FIX: Discord won’t open in Windows 10/11 [EASY GUIDE]

Vlad Turiceanu
by Vlad Turiceanu
Editor-in-Chief
Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming from a solid background in PC... Read more
Updated:
Posted: April 2020
Affiliate Disclosure
  • No matter how many updates the app gets, some users still report that their Discord won't open.
  • A simple solution that will solve Discord not opening is to close the app from the Task Manager.
  • Try clearing your AppData and LocalAppData Discord files and see if the problem persists.
  • You could also check your Proxy and VPN settings to prevent the Discord app not opening issues.
FIX: Discord won’t open in Windows 10 [EASY GUIDE]
XINSTALL BY CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE
To fix various PC problems, we recommend Restoro PC Repair Tool:
This software will repair common computer errors, protect you from file loss, malware, hardware failure and optimize your PC for maximum performance. Fix PC issues and remove viruses now in 3 easy steps:

  1. Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
  2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
  3. Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer's security and performance
  • Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Discord won’t open? Make sure you verify this guide completely because it’s dedicated to you.

Despite a great development team behind Discord, some peculiarities keep surfacing up. Constant updates and fairly fast bug fixes don’t always solve the problem, as is the case today.

A most interesting problem that is haunting the app’s developers is that upon launching, Discord won’t open. A lot of users have complained already regarding this problem, and more are showing up every day.

With this in mind, we compiled a list of solutions that worked for many users over time and should work for you, too.

Why won’t Discord open in Windows 10?

  • Discord is blocked by another program. The most common scenario is a different application blocking Discord from launching properly. The best example of this is antivirus applications. So, we suggest checking your software.
  • Discord is down – This is a rare situation, but you have to be aware of it. This usually mean a temporary Discord outage.
  • A game is running on your device – Keep in mind that the in-game overlay may stop you from opening the app while a game is already running, as it may cause conflicts for game players. To discover how to disable the Discord overlay, make sure you check our dedicated guide.
  • Damaged or missing files – There’s a possibility that your Discord files are corrupt, damaged, or missing. These files will certainly need to be restored before you can launch Discord again.
  • Windows-related issues – Last, but not least, remember that some general errors can also interfere with Discord from time to time. In this case, you should consider not having enough hardware space, overloaded CPU or poorly configured Internet connection.

What can I do if Discord won’t open in Windows 10?

1. Update your system

  1. Use the following keyboard shortcut to open Windows Settings: Windows + I.
  2. Navigate to Update & Security.
  3. Remain on the Windows Update page, then look at the right window pane, and click on Check for updates.
  4. Wait a few seconds and if any updates are found, you’re going to be notified.

2. Make sure that Discord isn’t down

If Discord won’t open in Windows 10, you should check if there are server issues or outages. In this matter, we recommend verifying Discord’s status page.

There, you’ll be allowed to see if the client is currently experiencing or has experienced server issues and if any of its services (or APIs) are affected and check if a fix has been deployed.

Expert Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

Major outages are indicated by the red lines, while partial ones are indicated by yellow lines.

3. Update Discord

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Discord, then open the first result.
  2. When Discord opens, it will automatically check for new updates. If an update is available, it will download and install it for you.

4. Configure Windows Date and Time

  1. Right-click on the Date and time in the lower-right of your screen.
  2. Click on Adjust date/time.
  3. Make sure you turn on the Set time automatically option.
  4. Restart your PC.

5. Try the Discord web version

  1. Navigate to Discord’s official page and choose to Open Discord in your browser.
  2. Now, enter your username, agree with Discord’s terms and conditions, then hit the Enter key.
  3. Agree with the captcha notification.
  4. After that, the Windows 10 Discord app should work properly.

Considering some users reported that using the web version resets the Discord session on your Windows 10 app, we strongly recommend using the above steps.

6. Kill the Discord task

  1. Press Windows + R keys.
  2. Type cmd and then click OK.
  3. In the cmd window that appears type: taskkill /F /IM discord.exe
  4. After the process finishes, relaunch Discord.

Now everything should work fine. Additionally, you can do the same thing by using Task Manager:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del key.
  2. Then, select Task Manager.
  3. In the Task Manager find Discord.
  4. Click on it, then choose to End Task.
  5. Relaunch Discord.

7. Clear AppData and LocalAppData

  1. Close Discord using the solution above.
  2. Use the following keyboard shortcut: Windows + R keys, then type %appdata%.
  3. Then hit the Enter key.
  4. In the new window that appears, find Discord folder and delete it.
  5. Relaunch Discord.
Note icon
NOTE
If Discord still won’t open, you may repeat the process to clear the LocalAppData by typing %localappdata% instead of %appdata% at step 2.

8. Check your Proxies

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel, then open the first result.
  2. Click on Network and Internet.
  3. Select Internet Options.
  4. An Internet Proprieties window should appear.
  5. Click on the Connections tab.
  6. Under Local Area Network (LAN) settings section, click on LAN Settings.
  7. Under Proxy server section, uncheck Use a proxy server for your LAN.
  8. Click OK, and then Apply.
  9. Relaunch Discord.

In many instances, Discord won’t open grey screen / stuck on gray screen because of VPNs. So, if you are using a proxy or a VPN, this may be the case of your apps not opening. Now the problem should be gone.

9. Uninstall and reinstall Discord

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel, then open it.
  2. In the Control Panel, click on Programs.
  3. Now, navigate to Programs and Features.
  4. Locate Discord from the list of installed apps. Select the app and click on Uninstall.
  5. Click on OK.
  6. Once uninstalled, reboot the computer.
  7. After the restart, go to the Discord download page and get the latest version available.
  8. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions to install the app.

What other Discord problems should I be aware of?

Even if now you have several solutions to use when Discord won’t open in Windows 10, keep in mind that you can encounter many other related issues. To discover the most common ones, make sure you check the following list.

  • Discord keeps freezing – Our first presented issue may occur due to multiple reasons, such as hardware acceleration, key binds or the compatibility mode.
  • Can’t hear anyone on Discord – This is one of the most annoying problems, because you won’t be able to communicate with your teammates. If you encounter it, we suggest verifying our dedicated guide.
  • Discord search not working – If you’re experiencing issues with Discord’s search function on Windows 10,  then the app will display a we dropped the magnifying glass error. As you expected, we also compiled a list of efficient fixes.

Hope that one of the solutions provided helped you get back on track. Don’t forget to leave any other questions you may have in the comments section below.

idee restoro Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:
  1. Download this PC Repair Tool rated Great on TrustPilot.com (download starts on this page).
  2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
  3. Click Repair All to fix issues with Patented Technologies (Exclusive Discount for our readers).

Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It could be because of corrupted system files, Internet connection issues, incorrect proxy settings, or firewall settings. You can learn everything about the problem through this useful guide dedicated to diagnosing and fixing Discord.

  • If the Discord camera is not working or is showing a black screen, we recommend checking our dedicated guide.

  • Lots of issues can cause Discord to not detect your game. If the Discord game detection is not working, you can remedy this problem by taking a look at our useful solutions.

This article covers:Topics: