How to Fix Discord Connection Issues (2024)

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Troubleshooting tips for when Discord is not connecting

By

Brad Stephenson

How to Fix Discord Connection Issues (1)

Brad Stephenson

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  • Western Sydney University

Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency.

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Updated on September 16, 2021

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Jon Fisher

How to Fix Discord Connection Issues (2)

Reviewed byJon Fisher

  • Wichita Technical Institute

Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.

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Discord not connecting properly upon startup can be frustrating as it can prevent you from not only sending messages but accessing most of the content already downloaded onto the app. A looping “Connecting” animation is often the main sign of Discord not working though you may also encounter connection problems when trying to access third-party connections or sending and receiving messages.

Causes for Discord Not Working Properly

Discord stuck on connecting is usually caused by technical problems on Discord’s side, such as high volumes of traffic, or internet connectivity issues on your device. Corrupted app data can also be a cause of Discord connection problems, as can custom internet settings.

The following solutions apply to all versions of the Discord app on computers, smartphones, and tablets.

How to Fix Discord Not Connecting Errors

Here are all of the best ways to get around the Discord connecting error message and disconnection problems sorted from easiest to advanced.

  1. Check Discord’s status. Discord, or some of its services, may be down. You can check the current status of Discord at any time via DiscordStatus.com.

    Unfortunately, the only thing you can do in this scenario is wait.

  2. Check your internet connection. It’s possible that your smartphone may be out of range or that your internet service could be down. The quickest way to do this is to open another app that needs an internet connection and see if they’re working properly.

  3. Disable Airplane Mode. Airplane Mode can disable all cellular and internet connections so you may have accidentally turned Airplane mode on or it might still be on after a recent flight.

  4. Temporarily disable Wi-Fi. Your iPhone or Android smartphone may be connected to a dead Wi-Fi signal. Disable Wi-Fi to use your cellular network and see if that helps you connect to Discord.

  5. Properly close the app and reopen it. Quit the Discord app, wait a few seconds, and then reopen it. This can create a new connection to Discord that may work.

  6. Update the Discord app. If your app is giving you a Discord not connecting error, it may need an update so that it can connect to the Discord servers.

  7. Update your operating system. A system update can often fix any internet connectivity errors in addition to making your device more secure and efficient. This guides will help:

    • How to Update Windows
    • How to Update Mac
    • How to Update Android
    • How to Update iOS
  8. Restart your device. Whether you're restarting a computer, restarting an Android smartphone or tablet, or any iOS device, t’s a simple fix but one that’s known to get rid of a wide variety of technical issues including connectivity ones.

  9. Check the third-party service. If you’re having problems with Discord not connecting to another service such as Spotify, Xbox, or Twitch, open Connections via the main app menu and check that the link to the account has been made properly. You may need to add the connection again. It’s also possible that the service could be experiencing a temporary server outage. Their official account should tell you if such a thing is happening.

    If you’re unable to call upon an external service or feature while in a Discord chat, it’s entirely possible that the specific chat you’re using may simply not support connections to the service you want. A full list of the supported chatbot commands should be available within your community’s Faq, About, or Welcome topic.

  10. Troubleshoot the Discord app. If you’re using Windows 11, right-click on the Discord app’s icon in File Explorer and select Show more options > Troubleshoot compatibility. This will scan your device and the app’s files for any errors and attempt to fix them.

    You can also run a variety of other troubleshooters for internet and connectivity in Windows 11 via Settings > System > Troubleshoot.

  11. Disable proxy server settings. Using a proxy server can disrupt a connection to Discord. On Windows, make sure Use a proxy server is turned off in Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. On an iPhone or iPad, turn proxy off in Settings > Wi-Fi > HTTP Proxy > Configure Proxy. On Android, go to Settings > Wi-Fi > network name > edit button > Advanced Options. On Mac, Apple > System Preferences > Network > network name > Advanced > Proxies.

  12. Turn off your VPN settings. Using a VPN internet connection can also affect Discord so try turning it off temporarily on your device.

  13. Change your DNS servers. Set the Preferred DNS Server to 8.8.8.8 and the Alternate DNS Server to 8.8.4.4 and check if this fixes the Discord not connecting bug.

    If this doesn’t work, make sure to change your DNS server settings back to the way they were before.

  14. Uninstall and reinstall Discord. If Discord is still stuck on the connecting screen, try deleting the app from your device and reinstalling it.

    None of your conversations will be lost as long as you use the same account to log in with once you reinstall it.

  15. Try the web version of Discord. If all else fails, you may still be able to access Discord via its website which can be used in any web browser. If the web version also doesn’t work, the problem is most definitely to do with Discord itself and you’ll just need to wait for it to come back online.

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How to Fix Discord Connection Issues (2024)

FAQs

How to Fix Discord Connection Issues? ›

Discord stuck on connecting is usually caused by technical problems on Discord's side, such as high volumes of traffic, or internet connectivity issues on your device. Corrupted app data can also be a cause of Discord connection problems, as can custom internet settings.

Why is my Discord having connection issues? ›

Discord stuck on connecting is usually caused by technical problems on Discord's side, such as high volumes of traffic, or internet connectivity issues on your device. Corrupted app data can also be a cause of Discord connection problems, as can custom internet settings.

Why does Discord have bad connection? ›

Your internet connection may be the cause of your Discord issues, especially if you're dealing with lagging errors on other online programs and apps. A quick network reset could help fix this problem. Be careful not to lose important network information with this step.

Why is Discord stuck connecting and disconnecting? ›

Check Firewall Settings: Make sure your firewall isn't blocking Discord's connection. Restart Router/Device: A simple restart can often clear up temporary glitches. Disable Battery Optimization (Mobile): On phones, battery optimization might put Discord to sleep in the background. Disabling it for Discord can help.

How to fix Discord not connecting to calls? ›

Restart your Modem+Router+Computer - You'd be surprised how often the "turn it off and turn it back on again" trick works. Check with your internet service provider and make sure there are no outages in your area. Check with your network admin - If you're on a work/school network, Discord could be blocked!

Why does my Discord keep bugging out? ›

Why is Discord glitching? Discord glitches may be due to outdated software, corrupted cache, or conflicts with other programs. Keep Discord updated, clear cache files, and identify conflicting apps to reduce glitches and improve overall performance.

Why does Discord look like we're having trouble connecting? ›

Change the Network Settings. The Discord stuck on connecting issue can be caused by your Internet connection or proxy settings. Many users report that after changing the network settings to not use a proxy server, they fixed the discord stuck on connecting problem.

Why am I getting an unstable internet connection? ›

there's an issue with your network equipment - router, modem, cables, etc. the device you're trying to use (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) has a problem. your Internet service provider does some temporary maintenance work on their network.

Why do I have 5000 ping on Discord? ›

Normally, high Discord ping is due to platform outages, internet connection issues, or having too many apps running in the background. As you can sense, some of these problems can be fixed right away, while others will be beyond your powers.

How do I clear my Discord cache? ›

Click the back arrow in the top left and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Discord's developer settings are at the bottom of the Settings screen. Tap Clear caches. There won't be any confirmation screen when you select this option.

Is there a problem with Discord servers? ›

User reports indicate no current problems at Discord

Discord is a VoIP application that lets users talk and chat.

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