2024 Fix: Discord Won't Open, Stuck at Launch, or Not Responding

Discord is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), instant messaging, and digital distribution platform designed for communities (affectionately called "servers"). These servers are divided into channels based on topics, so you can collaborate, share, or just shoot the breeze without filling up group chat rooms. On Discord, you can easily find school clubs, gaming groups, global art communities, or just a bunch of friends. As long as you have the Discord app open on your computer or phone, you can chat and hang out with your fellow members to your heart's content. That is, if you can get it to open! So, on this page, you'll learn how to fix one of the most commonly reported Discord issues – Discord won't launch on startup in Windows 10.

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During discussions, you might want to record Discord voice calls for later reference or to save precious moments. However, Discord doesn't offer a built-in recording option. So, how do you record Discord audio...

Precheck Issues and Fixes

First, we'll do some preliminary checks to identify the problem, and if it's minor, you might be able to fix it yourself.

• Restart your system, then open Discord to see if the issue still occurs.
• Log in through the Discord web app, which will reset your session. Try launching the app on your computer again later.
• Update Discord. You can get the latest updates from within the app, or download it manually from the official website.
• Check if Discord is currently experiencing an outage (search for recent news or contact their support team).
• Has there been any change to your computer's setup? If you're unsure, uninstall and reinstall Discord to start fresh.
• Are you willing to update Windows? Some people have reported that updating to the latest version of Windows fixed the issue.

"Employing 8 Strategies to Further Resolve the Issue of Discord Not Opening"

If the above example didn't work for you, no worries – there are eight more fixes that may get Discord up and running again.

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Method 1: End the Discord Process via Task Manager

A program that won't run or function properly on Windows usually manifests by getting stuck in a loop, freezing, not responding, or failing to open after a long wait. The common way to fix issues with such programs is to close them via the Task Manager. So, when Discord fails to open on your computer for the first time, head straight to the Task Manager and end the process.

Step 1. Press and hold the Windows key + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.

Step 2. Click on Task Manager.

Step 3: In the "Applications" section, under the "Processes" tab, find "Discord." Click on it and hit "End Task."

End Discord via Task Manager to fix the issue of Discord not opening

Step 4. Close Task Manager, then restart Discord to see if the issue persists.

Method 2: End the Discord Process from the Command Prompt

Most of you should be able to find Discord and end the process by following Method 1. If you can't find Discord in Task Manager, there's an alternative way to completely close the program using the Windows Command Prompt. This method is a bit more advanced, but it's still doable since we'll provide clear steps and images.

Step 1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type cmd in the Run box, and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 3. Type in the command prompt: taskkill /F /IM discord.exe, then press Enter.

Step 4. Close the Command Prompt window, and then try opening Discord again.

Method 3: Delete the contents of AppData and LocalAppData

The “AppData” folder is usually hidden, but it contains app-specific settings, files, and data. In other words, Discord has its own “AppData” folder that stores important cache files responsible for opening and closing the app. If your system doesn't have enough storage space to save Discord's cache, you won't be able to run Discord until you clear out this folder and free up space for Discord's files.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run window.

Step 2: Type %appdata% in the Run dialog box, then click OK. This will take you to the AppData folder in File Explorer.

Step 3: Right-click the Discord folder and select Delete.

Step 4. Try launching Discord again to see if the issue is fixed. If not, proceed with deleting the LocalAppData folder. This time, search for %localappdata% instead of %appdata%.

Method 4: Launch Discord.exe from its original installation location

This isn't a universal fix for most Discord won't open issues, but some users have reported that launching Discord from its installation folder can yield unexpected results. Since it's a simple operation that takes only a minute to test, it's worth a shot.

Step 1: Press Windows+E to open File Explorer.

Step 2: Locate your Discord installation at the path C:\ProgramData\%user%\Discord. (Replace "%user%" with your actual username.)

Step 3: Double-click the Discord.exe file to launch the application.

Launch Discord from its installation location to fix the Discord won't open issue.

Method 5: Check Your Proxy Settings

Are you using a VPN service or a proxy to access Discord on your computer? Sometimes, default configurations can interfere with Discord's ability to connect to its service. If this applies to you, try disabling any proxies or VPNs and attempt to reconnect.

Step 1. Type Control Panel in the Windows search, then press Enter.

"Step 2: In the Control Panel, locate and open 'Internet Options.'"

Step 3: Go to the Connection tab, and then click Settings under Local Area Network (LAN) Settings.

Step 4: Untick Use a proxy server for your LAN. Click OK, then click Apply.

Step 5: Try launching Discord again on your computer.

Method 6: Reset your DNS settings

Similar to the proxy suspect, DNS settings can sometimes block Discord's ability to communicate with the internet, especially if they're often malfunctioning. If Discord isn't working and basic troubleshooting hasn't helped, try resetting your DNS configuration with the following steps.

Step 1. Hold down and press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type cmd, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Type the command ipconfig/flushdns, and then press Enter.

Step 4. Wait for the process to finish. Once it's done, launch Discord on your computer again.

Method 7: Install Discord PTB (Public Test Build)

Here, Discord PTB refers to the Public Test Beta, which is another version of Discord. If none of the above solutions help and you want a last resort to check if the issue lies with the software, you can try installing the PTB version with its own data and cache. The PTB won't affect your regular Discord; you just have to download it and log in with your account.

Step 1. Download the Discord PTB installer from the official website.

Step 2. Follow the wizard to complete the download and installation process. When it's done, the program will launch automatically.

Method 8: Check and Repair Corrupted System Files

It's possible that your Discord files are corrupted or missing, and need to be restored before you can open Discord again. Windows has a tool called the System File Checker (or SFC for short) that can automatically fix damaged system files and some related issues.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. Type cmd in the Run dialog and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

Step 3. Type in the command prompt sfc /scannow then hit Enter. This will scan your computer's files and fix any corrupted files it finds.

Run an SFC scan to fix the Discord won't open issue

Step 4. Close the Command Prompt window once the process is done, and restart your computer. Check if you can open Discord again.

Final Thoughts

Discord's user base continues to grow. While the developers behind it are skilled enough to provide a smooth browsing experience, issues can still arise. If you want to fix Discord not starting up on Windows 10, this article is for you. We've compiled a list of workable solutions that should significantly diminish errors preventing Discord from launching on startup or Discord not working or responding after startup.

If you need to recover photos, videos, or audio files from Discord, download a data recovery wizard on your computer to restore deleted files.