the relevant setting via the Discord app, you’ll have to disable hardware acceleration using File Explorer and Notepad. Here’s how:
If that helps, update your computer’s video card drivers, re-enable hardware acceleration, and check if the issue recurs.
6. Check the Discord Server Status
Every time you open Discord, it tries to connect to its servers. If these servers have a problem, the app could stop loading or display a blank screen indefinitely.
Visit Discord’s official status pageto ensure the servers are operational. If they’re experiencing an outage, you must wait for Discord to bring them back online.
7. Disable Proxies and VPN
If there’s nothing wrong with the Discord servers, considerdisabling any active proxiesorvirtual private networks (VPNs)on your Mac, as they can interfere with app connectivity. To do that:
8. Clear the DNS Cache
Obsolete DNS (Domain Name System) datacan prevent Discord from connecting to its servers. To clear the DNS cache in Windows:
9. Allow Discord on the Windows Firewall
If the problem persists, check theWindows Firewallto ensure that Discord has permission to communicate with the internet freely. To do that:
If Discord does not appear within the list, selectAllow another appand addDiscordfrom the following directory:
Local Disk C>Users>[Your Username]>AppData>Local>Discord
Note: Replace[Your Username]with your Windows username.
10. Correct the Date and Time
Incorrect system time settings can lead to Discord connection issues, so the next fix involves ensuring your computer’s clock is accurate. If it’s off, sync it with Microsoft’s time servers. Here’s how:
Learn how to manuallyset the time and date in Windowsif theclock fails to sync with the time servers.
11. Uninstall and Reinstall Discord
As a last resort measure, try uninstalling and reinstalling Discord, as that can resolve corruption issues with the application. If you’d like to go ahead:
Get Discord Up and Running Again
As long as you systematically work your way through the fixes above, you should be able to get Discord up and running pretty quickly. However, if none of them resolves the problem,contact Discord Supportanduse the web version of Discordin the meantime.
Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio
Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.
HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use
Copyright © 2008-2024 Help Desk Geek.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
