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Discord not opening? Here's how to fix it permanently
Discord is one of the most widely used platforms for messaging and chatting. If it's not working properly, it can keep you from connecting with your communities. In case Discord refuses to open, there are some simple solutions to fix it. This guide will walk you through how to troubleshoot and resolve Discord's opening issue.
How to Solve Discord's Opening Problems
End any Discord processes running in the background and reboot your computer if the issue persists. Ensure your system’s date and time settings are correct, clear your Discord cache, and try logging in through the web version to reset your session. Update Discord and, if necessary, uninstall and reinstall it.
Instructions
Verify if Discord is down.
There could be a temporary outage affecting Discord's startup. To check if Discord is experiencing downtime, visit https://discordstatus.com. Occasionally, the servers need to be taken offline for maintenance or to resolve issues. If Discord is down, you will need to wait until it’s back up and running.
Terminate any Discord processes running in the background.
Discord may still be running in the background. By default, Discord starts automatically when you boot up your computer. However, sometimes it doesn’t fully close, leaving inactive processes that can block new sessions from opening. You can force-quit any lingering processes on your PC or Mac:
-
Windows:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
- Click Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Find any process related to Discord.
- Click End Task.
-
Mac:
- Press Option + Command + Esc.
- Select Discord.
- Click Force Quit.
Reboot your computer.
A small glitch might be preventing Discord from launching. A quick restart of your computer can often resolve minor issues. After rebooting, try launching Discord again.
Double-check your system’s date and time settings.
Your computer’s date and time could be out of sync with Discord’s servers. If your system’s clock isn’t aligned with Discord's servers, the app may fail to open properly. To ensure the date and time are accurate:
- Windows: Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Select Time & Language, then turn on both "Set time zone automatically" and "Set time automatically". Afterward, click Sync Now.
- Mac: Click the Apple icon, then choose System Settings (or System Preferences). Navigate to Date & Time and enable both "Set Date & Time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically using your current location".
Clear your Discord cache.
Your cache might be corrupted. Cache files help applications run faster by storing temporary data, but they can become corrupted or take up too much space over time. You’ll need to clear the cache to fix this. Here's how:
- Windows: Press Windows key + R to open Run. Type "%appdata%" and press Ok. Find the "Discord" folder and delete it. Next, enter "%localappdata%" into Run, press Enter, and delete the "Discord" folder there as well.
- Mac: Open Finder and click Go in the menu. Select Go to Folder, then enter "~/Library/Application Support/discord/" and press Return. Drag the "Cache," "Code Cache," and "GPUCache" folders to the Trash.
Sign in to Discord through a web browser.
Your session might need to be refreshed. Logging in to Discord via a web browser helps reset your session. After doing so, try logging in through the app once again. If the app doesn't open, but the web version works, you can access Discord through the browser at https://discord.com/app.
Perform an antivirus scan.
Your computer might be infected with malware. Viruses and malware can prevent applications like Discord from launching or functioning properly. You can run a virus scan with a third-party antivirus software, or use Windows Security to detect malware. Here’s how:
- Windows: Open the Start menu and type "Windows Security". Click on it and go to Virus & threat protection, then click Quick Scan or Scan Now.
- Mac: Malware isn’t as common on Macs due to its Unix-based OS and restrictions on app installations. However, Macs can still get infected. If you think your Mac has malware, you can scan it using third-party antivirus software like Malwarebytes here.
Update and reinstall Discord.
The Discord installation might be corrupted. Reinstalling the app is a common way to resolve installation issues. By downloading the latest version from the official site, you’ll get a fresh copy of Discord, which will include any necessary bug fixes and updates. You can download Discord from https://discord.com/download.
Ensure your operating system is up to date.
Your Windows or macOS version could be outdated. Updating your operating system will fix any bugs and security vulnerabilities. It can also enhance the performance of apps like Discord. Follow the steps below to update your system:
- Windows: Open the Start menu, type "Windows Update", and select Check for Updates. Click Check for Updates in the Update window, then hit Install all to apply available updates.
- Mac: Click the Spotlight search icon and type "Software Update". Open Software Update, then click Update Now or Upgrade Now.
Look for any damaged files.
Corrupted files could stop Discord from launching. You can check for and repair broken files using the Command Prompt on Windows, or use Disk Utility on a Mac.
- Windows: Open the Start menu, type "CMD", right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Type "sfc /scannow" and hit Enter.
- Mac: Open Spotlight, type "Disk Utility", and select it. Choose your disk (usually "Macintosh HD") from the menu on the left, click First Aid, then click Run.
Adjust your proxy or VPN settings.
Your proxy settings may be blocking Discord's connection. Occasionally, Discord may not work properly with VPNs or proxy configurations. You can modify your proxy settings through the Windows Control Panel or the Mac System Settings. Follow these steps:
- Windows: Open the Start menu, type "Control Panel," and select it. Navigate to Hardware and Sound > Internet Options > Connections tab. Click on LAN Settings, check "Automatically detect settings," and uncheck "Use Proxy Server for your LAN."
- Mac: Click the Apple icon, then System Settings (or System Preferences). Go to Network and select your current network. Click Details, then Proxies, and disable options like "Auto proxy discovery," "Auto proxy configuration," and "Web proxy." Finally, click Ok.
Clear your DNS cache.
Your DNS cache might be hindering Discord's connectivity. Fortunately, this is an easy issue to fix. You can reset your DNS settings by following these steps:
- Windows: Open the Start menu, type "CMD", right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Type "ipconfig /flushdns" and press Enter.
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Mac: Open Spotlight and search for "Terminal". Launch Terminal and type "sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder", then press Return. Enter your login password and hit Enter.
- For older macOS versions, you’ll need to use a different command to reset your DNS settings.
